One of my first jobs after graduating from Western Illinois University was as a writer for what was then the Macomb Daily Journal. I was 21, fresh out of college, and staying in a town that I had grown to love after transferring to WIU a few years before. I didn't know many of the city's leaders when I started, but I soon met them. But the man that I met fairly quickly – and had the privilege of working with in some capacity throughout the years following – was the Director of Macomb Parks Ray Peterson.
Ray always had – and made – time for the media. He talked to us, he explained park district matters to us and he was a great source of information (and he had a great sense of humor). I appreciated his down-to-earth demeanor and his wit. And his patience … while I had wonderful journalism teachers at the U, I was green.
New to public meetings and how public bodies worked. I still remember his grin (and sometimes a chuckle) when I asked something that seemed obvious; yet, he never made me feel silly for asking.
After I left the Macomb Journal, I covered the region for the Peoria Journal Star, so I still got to talk to Ray about park district stories. Later, when I started working at WIU in the PR department, our paths crossed occasionally when the University and Park District partnered on events.
Whenever I saw him, I always got a smile and we got to chat for a minute. And then, when we had our daughter, I got to see Ray when we enjoyed Macomb's parks. He was the face of the Macomb Park District.
