Past Recipients
Makane Morrow | 2024 Recipient
The 2024 recipient was Makane Morrow (22) of Bridgeport, where he is currently employed by KO Flowback as a flowback tech. In June of 2024 while on location Makane was battling back soreness and after a doctor visit was determined he had a tumor present. Makane was shortly thereafter diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (More Info Here) and has a long battle ahead of him, but a promising one! Makane is currently spending most of his time at UT Southwest in Dallas completing his 6 rounds of chemo treatment. A surgery estimated to last 10-12 hours is scheduled for October 16th, 2024 to remove a portion of his left hip followed by 9 months of being bed-bound.
The Morrow family is extremely grateful for the support from CMHA, and through your generosity we are hoping to be a little silver lining behind Makane’s battle!
Tim Gordon | 2023 Recipient
My name is Tim Gordon. I graduated from Rock Island High School in 1974 and Western Illinois University in 1978. Laurie, my junior high sweetheart, and I married in 1982 after reconnecting following her divorce, and I became a father to her son Jason. Together we raised Jason, along with our three children Drew, Emily, and Alex, while managing careers, a busy home life, and countless family projects. I began my career at Roadway Express in 1981, working my way up from dock supervisor to District Maintenance Manager, a role that required extensive travel. Over the years, Laurie and I faced many challenges, including multiple relocations across the U.S. for my career, but we always worked as a team—she often holding down the fort with the children while I managed demanding shops, reduced costs, and built strong relationships with employees and unions. I later held leadership roles at FedEx Freight, KKW Transportation, and Fleetwood Transportation before retiring in 2021.
After retirement, health challenges began to shape my journey. I endured hip replacements, prostate cancer that required surgery, radiation, and ongoing treatment, as well as a full knee replacement. Despite these battles, I remain grateful for my family, faith, and the medical care that has given me time to enjoy life. Today, Laurie and I live in Weatherford, Texas, close to our children and grandchildren. We are blessed with five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and I pray for many more years to share with them and my wife as we continue this journey together.