Linda Gleason is a quiet storm—a powerhouse of motivation, generosity and passion willing and ready to make an impact. As Women and Children First’s Woman of the Year, Gleason embodies a spirit of generosity, a trait she picked up hunting and exploring the Arkansas woods with her grandfather, Joseph Daniel Rushin.
“My grandfather had a very limited formal education, but he was a very intelligent and wise man. He taught me how to observe and study the world around me and how to gain great insight and wisdom in the process,” said Gleason. “My grandparents were people of humble means; they lived in a poor area but were better off than many others.”
She explains that, while they came from modest circumstances, they graciously shared what they did have with others. “I remember many trips with my grandfather to deliver produce from their garden to needier neighbors. Every delivery was done in a way to build up and never to knock down the recipients. My grandfather taught me about generosity, kindness and a sensitivity for the feelings of others.”
Gleason’s grandfather also taught her the value of hard work. “My first ‘real’ job was as a waitress at Fisher’s Steak House on Broadway in North Little Rock. I worked eight hours a day, six days a week. I bought my first car, a 1965 Ford Mustang, and paid all of my college expenses at ASU’s Beebe campus with tip money,” she said. “I took 16 hours a semester while working 48 hours a week. My plan was to get a degree in elementary education, however, I found that I really enjoyed business and psychology and later changed my major.”
After graduation she held several jobs but eventually found herself at Bank of the Ozarks. “I met my husband, George Gleason, while we were both working at the bank. We worked side by side for 15 years until my retirement. I haven’t worked in 15 years, but George still tells people that I am on a leave of absence,” she joked.
“We actually got married on our lunch hour. We both worked a lot of hours, and we each had two children,” she said. “We quickly planned our wedding and got married on our lunch hour on June 20, 1986. We actually both went back to the office after the ceremony to finish up a few things before taking off early for our one-night honeymoon!”
After 25 years of marriage, her four children and now five grandchildren keep Gleason grounded. “I love those loud, fun times when our entire family is together,” she said. “My faith, my husband and our family keep me grounded in what is really important in life. I do know that I am a very blessed woman.”
It is from this steady place of faith and family that Gleason finds the energy to serve in numerous organizations, specifically Woman and Children First.
“I believe in Women and Children First as an organization. It’s why I finally agreed to be the face of the Woman of the Year event, because ultimately it’s not about me but all about the women and children,” she explained.
Women and Children First won the Gleasons’ hearts during the first Woman of the Year Gala honoring Phyllis Brandon; they’ve been financially supporting the shelter ever since. But it wasn’t until Linda Gleason made her first personal visit to the shelter that the deep vision of the organization settled into her spirit.
“When I heard of their project to remodel the kitchen several years ago, I wanted to personally see what the needs were,” she said. “As we toured the shelter, I noticed the staff was whispering. I asked the reason why, and they quickly and quietly told me that behind the door we were standing close to was their most recent addition to the shelter. They told me she had been sleeping for three days! I stood there trying to regain my composure, but I knew then that I needed to do more.”
Gleason explained, “Women and Children First has an incredible way of helping to heal these women’s deep wounds and helping them to build a new life that includes self-esteem, self-confidence and self-respect. When individuals are so deeply wounded, our community is not fully whole. Every person healed makes for a healthier community.”
The Woman of the Year Gala honoring Gleason will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, January 14, in the Peabody Hotel Grand Ballroom. For more information visit WCFArkansas.org or call 376-3219.