COOLIDGE — Dr. Kathy Keown does not like to be idle.

“I feel like I have something to offer,” said Keown, a retired Thomas County Middle School principal and the newest member of Coolidge City Council.

Keown qualified in August to seek the Coolidge council seat held by Tommy Baker, who later resigned.

“The council asked me if I would fill his unexpired term, which ends this year,” said Keown, the sole qualifier for the post. She will assume a four-year council term on Jan 1.

Keown is the third person in her immediate family to serve on the council. Her husband, Mike Keown, a retired Baptist minister, served as Coolidge mayor. Her son, Matthew Keown, now a U.S. marshal in the Atlanta area, served as a council member.

Mike Keown resigned from the council to seek a seat on the Thomas County Board of Education. He was successful in the bid and served 14 years. He later served three terms in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Kathy Keown, 63, served alongside her husband as music minister, playing the piano and leading the choir and singing. Christmas Eve will mark the couple’s 45th wedding anniversary. In addition to Matthew, they have another son, Michael Keown, an assistant principal at Stephens County High School in Toccoa, and five grandchildren.

A Cairo High School graduate, Keown earned a bachelor of music education degree at Shorter University, a master of music degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and an education specialist degree in educational leadership and a doctorate in education from Valdosta State University.

Keown was employed by the Thomas County School System for 31 years.

“I have known and worked with (Kathy) Keown for many years. She has a passion for public service,” said county schools Superintendent Dr. Dusty Kornegay. “As an educator, she worked hard to make decisions that were in the best interest of her students, and I am sure she will bring that same commitment to her role as councilwoman.”

Describing Keown as “a good listener,” Kornegay added, “She is grounded in strong values that will guide her whenever there is a difficult decision to make.”

An “unplanned” job Keown has taken on since retirement is the position of assistant professor in the Thomas University education department and coordinator of school field placements for undergraduates majoring in education.

As a Coolidge City Council member, Keown’s mission is to help the city.

“I don’t have an agenda. I don’t have a bone to pick,” she said. “I want to be available. I want to be of service is the main thing.”

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820