How many of us have heard someone described as a “pillar of the community?”
It’s a phrase that may seem overused at times. When I think of someone who is a pillar of the community, I think of someone who will volunteer for various community projects when asked and perhaps will suggest new projects as well.
Another fair definition would be someone who serves the community in a public way for many years or who conducts a business in such a way that draws positive attention to his or her hometown.
In the last week, we have had a chance to honor three people who are the very definition of a pillar of the community. One served in elective office, one taught many of our children how to swim and another headed a quality business whose work is known around the Midwest. They have done this for a grand total of almost 120 years!
When Bob Storm decided to run for the Belle Plaine Park Board, he probably didn’t know that it was to become a 30-year adventure. He recently decided not to run for another six-year term, after being elected five times. What’s more, he served as the president of the board for his entire tenure.
Bob will say one of the secrets of a good governing board is to know who to hire to handle the day-to-day operations of the agency, offer guidance where needed, then step back and let the professionals work. Belle Plaine is fortunate that is has had a city council that has been supportive of a vibrant parks and recreation program for many years. There are undoubtedly many cities of our size in this and other states that are nowhere near as advanced in providing the recreational activities that are available here. Of course, a series of good park and recreation directors is vital to make this happen. But you still need a strong governing board to help with the budget, make decisions on improvements and guide the director. Bob was a part of that board for many years.
If you are a part of a successful program for many years, when you decide to move on, you can be assured that you have left a positive imprint on it. Whenever Bob drives by Box Park or Franklin Park or meets a young man or woman who has gone on to achieve great things after being a part of the recreation program as a youngster, Bob should rightfully feel a lot of pride in what he did to help form that person’s future.
Back in 1958, when Nadine Thomasson agreed to give Red Cross swimming lessons at the Belle Plaine swimming pool, if someone had told her she would be doing it for the next 50 years, nobody would have blamed her if she had said, “I don’t think so!” and run the other way.
During the other parts of the year, she was supporting her husband in his dental business and helping to raise three sons. But in the summer, she took on the task of teaching many people how to respect and enjoy the water. And we’re not talking about five or six kids per summer. Hundreds of mostly children took lessons each year. There were probably plenty of them who can thank Nadine and her assistants for giving them the ability to save their lives when they got into difficult situations on the water.
She started the year after the Belle Plaine pool opened and had input in the design of the bathhouse. She decided that when the old pool was replaced, it would be a good time to give someone else the chance to teach the swim lessons. But she was also on the committee that planned the new aquatics center and is looking forward to it opening this spring. But for the first time in more than half a century, she will be able to go swimming if and when she wants.
Enjoy the new aquatics center, Nadine, you deserve it!
Nearly 40 years ago, a young man picked up a hammer and began working on building projects with his father. When he measured that first board or drove that first nail, did he have any way of knowing he would have a hand in creating places of business, learning, worship and many others that would affect literally thousands?
When church boards, school boards or heads of business are planning facility improvements, they usually have a choice of several general contractors. For many years, Garling Construction has built some of the most impressive, cost efficient and quality buildings in and around the state of Iowa. And when you consider that the nerve center for this business has been headquartered in a little town in southwest Benton County all these years, it’s really amazing.
Denny Garling went into business with his father back in 1971. Over the years, the business has grown to the point where many of the more modern Casey’s convenience stores, many schools, churches and other business buildings have been created under the watchful eye of Denny and Barb Garling.
Over the years, I’ve been privileged to meet some people who have accomplished some great things. One of the things that is generally universal among all these people is that they may fall short on blatant self-promotion. Long before the shoe company adopted the slogan “Just Do It,” Denny, Nadine and Bob were practicing it.
I’ve been acquainted with Denny since I arrived in Belle Plaine. I’ve had the honor of seeing many of the building projects his firm has created. I’ve complimented him on his company’s workmanship. While he quietly accepts the comments, he is certainly not one to draw attention to himself in a shallow, blatant way. He lets the work done by his company and talented staff speak for itself.
Denny Garling has done much more than put Belle Plaine on the map with a quality business. He has been involved in many civic endeavors over the years. One of his last building projects involved a lot of community service and should give him plenty of satisfaction. He was the general contractor for the Habitat for Humanity home completed late last year in the city. It was the first Habitat home built in Belle Plaine. It not only gave someone a warm and inviting place to live, it also showed that if you have a good building plan and can recruit and guide volunteers, it can happen.
Another quality of people who achieve great things for many years is the fact that in many cases, they will not rest on past accomplishments. Even as Bob, Nadine and Denny step aside from the activities they have done for these many years, they are undoubtedly looking to the future to see where they might serve again.
Leading by example – a true measure of a pillar of the community!