Odell Public Library Youth Services Coordinator Katie Rider submitted the press release and took the group photograph.
In late March 2024, Odell Public Library, 307 S. Madison, Street, Morrison, IL, received an amazing $394,000 donation from the Stan and Ruth Mitick Trust. The gift, which was presented by the Miticks’ nephew and Trustee Tom Pons, came at an important time in the Library’s history. Over the past two years, Odell has invested in a new roof; new flooring; a new boiler; and new HVAC systems. The cost of these essential projects has been high, and to receive such a generous donation is a most-welcome breath of fresh air. The gift came as a grand surprise to the Library, but since its announcement, many who knew the Miticks have commented that it is “just the sort of thing” Stan and Ruth would do!
At Odell’s April Board of Directors Meeting, Pons elaborated on the generous gifts that his aunt and uncle left behind. Ruth (née Bealer) was born and raised in Morrison. She became the first of her family to attend a 4-year college. As luck would have it, she made her way to the University of Colorado. There she met Stan, a Denver native, who had recently returned from the European Theater of Operations, having served [as a bomber Pilot] in the Army Air Force, during the Second World War. The couple was married August 27, 1948, and settled in Morrison several years later.
Ruth was a passionate Educator with a career spanning some 38 years in the field. Starting as a Girl’s Physical Education Teacher, she went on to teach Remedial Reading, and later helped struggling students in a variety of subjects. Aside from her dedication to education, Ruth was an avid Golfer, Historian, and outdoors-person. In 1980, Ruth and Stan moved into a home on 2.5 acres of wooded ravine. There, the couple designed and built “switchback” trails throughout the property. The trails were open to the public and the pair, especially Ruth, tended to and enjoyed them for more than 40 years. Ruth passed away at the age of 95 on August 25, 2021.
Ruth and Stan Mitick are shown at the Forest Inn Restaurant in Morrison [photo provided by Tom Pons.]
Though born and raised in Colorado, Stan quickly became a mainstay in the Morrison community. Starting on November 28, 1949, Stan put his degree in Mechanical Engineering to good use, as one of the first Engineers for General Electric Appliance Control Department. Between his 43 years of full-time employment and another 19 on a part-time basis, Mitick gave an impressive 61 years to the company. During that time, Stan also served in many civic roles, including 21 years on the Board of Morrison Community Hospital; 20+ years as a Friend of the Parks; an Advisory Board Member of the Morrison Education Foundation since its inception. Stan passed at the age of 97 on December 15, 2020.
Together, the couple invested their time and energy into the community they loved. Tom Pons recalled, “Morrison meant a lot to them, and education was so, so important to them both.”
Stan and Ruth valued learning, which is why this round of giving went entirely to educational institutions. Beyond their generosity to Odell, the Miticks left gifts to Sauk Valley College Foundation; Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico Education Foundation; Morrison Education Foundation; University of Colorado. Odell could not be more grateful for their gift, which strengthens the Library’s mission to inspire life-long learning in the community. The Miticks’ legacy is sure to live on for many generations.
Seated are Mary and Tom Pons. Standing left-to-right is the Odell Board of Directors: Jess Wroble; President Marc Adami; Chris VanderLeest; Judy Deter; Nora Wenzel; Anne Mills, Library Director Meridith Layne; Heather Bush.
