1940s · 1950s · 1960s · 1970s · 1980s · 1990s · 2000s

1949 National DSA Banquet - Page 1

The 1949 National Distinguished Service Award (DSA) Banquet project was chaired by Charles Schlink, with several smaller project committees under this project. Chapter president for the 1949-50 year was Ray Neumann.

The idea of bringing the National Junior Chamber of Commerce DSA to Peoria started with a letter from Ray Neumann to then chapter president Charles Schlink, dated February 3, 1949. "What does St. Joesph, MO got that Peoria doesn't?" the letter quoted. [St. Joesph, MO hosted the DSA the year before] On May 19, 1949, the Peoria Jaycees sent in their bid consisting of a check list and signed contract. In addition, a certified check for $4,000 was drawn, ready to be presented to the executive committee of the US Jaycees on June 7, 1949 in Colorado Springs. On June 8, 1949, in a Western Union telegram from Charles Schlink, who was in Colorado Springs, stated "Peoria was selected today as the site for the 1950 DSA Banquet of the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce." The project was given to the Peoria Jaycees.

The 1950 National Distinguished Service Award Banquet, held on January 21, 1950 at the Shrine Mosque in Peoria, IL. It recognized the ten most outstanding young men of 1949.

The June 16, 1949 issue of The Peoria News ran a story regarding the project. The article, titled "Jaycees Do It Again - Peoria Site of National Honor," stated that Peoria beat out Westwood Village, Los Angeles and Baltimore, the final cities in the balloting. So on July 25, 1949, the first committee meeting was held at the home of Charles Schlink. The project was under way.

The winners of the Distinguished Service Awards were: Harold Russell, age 35, national president of the Amvets; Gerald R. Ford, age 36, congressman from Michigan; Charles Harting Percy, age 30, president of Bell & Howell; Robert L. Floyd, age 31, former mayor of Miami; C.B. "Bud" Wilkinson, age 33, coach, Oklahoma University football team; Charles E. Hastings, age 35, outstanding inventor; John B. Shepperd, age 34, lawyer; Theodore Roosevelt III, age 35, secretary of commerce, Pennsylvania; Franklin D. Murphy, age 33, dean, University of Kansas School of Medicine; and Kenneth Sanborn Pitzer, age 35, director, division of the US Atomic Energy Commission.

Next page