Woman of the Year: Lori Pedigo

Nov. 28—Faith, family and community in action is how friends and family members describe Times-Review’s woman of the year Lori Pedigo.

“In one word, Lori is steadfast,” Cleburne resident and fellow Cleburne Rotarian Mollie Mims said. “She loves the Lord, her family and community, and is actively dedicated to each. She does not just talk the talk, she walks it.”

Fellow Cleburne resident and Rotarian Belinda Linstrum concurs.

“Lori’s wonderful when it comes to volunteering and giving back,” “Linstrum said. “If you need something done you ask a busy person, and she’s one of the busiest people there is in the whole county. But, she does everything with a smile, doesn’t know the word no and she’s never met a stranger.”

The three women broke new ground.

“Belinda and Mollie were the first two women to join [the Cleburne Rotary Club] and they joined a year before I did in 1992 after Belinda invited me,” Pedigo said. “Both my parents were civic minded. Mom was on the park board, dad was president of the Downtown Cleburne Association and so on so I’ve just always kind of had that inclination I guess.”

Fellow Rotarian Dan Taylor characterized Pedigo as a go getter.

“She’s a ramrod who brings a lot to Rotary and Cleburne,” Taylor said. “She’s organized our part in the annual [Tour de Goatneck] bicycle ride and does a great job with that. Everything she does with Rotary or other volunteer projects, she’s always very conscientious and well prepared.”

Growing up

Cleburne born, Pedigo graduated Cleburne High School in 1981 as did her two older brothers before her. Her parents also attended CHS.

“Mom was born here,” Pedigo said. “Dad moved here when he was 10. His dad had worked with the Railroad in Temple and moved here. Right after they moved here my dad’s dad and another man drove to Fort Worth to pick someone up but got in a car accident and he was killed, so I never knew my grandfather.”

Pedigo recalled her Cleburne childhood of Halloween trick-or-treating, downtown’s Esquire movie theater and athletics.

“I grew up on Woodard and Douglas, which was the last street that went to Cooke Elementary School,” Pedigo said. “I used to walk home from school and just remember all the other kids dropping off block by block as they reached home and I was the last one to get home.”

The youngest of three siblings, brother Wayne Pedigo is 12 years her senior while brother Roger Pedigo, now deceased, is 10 years older.

“Wayne left for college when I was 8,” Pedigo said. “But Roger still lived…