ROGER MONROE

With all the acrimony, the harsh words and anger, I decided this month to talk about a time in our lives when most everyone was happier. We had community leaders who helped make us happy by what they said and did. Here are three:

Pete Vonachen

On Sunday, Aug. 31, the Peoria Chiefs honored the life of Pete Vonachen. It was the day Pete would have turned 100. Sadly, “Mr. Baseball” died June 10, 2013, at the age of 87, but the memories of this great community and business leader will be remembered for decades.

We have professional baseball because of Pete. We have one of the best minor league baseball stadiums because of his leadership. Always a cheerleader for positive thinking, his personality and charm won legions of friends and supporters. I remember fondly the fund-raising dinner held on behalf of the Crittenton Center, though it was to honor Pete. When Pete was first approached, he objected to serving as the focus. He finally agreed when officials said the event would raise money for the charitable agency.

I had the pleasure of serving as master of ceremonies along with my friend Royce Elliott. The highlight was the unveiling of the statue of Pete handing a baseball to a small boy. It was designed by artist Lonnie Stewart. It brought Pete to tears. The statue was later installed at Dozer Park and remains there today.

Pete served in the Navy during World War II and graduated from Bradley University where he later handled concessions at Robertson Memorial Field House. The stories he told about the job were hilarious.

That was a forerunner to ownership of Vonachen Junction, which included Hyatt Lodge and Days Inn. The list of his participation with community agencies and organizations during his lifetime reads like an encyclopedia.

Bruce Saurs

Then there’s Bruce “Mr. Hockey” Saurs. We have professional hockey in Peoria because of this man and the early work of Mark Olson and Pete BardezBanian. Olson and BardezBanian started the hockey movement in Peoria with development of the Peoria Blades. Peoria later became a part of the International League.

Like Pete Vonachen, Saurs was a WWII veteran, serving in the Air Force in Wiesbaden, Germany, and later with the 169th Illinois Air Guard in Peoria. Saurs also attended Bradley University and while a student coached basketball at Lee Grade School. His teams won four city titles. Not content with that sport, he helped start the city’s first Little League baseball program. Saurs taught at Peoria High School and was head baseball coach and assistant coach for basketball. Interestingly, he was on the Peoria High baseball team that played in the state tournament in 1944. I remember the days when he was a manager in the Sunday Morning League.

Saurs is best known for saving professional hockey in Peoria. Historians say the Rivermen were on the way out of the city following six years in the International League due to financial problems. Saurs purchased the team and during his six-year ownership, the Rivermen won the Turner Cup in 1991 and conference title in 1994 and 1995. At one time, the hockey team set a national record when it won 18 consecutive games. The businessman owned two hockey teams in four different leagues

Saurs was a highly successful businessman. Starting as a salesman with Velde Ford in 1956, he later became a partner of several auto dealerships while owner of two businesses in downtown Peoria. He was also deeply involved in charitable causes in central Illinois such as chairing the annual Salvation Army’s Tree of Lights campaign. Saurs received Bradley’s Distinguished Alumnus Award and the United Cerebral Palsy Community Service Award.

Jim Maloof

Let’s see. We have Mr. Baseball and Mr. Hockey.

Could Jim Maloof be tabbed Mr. Mayor? Family members and friends of other mayors would probably argue on their behalf, and rightfully so. There was, however, a uniqueness about the leadership and style of Jim Maloof. No one led the city as cheerleader better than Jim. He was Mr. Positive. When he was elected in 1985, the city was struggling. Many of us remember the infamous, “Last one to leave Peoria, turn out the lights.” Jim made a difference during his terms as Mayor from 1985 to 1997. The lights stayed on and the city moved forward. In 1989 and 1993 Peoria was named an All-American City.

A graduate of Spalding, he, too, was a military veteran, serving in the U.S. Air Force during WWII and achieving the rank of Master Sergeant. He headed Maloof Cleaners on North Monroe from 1946 to 1968 and started Maloof Realtors in 1969. It remains the best-known real estate firm in Peoria primarily because he promoted the business and his agents rather than himself. He spent almost as much time helping others, especially the children of St. Jude Research Hospital. Along with pediatrician Dr. Robert Hart, Jim founded the Memphis hospital’s first national affiliate at Methodist Medical Center in 1972. Jim brought entertainer and television producer Danny Thomas to see first-hand the St. Jude Midwest Affiliate. Thomas spoke at a huge fundraiser. I had the pleasure of serving as master of ceremonies at the sold-out dinner and was on Cloud 9 when he complimented me the next day during a tour of the St. Jude facility.

With his management skills and hard work along with the support of people like Bill Adams, general manager of WEEK-TV, Mike McCoy and Gene Pratt — founders of the St. Jude Runs — millions of dollars have been raised to treat children with cancer and other childhood catastrophic diseases. No child or family pays for the state-of-the-art health care which is now provided at OSF St. Francis Medical Center and at the hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

WE ARE BETTER: Thanks to the accomplishments of these three men and the many who worked with them, Peoria is a better city. Their leadership was amazing. Each had a wonderful sense of humor. So many stories can be told. One of my favorites was when Pete and Jim were on our morning WOAM radio show, “Breakfast with Royce and Roger,” along with George Shadid, Kevin Lyons, and others. Jim broke into singing, “Younger Than Springtime.” When he stopped, I asked Jim, “Did you ever take singing lessons?” Jim said, “No.” George quickly said, “We can tell.” The studio erupted in laughter.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader,” — John Quincy Adams