Hillsboro native honors former community leaders at banquet
Editors note: At the Hillsboro Community Foundation's annual dinner Nov. 6, Hillsboro native and present USD 410 superintendent Gordon Mohn shared these thoughts and recollections about former leaders in our community.
We thought you might enjoy reading excerpts of Mohn's remarks, and perhaps be challenged to emulate the lives and deeds of those he remembered.
By GORDON MOHN
USD 410 Superintendent
On the invitation you received for this evening from the Hillsboro Community Foundation, tonight's banquet was described as a time to "celebrate the introduction and establishment of the Hillsboro Area Impact Fund."
I would like to suggest that we extend this celebration beyond a celebration of the establishment of this fund to a celebration of our community. Tonight let's take a moment to look at what makes Hillsboro and our surrounding community a good place to live. And let's celebrate that as well as the establishment of this fund.
On a summer evening in Belleville, in 1989, my wife Vicky and I were on a walk and I mentioned that the high school principal's position in Hillsboro was open. When we had left Hillsboro in 1971, both of us were sure that we would never return. To my surprise, she said "Gordon, maybe you ought to apply, it would be a good place for our family."
I applied, accepted the principalship, and now, 17 years later, we believe that decision was one of the best we have ever made. We now have three children who grew up in Hillsboro, as well as a son and daughter-in-law who have chosen to live in Hillsboro to raise their family. Our family has benefited from this community; a community that values children and places a high priority on maintaining a high quality of life for all our residents.
Because of my position as school superintendent I have many opportunities to visit other schools and communities in rural Kansas. From my observations it is evident that rural Kansas is experiencing changes that have profound effects on our communities.
Just last year, over 200 of the nearly 300 school districts in Kansas experienced a decline in enrollment; a reflection of a changing population in Kansas. Just last Saturday night I spoke to former HMS principal Corey Burton, who indicated that their athletic league (Mid-Continent) had several schools that would be playing eight-man football in the next several years (Hill City, Stockton, Plainville, Osborne).
As I mentioned earlier, prior to returning to Hillsboro, Vicky and I lived in Belleville, the final stop in Kansas as you travel north on U.S.-81. Since we left in 1989, school enrollment has declined by nearly 30 percent; the kindergarten class last year had an enrollment of 19 students, and two of the major industries in the community have closed, costing over 100 jobs. It is clearly a community in decline.
These changes in populations have a tremendous impact on our communities. I think it would be fair to say that many rural communities in Kansas are on the decline. While quality of life may remain high, it is an increasing challenge for communities to remain healthy and viable.
This brings me to the question for this evening. Why aren't we seeing this decline in Hillsboro and our surrounding community? What's the difference between us and the rest of rural Kansas?
I would suggest that the answer to these questions is simple. The reason Hillsboro continues to be healthy lies in our greatest resource: PEOPLE.
People like each of you
who have chosen to reside in our community;
who continue to be willing to invest in our future;
who are proud of what we have; and
who hold quality of life as a high priority.
Throughout our program tonight I would like to share with you my impressions about what makes Hillsboro a good place to live. Tonight you are going to be asked to financially support the Hillsboro Community Foundation. We want you to know why the foundation believes that an investment in our community is a worthwhile endeavor.
Several years ago, I had the privilege to hear Robert Kennedy, Jr. (Bobby Kennedy's son) speak about his experience of growing up as a Kennedy. What I remember most about what he said was that his father always taught them that "to whom much is given much is expected."
In comparison to much of the world, each of us, regardless of our financial situation, has been blessed. We are the ones to whom much has been given. And because of these gifts — much is expected from each of us.
I was born here in 1950, I graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1968, and from Tabor College in 1972. After living away from Hillsboro, Vicky and I returned to Hillsboro in 1989, after 17 years of living in other small communities in Kansas.
This evening I would like to share with you some of my observations while living in Hillsboro. Please remember, these are my experiences.
They are the things that made an impression on me. They are the things that made a difference in my life.
While none of you will have had the same experiences as I have. I would hope the sharing of my experiences will remind you of people and things that made a difference in your life.
The first experience I would like to share with you has to do with my father. Many of you probably know Ollie Mohn. He sold International Harvester farm equipment in Marion County for over 40 years.
When we returned to Hillsboro, Dad reminded me that I needed to be grateful to the farmers in Marion County, since they were responsible for putting shoes on my feet as a youngster.
There are two things that I learned from my father that I think apply to this evening's activities.
(1) You have to believe in something before you can sell it. Dad was convinced that the only farm machinery worth buying had to be International Harvester red. Green and orange were not good colors in the Mohn household. Dad believed in what he sold and worked hard to make sure that it lived up to his customer's expectations.
Before I consented to serve on the board of the Hillsboro Community Foundation I had to be convinced that the foundation was a worthy cause. Before you can support this foundation we have an obligation to convince you that we are a worthy cause. Just like dad couldn't sell something he didn't believe in, I could not stand before you tonight without being convinced that investing in this foundation is worth your commitment.
(2) The other thing I learned from my dad was that selling you something is a service to you. Many times I heard farmers thank my dad for selling them a piece of equipment. Shouldn't it be the other way around — the seller thanks the customer?
Dad had the ability to convince his customers that investing in what he had to sell benefited them at least as much as it benefited himself.
I'm convinced that your investment in this foundation can benefit you and our community. My hope is that you will see your gift as an investment in continuing to make our community a great place to live.
As we proceed this evening, my hope is that you are reminded of those people who you admired; those people who were positive examples to you; and the people who have and continue to contribute to our community.
As we reflect on the things that make Hillsboro a good place to live I am reminded of those in our community who have been and continue to be active in various volunteer and community service organizations:
Hillsboro Lions Club, Hillsboro Kiwanis — HHS Key Club, Hillsboro Golf Association, Parkside Homes, Salem Hospital/Hillsboro Community Foundation, Marion County Fair Board, Hillsboro Development Corporation, Hillsboro City Council, Tabor College Board, and USD 410 Board of Education
The foundation board continues that proud tradition of service to our community:
Brad Bartel, vice chairman, Jim Brennan, Marcella Bruce, Delores Dalke, Steve Garrett, secretary/treasurer Jayson Hanschu, Kim Kaufman, Mike Kleiber, chairman, and former board members: Kirby Fadenrecht and Wilmer Thiessen.
At this time Marcella Bruce will offer a few comments from the Foundation Board. Marcella and her husband Bud were partners in our local newspaper. I can't think of one without thinking of the other.
Their Hillsboro Star-Journal was truly a community newspaper. Bud and Marcella did everything they could to build community.
Today Hillsboro is privileged to have two of the best weekly newspapers in Kansas.
Both papers reflect the tradition established by Bud and Marcella. Hillsboro Star-Journal (Grant Overstake) and the Hillsboro Free Press (Joel Klaasen and Don Ratzlaff).
Marcella Bruce is a great example of what it means to care about and give to your community.
Look at the list on the back of tonight's program. Seeing this list of contributors reminds me of others who have contributed to our community. Here are people I have known who made a difference in our community. I'm sure I will miss some — so feel free to add your own names to this list.
Businessmen: Albert and Johnny Reimer, Dean Schroeder, Irv Schroeder, Herb Friesen, Allen Hagen, Ray Cornelson, Paul Runstrom, Maynard Hefley, the Ebel brothers, P.B. Willems, Orville Jost, Levi Buller, Ray Funk, Wes Loewen, Ray Frantz and Paul Ediger, John, Arnold, and Albert Vogt, Loren Groening, Tony Knaak, Ray and Jim Baker, Bud Bruce, Friesen brothers (Vernon, Al, Andy).
Medical field: Pete Ens, George Ens, A.C. Eitzen, H.F. Janzen, Robert Frantz, Norman Abrahams, Franklin Harms, Dan Penner, Henry Loewen.
Ministers: Albert Koontz, Marvin Hein, Dennis Fast, Bob Walters.
People living outside of Hillsboro but part of our community: Bud Seibel, Leon Suderman, Eli Suderman, Herb Wiebe, Edwin Winter, Ben Goertz, Dorman Becker.
Educators: H.B. Kliewer, Nick Klaassen, Art and Louise Baltzer, Herb Wiebe, Don Penner, LeRoy Schmidt, Paul Jantzen, Betty Bernhardt, Charles Irick, Jona Baltzer.
School board members: Bud Bruce, Eli Suderman, Orville Jost, Leander Loewen, Marvin Groening, Del Reimer, Edwin Winter, Deanna Hawkins, Dwayne Reusser, and Norman Galle.
Tabor College: Wes Prieb, Roy Just, Sol Loewen, Will Johnson, Vernon Wiebe.
Mayors: Levi Buller, Harold Wiebe, Bob Hein, and Delores Dalke.
All have given selflessly to building our community.
