Peoria Jaycees: 1950's - Page 1
Election fever! The first all-out internal election
campaign was conducted with vociferous campaigning. The Jaycees re-entered the
on-going battle to stamp out prostitution in our city and plunged into the fight
against communist front-organizations.
During the fifties, a major focal point of the Jaycees was the "Heart of
Illinois Fair." They booked shows and exhibits, ran booths, and supplied
the hundreds of man-hours needed for the fair's many jobs and activities. During
1952-53, Jaycees improved Exposition Gardens with new roads, drainage ditches,
sewers, gates, and added a new roof on to the grandstand.
In 1952, leading the fight to bring the Council-Manager form of government to
Peoria, the Jaycees gave this new form of government the first public
endorsement. The Jaycees conducted research and brought full information to area
citizens. They helped form the PCM political party with a slate of candidates.
Then on Election Day, the Jaycees provided rides to the polls and helped police
voting areas to prevent ballot box stuffing. Despite the hazardous road
conditions (the streets were caked with ice), voters came out in force. Nearly
50 percent of them arrived in Jaycee cars to vote for the new form of
government. The chapter was rewarded a Freedoms Foundation award for its
election year activities.
The biggest State Convention to date was held in Peoria in 1953. More than 700
attended the convention banquet. Peoria was host for the state convention again
in 1957.
In 1954, the chapter organized efforts to give wide publicity to the Hoover
report, aimed at reform in federal government programs. Under Gordon Peters'
direction, the Jaycees set up a speakers' bureau and researched the misuses of
federal influence and duplication of projects. Citizens were presented with this
information throughout the city
As a sidelight, during the 1954-55 year, five Jaycee keglers won second place
among 83 teams in the Illinois State Bowling Tournament.
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