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Biography

Sworn in as Recorder of Deeds on January 3, 2023, Honorable Eugenia Thornton brings, literally, a world of experience to the job. Gene served 27 years as a personnel and public affairs officer in the US Army.  As a personnel officer, supervised many staffs with responsibility for creating and maintaining public records and, when in her role as Public Affairs Officer, she released and explained records to the American public.  Gene retired as a colonel and returned to Delaware in 2000 where she became the President of Kent County Heart Association and later the Southern Delaware Heart Association.  Gene helped create and approve property records for 13 years as one of seven Kent County Planning Commissioners.  Then, she joined the Friends of the Delaware Public Archives Board where property records are retired.  Gene is certified by American University in Public Records Keeping and is working on certification by the National Association of Government Archivists and Records Administrators.  She belongs to the Property Records Industry Association and has a master’s degree in Public Administration.  Gene was married to Lieutenant Colonel Donovan Jagger for 42 years until his death in 2020.  She enjoys reading, scrapbooking, and competing with her dog, Dolly, in many AKC activities.