2011.09.25: September 25, 2011: It's been nearly 50 years since Mick and Pat Noll set out to change the world
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2011.09.25: September 25, 2011: It's been nearly 50 years since Mick and Pat Noll set out to change the world
It's been nearly 50 years since Mick and Pat Noll set out to change the world
The two, who both joined the Peace Corps just three years after it was established in 1961, met while volunteering in Honduras, where flooding had left villagers without homes. Mick was with a group from Thomas More College and was assigned the task of helping to build homes for flood victims and teach farm management to the locals. Pat, who was fresh out of nursing school, was using her newfound medical knowledge to help villagers. "We were young and thought we could solve all of the world's problems," jokes Pat, 68, of Covington. "I just ran into him one day. He was busy building a house, but stopped to talk to me. "He would speak nothing but Spanish, and I couldn't understand half of what he said." Despite Mick's more advanced Spanish-speaking skills, the young nurse liked what she heard. Both were "young and energetic," according to Mick, and excited about the newly formed Peace Corps. "We thought it was a great program that would allow us to learn about ourselves and the world, and help others along the way," said Mick, 69, who grew up in Villa Hills.
It's been nearly 50 years since Mick and Pat Noll set out to change the world
Covington couple met in Peace Corps
Nolls both served in Honduras and continued to serve NKY community
3:56 AM, Sep. 25, 2011 |
Written by
Sarah Hardee
Enquirer contributor
COVINGTON - It's been nearly 50 years since Mick and Pat Noll set out to change the world.
The two, who both joined the Peace Corps just three years after it was established in 1961, met while volunteering in Honduras, where flooding had left villagers without homes.
Mick was with a group from Thomas More College and was assigned the task of helping to build homes for flood victims and teach farm management to the locals. Pat, who was fresh out of nursing school, was using her newfound medical knowledge to help villagers.
"We were young and thought we could solve all of the world's problems," jokes Pat, 68, of Covington. "I just ran into him one day. He was busy building a house, but stopped to talk to me.
"He would speak nothing but Spanish, and I couldn't understand half of what he said."
Despite Mick's more advanced Spanish-speaking skills, the young nurse liked what she heard. Both were "young and energetic," according to Mick, and excited about the newly formed Peace Corps.
"We thought it was a great program that would allow us to learn about ourselves and the world, and help others along the way," said Mick, 69, who grew up in Villa Hills.
That first meeting was in 1964 - and the couple has been together ever since.
Mick and Pat married in 1967, but still traveled the world together as returning volunteers in the Peace Corps. Their volunteer work took them to various countries in addition to Honduras over the years, including Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Columbia. During the many years they were involved with the Peace Corps, they helped to build schools and homes, and helped give the communities they visited access to medical care and vaccinations.
"It was a humbling experience for us, and we've stayed involved for 47 years," said Pat.
The couple ultimately settled here in Northern Kentucky and raised three boys in Covington. Mick and Pat also got involved in community service locally and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. Pat was the health coordinator for Northern Kentucky Head Start for 25 years; and the couple owned restaurants in Covington, including Mick Noll's Covington Haus.
The restaurant closed in 1985, but the Nolls still serve German fare through their catering business. Their food has been a staple at local Oktoberfest celebrations since they began.
As Mick serves up bratwurst, mettwurst and his famous goetta balls at Newport's Oktoberfest, which began Friday at Newport on the Levee, Pat will be in Washington, D.C. The longtime Peace Corps volunteer will be taking part in various celebrations and community service work there to commemorate the organization's 50th anniversary.
"There will be thousands of us there to celebrate all the work that's been done over the last 50 years," she said. "It's been exciting to be part of it."
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: September, 2011; Peace Corps Honduras; Directory of Honduras RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Honduras RPCVs; Marriage; The 1960's; 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps; Kentucky
When this story was posted in November 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Peace Corps: The Next Fifty Years As we move into the Peace Corps' second fifty years, what single improvement would most benefit the mission of the Peace Corps? Read our op-ed about the creation of a private charitable non-profit corporation, independent of the US government, whose focus would be to provide support and funding for third goal activities. Returned Volunteers need President Obama to support the enabling legislation, already written and vetted, to create the Peace Corps Foundation. RPCVs will do the rest. |
| How Volunteers Remember Sarge As the Peace Corps' Founding Director Sargent Shriver laid the foundations for the most lasting accomplishment of the Kennedy presidency. Shriver spoke to returned volunteers at the Peace Vigil at Lincoln Memorial in September, 2001 for the Peace Corps 40th. "The challenge I believe is simple - simple to express but difficult to fulfill. That challenge is expressed in these words: PCV's - stay as you are. Be servants of peace. Work at home as you have worked abroad. Humbly, persistently, intelligently. Weep with those who are sorrowful, Care for those who are sick. Serve your wives, serve your husbands, serve your families, serve your neighbors, serve your cities, serve the poor, join others who also serve," said Shriver. "Serve, Serve, Serve. That's the answer, that's the objective, that's the challenge." |
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Story Source: Cincinnati.com
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Honduras; Marriage; 1960s; 50th
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