Pat Lewis, former administrator for Springdale Cemetery, was excited about his decision to run for a seat on the Peoria County Board. He told me he had been urged to run against fellow Republican Brian Elsasser by both Republicans and Democrats. Elsasser was vulnerable for a couple of missteps including an ill-advised attempt to scuttle plans to award a contract for steel structure for the new Bel-Wood Nursing Home in West Peoria. Elsasser, in a last minute maneuver, wanted to delay a vote so a company that employed a relative of his, could be considered. It didn’t work.
However, Lewis did not cite Elsasser’s behavior as motivation for his desire to get into politics. “I feel I could contribute to local government,” he told me weeks ago. So he planned to circulate petitions, talk to people, and campaign. Then the phone started ringing at the Lewis household. First it was Elsasser urging him to get out of the race. “It wasn’t the most pleasant phone conversation I ever had,” he recalled. Then came a call from Rudy Lewis, no relation to Pat, but chairman of the Peoria County Republican Central Committee. No encouragement there. Then a usual clear thinking Bob Baietto called. If you get the feeling pressure was being placed on Lewis to get out, you’re right. Strange how in America and right here in Peoria one would think people interested in serving would be congratulated and encouraged especially those new “to the game.”
I learned that Lewis had decided to drop out of the race from a Democrat. A call to Pat’s house confirmed it. “At this point in my life, I want to feel comfortable,” he told me. He added that the stress of running was just too much. Harry Truman once said, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Pat Lewis didn’t even get into the kitchen after what his own party did to him. Shameful. By the way, I was the one who recruited Bob Baietto to run for the county board.
HE’S RUNNING
In other courthouse news, former assistant state’s attorney, Frank Ireulli, is definitely running against Jerry Brady for Peoria County state’s attorney. Brady was Kevin Lyon’s choice when Lyons accepted the appointment to become a judge. In reality, both Brady and Iruelli are Democrats. However, Iruelli was under the mistaken impression Lyons was going to recommend him, say Democrat insiders. When Lyons named Brady, Iruelli reportedly decided he would run as a Republican even though he ran as a Democrat during a recent campaign for judge. To help Iruelli, Gary Stella, as vice chairman of the 2nd Ward Republican Club, invited him to a meeting to get acquainted with other Republicans. I’m told Iruelli accepted the invitation but didn’t attend the most recent gathering. Politics. Don’t you just love it!
FIRST HALL OF FAME
BASKETBALL CLASS
INCLUDES PEORIANS
The Illinois High School Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum held its first induction ceremony in Champaign, Illinois. It’s a new organization founded “to recognize the top teams, coaches, and players who have contributed to the success of high school basketball in Illinois, and to capture the nostalgia and emotion of the eras.” While there’s no museum yet, they did hold an inaugural induction ceremony for its first class of induction on the University of Illinois campus Saturday night, November 5. And Peoria was well-represented from emcee Jerry Hester, a Manual basketball player who later played at Illinois, to the athletes who were members of the first class of athletes to be honored. The two Peoria inductees were Howard Nathan of Manual and Nora Lewis of Richwoods. Lewis led the Lady Knights to the 1983 state title, then second place in 1984, settling for third in 1985. In each year she was the tournament’s leading scorer and was National Player of the Year in 1985 finishing as the number 2 scorer in state history. She was the first four-time All Stater in Illinois history.
In 1991, Nathan was named “Mr. Basketball in Illinois” and a McDonald’s All American. That year he averaged 20 points a game and was the leading scorer in the state tournament. He was the first Peorian to play in the NBA.
While he wasn’t from Peoria, Bobby Joe Mason, who played for Bradley, was a member of the first induction class for his play at Centralia High School. He was All State in basketball and football in 1954. That same year Mason was the state pole vault champion. Of course, everyone who follows Mason knows he was a member of the Harlem Globetrotters from 1962 to 1974.
PEORIA HALL OF FAME
The Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction banquet, Sunday, April 1, at the Civic Center. No fooling. Howard Nathan is one of four to be honored at that event. The other three are Al Carius, Dave Golden, and Chuck Buescher. Carius of Morton made a name for himself as a distance runner at Morton High School and then the University of Illinois before achieving greatness as an outstanding track coach. Dave Golden of Pekin had quite a basketball record at Pekin High School and then Duke University. Chuck Buescher is well-known as coach of the Central basketball Lions for many championship years. He also served as an assistant to Coach Jim Les at Bradley.
Nominees for the next induction class are now being accepted. If readers would like to nominate someone, please submit a complete resume of the nominee to any member of the Hall of Fame board.
TAIN’T FUNNY MCGEE
I wonder how many readers of my generation remember listening, yes listening, to Fibber McGee and Molly on the radio. That program, featuring Peorians Jim Jordan and Marian Driscoll, won more awards than just about anyone in those days. Leo Jordan, a fellow Woodruff High School graduate (different class), has a very large collection of Fibber and Molly memorabilia. Leo’s father was Jim Jordan’s brother so Leo has ownership of items from actual program scripts to recordings to awards and trophies presented to the Peoria twosome. There’s even a painting of a clown done by comedian Red Skelton that was a gift to the Jordans. Skelton hand scribbled a note on the back of his painting to Jim and Marian.
As Leo explained and described the various items, I couldn’t help but recall some of the program conversations from the Great Gildersleeve to Mr. Wimple. One of the highlights of every show was when Fibber was told not to open the closet door. He always did and crash went everything.
I hope Leo will consider donating some of his keepsakes to the new museum and then give me the Red Skelton painting. I checked the Internet and at least one of Red’s paintings has an asking price of $19,000.
AN IDEA FOR MUSEUM
Every time I drive by the statue of Abraham Lincoln, the under-sized statue, at the Courthouse, I think how great it would be to have other statues of famous Peorians either outside or inside the new museum. There should be an entertainment section that would include bronze statues of Jim Jordan and Marian Driscoll as Fibber McGee and Molly along with statues of Richard Pryor, Charles Correll as “Andy” of “Amos and Andy,” and, of course, the talented singer and composer, Dan Fogelberg.
There should also be a section for sports. Jim Thome’s statue should be prominent as would a statue of the great broadcaster, Jack Brickhouse. Military heroes? We have a few like General Wayne Downing and Hal Fritz, the area’s only Medal of Honor recipient. It’s just an idea.
A SAD NOTE
The Roger Monroe family lost a dear friend in November. It was totally unexpected. He was just 50, but we remember when he was a young boy attending Sterling Grade School with our sons Dan and Zack. Later it was Peoria High School. He went on to the Colorado School of Mines where he earned a degree in geology and then a law degree from the University of Illinois. Washington D.C. and a prominent law firm beckoned him to make an important career move. A marriage presented him with three lovely daughters followed by an unfortunate divorce and then another marriage and his first son. Our dear friend loved to laugh and make others laugh. He enjoyed my Royce Elliott jokes, eager to share later with his law partners. And then his world ended for some unknown and some known reasons. He took his own life. How tragic for his grief stricken children, for his sister Pat, for us, for his friends. We’ll remember Lewis T. Putman, Jr. forever. He was a joy in our lives.
SANTA PARADE
They did it again! It was another successful Santa Claus Parade in downtown Peoria. Congratulations to Sue Stockman, chairman, and all the volunteers and participants for job well-done.
I remember with fondness past parades as a child and then as father of two sons. The parade did as much to capture the spirit of the season as shopping and wrapping presents. How much fun it was to see the large downtown crowds and all the stores from Bergners to Block and Kuhl’s to Kresge’s to Newberrys to Grants. It was a joy to stand and watch with our sons the mechanical holiday displays in the windows of Bergners and Block and Kuhl; always the best.
CHRISTMAS IS……
The carols proclaim it, the stores show it, the Christmas cards exclaim it. This is “a wonderful time of the year.” Andy Williams says so in song and we believe it. The smiles are everywhere except when people push and shove during Black Friday or when three shoppers are trying to buy the last two of something.
The realization of what Christmas is finally settles in on Christmas Eve when the shopping is over, the presents wrapped and peace, at last, wraps around us. We’ll turn the lights down and gaze at the tree with its colored lights and cheerful ornaments and decorations. Then we recall the words found in Chapter 2 of Luke:
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night.
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around about them; and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
GOD BLESS YOU & YOURS