10/02/2023
Who I am--
My name is Michael Meeks Sr, better known as Mike. I was born, raised and educated in Bessemer City, NC. My parents were Denoise and Dorcas Meeks. I live on West Virginia in Ward 2.
After graduating from Lincoln High in Bessemer City in 1967, I married my high school sweetheart Annis Bernesdene Floyd of Ranlo, NC. I followed in the footsteps of my dad and my brother Denoise by enlisting in the United States Army. I served active and reserved for a total of eleven years, stationed in Bamberg Germany. I also had the privilege of serving with my brother at Ft Knox, KY. He was one of my Vietnam instructors. When I returned home after service I spent time with my wife and three sons. I worked at Lithium and at Nichols Department Store for awhile and realized that was not what I wanted to do, so I went to work in the Motel/Hotel industry as a housekeeper with Wyndham International and worked my way up to management, then to Hotel Inspector. In that role for over 23 years I had the opportunity to visit all 50 states as well as Mexico and Canada, and was based in a variety of locations including Dallas, TX, Atlanta, GA, Salt Lake City, UT and finally back in Charlotte, NC. I learned many skills and enjoyed working with people of backgrounds and opinions different from my own.
When I retired in September 2008, I moved back home to Bessemer City. I saw a great need in our community for improvement. I became involved in many different community activities in Bessemer City and Gaston County. I started attending City Council meetings and joined a number of city and county organizations to learn more about how the City & County operated, including BC Chamber of Commerce (Past President), Downtown Development Committee, BC ABC Board, Past President and VP of BC Merchants Association, President of BC Community Watch, Meals on Wheels Active Deliverer, 4 Hope for Gaston County, Member of Weekend Backpack Program, Member of the Gaston County Honor Guard, Past Commander and Founder of Denoise Meeks Sr American Legion Post 538 BC, Gaston County Veterans Collaborative Board, CaroMont Hospital Transition & Advisor Committee, CaroMont Veterans Committee, one of the founders of Camp Centurion, and current President of BC Crisis Center. Recognitions include: BC Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, Dr Martin Luther King Jr Legacy Award, Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Award given by Clergy and Citizens Coalition, Piedmont Lithium and Gastonia Honey Hunters 2022 Gaston County Community Hero Award, and Humanitarian Award from Purple Heart Home.
I am a Vietnam Era Veteran and extremely active with all area veterans as Chairman of the Gaston County Veterans Council. Gaston County has over 15,000 Veterans, many of whom I deal with on a daily basis, providing support in paying motel rent, mortgage payments , utility bills, car repairs, finding housing for homeless veterans and connecting them with other resources. The Camp Centurion mission is to assist local veterans in transitioning from military to civilian life, and to bring the homeless back to living a productive life. The first step is to bring them into the house for counseling and work with them to get them a second chance. I am also very much involved in working with the schools in Bessemer City and Gaston County. I am a member of the Board that meets with the Principal of the High School to help keep informed of the school issues and I volunteer my services as a photographer for all sporting events, prom, and other activities. I enjoy working with the Boosters Club and at game concessions. I also collect and donate clothes, food and school supplies when possible, sometimes through non-traditional channels.
