Bob & Mildred Brooks
Bob and Mildred Brooks moved to Hilliard in 1990 following Bob’s promotion with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which brought the family to central Ohio. Bob served with the Patrol for 32 years before retiring in 2009. Mildred began working for Norwich Township in 1991 and retired from the Norwich Township Fire Department in 2022 after more than three decades of service to the community.
In 2013, while working for Norwich Township, Mildred was given the opportunity to chair the Township’s Bicentennial Celebration. That role introduced her to the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society and to longtime member Tim Woodruff. Through her work with the Society, Mildred quickly developed an appreciation for its mission and told Bob, “That’s a group we should be involved with.” Bob admits he missed the “we” part at first, but it did not take long before he became actively involved as well.
Mildred served on the Historical Society Board from 2017 through 2020, including time as board secretary under Presidents Barb Cash and Tim Woodruff. Bob joined the board in 2018 and contributed through the building maintenance committee while also assisting with security during special events. Over the years, both have volunteered at numerous Society activities including Heritage Day celebrations, Halloween events, cleanup days, and community programs.
The Brooks say they were drawn to Hilliard because of its small-town atmosphere when they first arrived. Although the community has experienced tremendous growth over the years, they still appreciate Hilliard’s strong schools, variety of shopping and dining opportunities, entertainment options, and the sense of safety provided by the city’s excellent police and fire departments. They also value Hilliard’s proximity to Columbus and the many cultural and recreational opportunities the capital city offers.
Bob and Mildred share a love of sports and music. They hold season tickets for the Columbus Clippers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Ohio State Women’s Basketball. They also enjoy supporting the local music scene and participating in the weekly car cruise-in at Der Dutchman where they show their 1999 Corvette.
When it comes to the Historical Society, both enjoy working alongside fellow volunteers who are passionate about preserving Hilliard’s history. Bob especially enjoys helping with building maintenance and improvement projects, while Mildred’s favorite role is serving as a museum docent. They both enjoy the Society’s special events because they provide opportunities to interact with the community and share local history with visitors of all ages. Over the years, they have noticed attendance at Society events steadily growing, which they credit to the outreach and leadership efforts of the organization. Like many volunteer organizations, however, they recognize that recruiting and retaining members continues to be an ongoing challenge.
Bob and Mildred have two daughters and one grandson, whose busy sports schedule keeps them cheering from the sidelines whenever possible. They also enjoy traveling and recently completed a two-week historical tour that included visits to Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, and Gettysburg.
