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Lynn Gordon is a gifted musician who lights up a room with one of the most beautiful smiles you've ever seen. Her husband, Ken, an educator with Guilford County Schools, also volunteers as State Games Chairman for Special Olympics. They make a great team. Now, for the rest of the story!

When Lynn was about 3 years old, her pediatrician, Dr. Samuel Ravenel of Greensboro, diagnosed her with the debilitating disease that ravaged Greensboro and the nation at one time: infantile paralysis, more commonly known as polio.

Ravenel and other Greensboro leaders raised more than $100,000 in only 12 days when the first polio epidemic hit Greensboro. A "polio hospital" was built on Summit and Bessemer avenues.

Lynn was taken from the arms of her parents, Don and Betty Moore of Greensboro, to this hospital. Her parents were not allowed to visit her for the first 10 days, and she was put in isolation at the hospital.

During the next four months, her parents were allowed to visit her at the polio hospital only for one hour each Sunday. There was no touching or holding the polio children.

After she was released from the hospital, Lynn's parents continued for two years the hot water bath therapy that the hospital prescribed. Finally, she was fitted for a full leg brace on her left leg and used crutches, which she called, "my helpers."

At the age of 5, she was chosen as the Greensboro Shriner poster child and for many years enjoyed being part of their conventions.

By the third grade, Lynn's legs were substantially different in length. As she grew into adulthood, she had repeated leg surgeries.

"Even though the surgeries to my afflicted leg took many, many months of bed-restriction, it was worth it," Lynn said.

"Being only 5 feet 2 inches in height, I tell people that they may think I'm short, but inside I know I'm tall."

Lynn's mother once said to her, "Either you can pity yourself your whole life or be a stronger person and overcome an adversity."

She took her mother's advice and became a stronger person.

"I feel much like other polio survivors, " Lynn said. "The disease has caused me to be more perseverant, more self-driven and more independent. I and others with polio were told over and over that there was nothing we could not do if we set our minds on it -- and I believed it."

At age 41/2, she was introduced to piano lessons, and a great love developed between her and the piano. In addition, her voice developed so that she became a gifted singer, as well.

Mrs. Alan Turner taught Lynn piano until she was in the seventh grade. Then she continued with George Kiorpes at UNCG until she went to Meredith College.

"What Mrs. Turner began in my very young years -- the love of music and the piano -- then became my entire life," Lynn said.

Until 1965, Lynn and her family attended Muir's Chapel United Methodist Church, where her parents were dedicated to the choir and the youth ministry.

As a fourth-grader, Lynn was given the opportunity to play for youth Sunday school assemblies and later for the Men's Bible Class at Muir's Chapel.

Another memorable influence on Lynn's life was Jean Meredith, a soprano soloist at Grace United Methodist Church.

"She's one of the people who told me that I needed to be a teacher, using my enthusiasm and love of music and people," Lynn said.

After graduating from Meredith College, where she majored in music education and piano, she return to Greensboro for a fulfilling career -- directing church choirs, leading children's music programs, teaching piano and having a family. Lynn is now the coordinator of the contemporary worship service and the children's worship service at Christ United Methodist Church.

"I'm very proud of the gifted and devoted musicians we have serving on our two praise teams. The music we sing represents many different musical styles but always is Bible-centered in its message," Lynn said.

"People like the life messages that have become the lyrics of the new church music. Many people have shared with me how the current repertoire touches hearts."

"The stress, the loneliness, the hurt experienced now by so many are represented in the first-person songs crying out to the Lord as David cried out in the Psalms in the Old Testament," Lynn said.

"I also love working with children. I have three children's choirs from the ages of 4 through the sixth grade. I feel that children need to get hooked by music at a young age. It's something that they can have to bring them joy and comfort their entire lives," Lynn said.

"Many times I have been exhausted by all the concerns of the day, and I've gone to the piano and lost myself, in time and space, as I played and sang."

Lynn's husband, Ken, is starting his 13th year of teaching at Western Guilford High School and is teaching five classes of advanced-placement U. S. history. He also has taught civics, economics, world history, and advanced-placement U.S. government.

Asked what is the most important lesson he tries to instill in his students, Ken replied, "To think for themselves!"

"That is all a historian does --interpret the historical information which allows them to come to their own conclusion. That's what I try to get my history students to do: analysis, synthesize, and determine causes and effect. Also, hopefully, I can instill a little understanding of our past, too," Ken said.

Ken, a Marine veteran, has also coached football, track, baseball and basketball at Western Guilford High School.

He said, "I hope that, by my having coached so many different kids, that some have, at some point in their life, remembered something from our time together that helped make their life a little easier."

Ken summed up well how he and Lynn have worked as a team with youth and adults in the Greensboro community:

"Lynn has helped me at school, and I have helped her at church. Together, I hope that we present ourselves as a couple that love and respect each other and that we have at the center of our life, our marriage, our work, the blessings of our Savior."

There's no doubt that they have blessed the lives of others and "made a difference" through music and education.

If you would like to nominate a person who has made a difference in the lives of others in Guilford County, contact Peggy Longmire at 288-9040 or send e-mail to her at rlongmire@triad.rr.com