2004 Year in Review

Celebrating Morrison Rockwood State Park

Guests at the noon luncheon.

Roy Velde (right) and DNR officials.

Guests preparing for the bus ride tour.

Roger Drey and Lowell Jacobs at the Memorial Park.

Richard Groharing and Mike Boland at the Memorial Park.

Norm Bruins, Richard Groharing, Mike Boland and Roy Velde.

On a sunny Thursday afternoon, September 16, 2004, local businessman and co-chairman of the original committee responsible for the park Roy Velde invited a host of local and state dignitaries for lunch at the park.

Mr. Velde gathered the 33 individuals for the meal served at Morrison-Rockwood Marina and Restaurant at noon and after introductions he offered a history of how the original park committee was formed in 1966 with final state and local approvals in 1972. The original dedication pamphlet was included in the handouts and showed the official event occurred August 4, 1972 at 1:30 p.m. The two original co-chairmen of the committee were on hand to recount the history, Roy Velde and Stan Domack. The original committee members also were Al Zuidema, Erwin Stralow, L. Null, Mark Olson, Harry Watt and Alvin Shawver. All were members of the Morrison Lions Club, which was the park sponsor, and the Lioness Club who supported the event were Phyllis Stralow and Elaine Drehmer.

After the lunch, which included a choice of any item on the menu and/or a dessert of fresh rhubarb cobbler and ice cream, Mr. Velde enjoyed re-telling stories of the original dedication day in 1972. On hand that day included then Governor of Illinois Richard B. Ogilvie and his wife.

Mr. Velde remembered a sit down lunch at Jul’s Farm Restaurant at Rock Falls with the governor and his wife. The governor’s wife asked why Mr. Velde’s wife was not present and Roy answered there was not enough room in the several vehicle governor’s motorcade. That said, lunch concluded and the motorcade proceeded from Rock Falls to Morrison and as it so happened the Velde’s lived near the new park. As the long motorcade approached Roy’s home, the governor’s wife leaned over to Governor Ogilvie with a whisper and at the Governor’s command the entire motorcade stopped suddenly in front of Roy’s house. Governor Ogilvie got out of his limousine and went to the house front door, knocked and when Mrs. Velde answered he introduced himself as Governor Ogilvie and requested she ride in his limousine to the park dedication. Of course she accepted and Roy proudly exclaimed, that was a great story for his wife to retell at many bridge club meetings.

Many local and state dignitaries were on hand to recall both memories of the early days of the park and the importance of the park for Morrison and all who use it for recreation. Rep. Jerry Mitchell recalled the many times he has brought his children to the lake for fishing. Jack Ottosen remembered the road that used to pass through what is now the middle of the lake and Stephanie Vavra informed the group the many times her Girl Scouts have utilized the camping facilities.

Roger Stuart gave a detailed account of his work each winter preparing the frozen lake for speed skaters and his affection for making the park accessible to as many groups as practical.

The group boarded a bus donated by R.C. Smith Transportation and with park superintendent Mike Challand as tour director, a full park tour was held. Morrison-Rockwood Park is only one of three Illinois parks with equestrian (horse) trails and facilities. The park also has a well-managed model airplane field, showers for campers, playground area for children and many individual trailer locations.

After the park tour a smaller group continued into Morrison and visited the new Morrison Veteran’s Park and Memorial. Mayor Drey and Dick Groharing described work completed and how the 105mm Howitzer cannon was ordered and delivered. The Memorial Park continues to be expanded upon with individual brick pavers being available for purchase and can be personalized. Proceeds go towards the overall budget of the park and will be placed around the memorial stones. The viewing stand is currently being renovated and moved with hopes most of the project will be complete by Memorial Day 2005.

The complete list of guests are as follows: Roy Williams, DNR, Legislative Representative to State Senate; Russ Breckenridge, DNR, Legislative Representative to House of Representatives; Joel Brunsvold, Director Department of Natural Resources; Tony Mayville, DNR, Director of Land Management and Education; Jim Modglin, Regional Land Manager Department of Natural Resources; Mike Challand, Assistant Superintendent Morrison Rockwood State Park; Senator Denny Jacobs, State Senator District 36; Senator Todd Sieben, State Senator District 45; Representative Mike Boland, State Representative District 71; Steve Haring, Republican Candidate State Representative District 71; Representative Pat Verschoore, State Representative District 72; Representative Jerry Mitchell, State Representative District 90; Lowell Jacobs, County Democratic Chairman; Roger Drey, Mayor of Morrison; Richard Groharing, Chairman Historic Preservation Committee; Jody Ware, Superintendent of Morrison Schools; Everett Pannier, Morrison Area Development Committee; Jack Ottosen, President of Morrison Historical Society; Robert Vaughn, President Morrison Chamber and owner of thecity1.com of Commerce; Stephanie Vavra, Sesquicentennial Committee; Ann Slavin, Friends of the Park; Roger Stuart, Friends of the Park; Ken Tenboer, President Morrison Lions Club; Stan Domack, (father co-chair of original Park Committee; Norm Bruins, Morrison Parks Donor; Sarah Thorndike, Whiteside News-Sentinel; Grace Whitten, Whiteside West; Richard Hamstra, R.C. Smith Transportation; Jane Heath, Morrison Sesquicentennial Committee

by  Editor, theCity1.com
September 17, 2004