Roll Of Honor

Sandra Leith Bates is a third generation Brighton resident who graduated from Brighton High School in 1971. A pianist who accompanied the high school choir as an eighth grader, performed with the Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra and was the youngest student to receive a full Brighton Kiwanis Club music scholarship to Interlochen National Music Camp. Very active in high school activities, Sandy served as class secretary her freshman and senior years and assisted in organizing the successful fifty-year “Golden Graduation” reunion in 2021. Sandy joined First Presbyterian Church of Brighton in 1968 and was the assistant pianist and organist through 1985. Elected a church Elder in 1976, becoming the youngest female to serve in this position, and her committee produces the first church newsletter. Sandy had been employed by Brighton State Bank from 1970-1976, while attending college and was the executive administrator for Cars and Concepts until 1985.  In 1983, she organized what would become one of the most successful blood drives of our community.  From 2007-2018, Sandy was the Administrative Assistant in the church office, and in 2014 became a certified Stephen Minister, counseling those experiencing grief through Christian care. Sandy has been Notary Public since 2012, and was elected Secretary in 2021 for the Brighton Area Schools Alumni Association board. Sandy attend Eastern Michigan University majoring in Early Education.

Dolores S. Johnson (1938-2020) moved to Brighton in 1979 and soon became the rare female paid soccer referee for the Brighton area youth recreation leagues, high school games, and regional adult league games. Dolores was a volunteer coach for several youth soccer teams, encouraged numerous women in the Brighton area to start playing soccer on the local Stinger’s soccer team, and as the oldest player in that league, she was an example of longevity and staying active. .In the Women’s Over-40 and Over-60 teams of the Great Lakes Women’s Soccer League from 1980-2010s, Dolores played in National Soccer Championships organized by the Veteran’s Cup. Dolores was a mentor to women players of all ages and an ambassador for women’s soccer.  In her later career as a realtor for Preview Properties, Dolores volunteered to collect food for Gleaners and make blankets for the homeless. Dolores was a nearly 40-year member of the nonprofit Brighton Food Cooperative, helping to provide affordable organic food and environmentally friendly products for members to purchase, and volunteered whenever and in whatever position was needed to keep the club operational.

Anne King-Hudson served on the Brighton District Library Board from 1992-2013, and was Board Chair from 1996-1998, helping to plan/build the current library facility, promote passage of local mileages, and establish the board as a governing body.  From 1998-2018, Anne founded and grew Key Development Center, Inc. as an accredited, licensed non-profit that provides critical substance abuse prevention and treatment services to Livingston County. Since 2009, Anne has served and chaired the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Work Group of the Livingston County Human Services Collaborative Body. Anne is currently the Director of Recovery Advocates in Livingston, Inc., a nonprofit established in 2019 to provide sober living recovery housing for local women.  Assistant Director of Substance Abuse and Prevention Services for the Ann Arbor Community Center from 1976-1994, Anne was the Substance Abuse Specialist at the Washtenaw County Trial Court from 1994-1998. As a member and President of the Livingston County League of Women Voters from 1999-2006, Anne led community voter forums and encouraged community education about local candidates. For over ten years, Anne served as past Treasurer and Parent volunteer of the Brighton Girls Swim Team.  She serves as a trained volunteer on the Livingston County Sheriff’s Victim Services Unit. Anne earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Eastern Michigan University, a Master of Educational Organizations from the University of Michigan, and is a State of Michigan licensed social worker, certified addictions counselor, clinical supervisor, and prevention specialist.

Ruth E. Munzel, a longtime Green Oak Township resident, was a Democratic representative on the four-member Livingston County Board of Canvassers (1984-2016), serving as chair numerous years. Her contributions were recognized in 2017 with a proclamation from the Livingston County Commissioners for her experience, knowledge, and attention to detail. In 1999, Ruth advocated against the dioxin emissions of a proposed expansion of a local asphalt company using data and led organized neighborhood protests to reduce pollution affects through required installation of filters inside the emission stacks. In 2000-2001, Ruth investigated a manufactured-housing projects plan to avoid pollution oversight by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Her efforts inspired community organization, expert consultation on soil and safer sewage systems, and successfully reduced the size and effluent of the development. Active in the Green Oak Historical Society as long-serving trustee, multi-year President, and ten year hospitality chair, Ruth was instrumental in saving the 1856 Township Hall from demolition. Ruth served from 1978-1982 on the South Lyon Schools Board of Education, two years as Secretary and two years as Chair. Founding member of the Livingston County Democratic Party and member of the State Central Committee for the Michigan Democratic Party, Ruth served as a 1964 and 1984 delegate to the Democratic National Convention, voting on civil rights issues and nominating the first woman Vice-President candidate, Geraldine Ferraro. In 2005, the Ruth and Herb Munzel Distinguished Service Award was established recognizing a major contributor to the party.  Longtime member of the Crossroads Group of the Sierra Club, the Huron River Watershed Council, and the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Ruth earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan.

Susan G. Rosebrough was hired by Brighton Area Schools (1970-2004) to teach high school English and Spanish. With graduate studies in Career Education, Susan led the development of programs and opportunities for students to explore career paths before graduation and wrote the grant proposal to implement Brighton High School’s Career Center. By teaching employable skills and exposing students to occupations through internships and work-study, the program became a model for educators to observe and replicate throughout the state and across the country. Over 500 different companies in manufacturing, medical, hospitality, public service, business and finance partnered to provide mentorships, internships, field trips, and speakers to Brighton students. Susan was recognized as an Outstanding Workforce Development Professional and received a Livingston County Career Pathways Award from the Livingston County Board of Commissioners.  The US Department of Education bestowed a National Partnerships in Education award, the State of Michigan recognized her with a Technology Innovation Award, and Susan has been a program presenter at both State of Michigan and National conferences. During the 1970s, Sue taught Spanish to the inmates at the Livingston County Jail and continues to be active in her church.