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.
It's an amazing feat that he was only the second director of the park district, and stayed in that role for nearly 30 years, setting the course for the next two directors. This community and our parks are better places because of leaders like Ray. While I haven't seen him in recent years, I remember his smile, his wit and his kindness.
This former cub reporter says, 'Thanks, Ray.'
