Glaze named director of Red Cross chapter

Scott Glaze has been appointed as the new executive director of the Wilkes-Alleghany chapter of the American Red Cross (ARC). He succeeds Russ Pearson, who retired after 10 years at the post. The announcement was made recently by Jim Gray, chapter chairman. Glaze started his duties on Dec. 12; Pearson’s last day was Dec. 9.

Glaze, 45, lives in Finley Park, North Wilkesboro with his wife, Debbie (who works at the First United Methodist Church pre-school in North Wilkesboro), and their three children: Kristen, Lauren and Kevin. He is a member of First United Methodist Church of North Wilkesboro and the North Wilkesboro Lions Club and is involved with the Wilkes Playmakers and Wilkes Chamber Singers.

“I’m excited about the future of the local American Red Cross chapter and look forward to working with the many volunteers who make this chapter successful,” Glaze said.

The mission of the American Red Cross is to provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

In addition to helping with national and international disasters, there are also many times the ARC chapter is called on to help with local disasters.

If a family is displaced from their home due to fire, the Red Cross is there to help with emergency housing, food and clothing. Along with disaster relief, the American Red Cross conducts CPR and first aid classes and has blood drives on a regular basis, expecting to collect over 6,000 units of blood this year in Wilkes and Alleghany counties. ARC also communicates emergency messages to armed forces personnel and helps with financial assistance to the armed forces families in emergency situations.

Director’s Background

Glaze grew up in north central Iowa and is a graduate of Iowa State University.

The new director said this week that he first came to Wilkes County 20 years ago as a transition representative for the Edward Jones brokerage firm, filling in at offices where there were vacancies. His assignment for the four months he was in Wilkes was to determine if there was reason for establishing an Edward Jones office here.

“I fell in love with Wilkes County,” he said. “I met a man then who told me to drive up on the Brushy Mountains before sunset to look over the valley.

It was beautiful country, especially for a flatland midwestern boy.” Also while in Wilkes, he met Debbie Caudill, who worked then at Sears in North Wilkesboro. The two stayed in touch over the next few years before he returned to Wilkes, and they eventually married.

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