Peoria Jaycees: 1940's - Page 2
1946-1947 saw the emergence of two significant
projects. One was "Senior Residents' Day," in which Jaycees
volunteered their time and cars to take residents of the city's retirement
centers on tours of the area. Second, was “Rat Control”, an intensive
program designed to make the public conscious of the need for controlling the
rat population.
The first "Home Show" was sponsored in 1947 at the Armory. The show
was the biggest profit maker ever! The proceeds were placed in a trust fund to
be used for civic projects and to finance chapter activities for several years.
Later that year, the Jaycees turned to public safety with a "Bike
Registration" program. All bicycles in the city were registered and the
riders given basic safety information. Twenty-three states participated in the
first "National Junior Golf Tournament" held at Mt. Hawley Golf Course
and sponsored by the Peoria chapter. This has since become a yearly event in
many cities across the country.
In 1948-49, the chapter was awarded the Harold A. Marks trophy, for first place
in chapter standing among the 1,800 plus Jaycee groups nationwide. The chapter
sponsored "Your Candidate Speaks" giving candidates of both parties
for all offices radio time to express their views and policies. "Johnny No
Vote" was burned in effigy at the corner of Main and Jefferson. Jaycees and
their wives "adopted" children from city orphanages for a night at the
theater.
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The 1949 National Distinguished Service Award Banquet in Peoria.
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1949-1950 was a banner year for the Peoria
Jaycees. The membership was at a record high of 570 men. An intensive 20-day
membership drive resulted in the signing of nearly 300 members. National
attention was focused on Peoria this year, as the Jaycees sponsored the 1949
National Distinguished Service Award presentation. This country's 10
outstanding young men came to Peoria for the awards dinner and related
recognition. This banquet has since evolved into the "National Ten
Outstanding Young Persons in America" program. Among the top 10 honored at
the Shrine Mosque the night of Jan.21, 1950 was Gerald R. Ford, 36, the new U.S.
representative from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Also among the 10 were Charles
Percy, the 30-year-old president of Bell and Howell, the youngest chief
executive of a major industrial concern and Kenneth Pitzer, 35, director of
research for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
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