The Forties
In 1940, the “Americanism” program, chaired by Perry Piper, won top honors nationally and was adopted by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce as a national program.
A general “War Effort” program was developed in 1941. The chapter undertook a vigorous campaign to close “vice resorts” in the city. A large mass meeting sponsored by the Jaycees was held. The city council by a vote of 14 to 3 supported the campaign, which threatened to make public the names of property owners where brothels were located. In addition, Army officials warned the city that if toleration of vice continued, Peoria would be ruled “out of bounds” for all members of the armed services, including Peoria’s own servicemen home on leave.
A big project during 1942 was the scrap drive headed up by H.L. “Bud” Stoner, for which a huge pile of household scrap a block long was collected and piled at the foot of Hamilton and Fayette Streets. A second scrap drive in 1943 collected 125 tons of metal. In addition, the Jaycees sponsored the removal of streetcar rails from Sheridan Road to obtain 200 more tons of scrap. During the war years, there was active participation in the citywide “War Bond” drive and equipping the lounge for the USS Peoria.
1942 coincided with the development of World War II. Many members were called to service so it was natural that efforts over the next few years were directed toward helping the war effort. “Military Health” program, scrap drives, and numerous projects were created.
The “Rumor Clinic” was under the chairmanship of Dan Bell. The idea was that any rumor could be phoned into the Jaycees, who in turn would check it out, get the correct information and publish the truth.
In 1943-1944, the Peoria chapter was judged to have the fifth best Jaycee organization in the country. During the year, the Jaycees placed long awaited street signs on previously unmarked corners, and the first Jaycee office headquarters was opened.
The Peoria Jaycees moved up another notch 1944-1945, being recognized as the fourth best chapter in the nation for a well-rounded program. The chapter sponsored the “AAU State Basketball Tournament” and continued their war effort programs. National recognition was obtained and a $100 prize was awarded for the Peoria Plaxi. The first “Go-To-Church” campaign was initiated that year, during the Lenten season, in an effort to increase church attendance year-round.
Additionally, in 1945, the Jaycees launched a “Veterans’ Service” program to compliment the city’s plan, designed to aid returning veterans. Among the activities in the project were counseling, aptitude tests, educational information, job placement assistance and tours of local industries.
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.
The 1949 National Distinguished Service Award Banquet in Peoria.
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.
1949 National DSA Banquet
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.
The ten outstanding men of 1949, at the 1950 National Distinguished Service Award Banquet. Pictured from left to right: Robert Floyd, Gerald R. Ford, John Shepperd, Charles Percy, Franklin Murphy, C.B. “Bud” Wilkinson, Kenneth Pitzer, Charles Hastings and Harold Russell. Not pictured: Theodore Roosevelt III.
The judging panel for the ten outstanding young men of 1949 included Henry R. Luce, the Editor-in-Chief of Time Magazine, Dr. Charles W. Mayo of the Mayo Clinic, L. B. Neumiller, president of Caterpillar Inc., and the Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, U.S. Senate.
Paul G. Hoffman, administrator of the Economic Cooperation Administration, served as the principal speaker for the banquet. Jacque Mercer, crowned 1949 Miss America from Arizona was also in attendance.
The event took place on January 21, 1950 at the Shrine Mosque in downtown Peoria. The Shrine Mosque is still there today, and the Peoria Jaycees conduct their monthly membership meetings right next door at the local Amvets post.
The Peoria Jaycees received a lot of local press after the event was completed. The Journal Star even ran a cartoon, depicting a tiny Peoria Jaycees welcoming the ten outstanding young men at the National DSA Banquet.
Public exposure of the event was made by a radio broadcast by WEEK, the Peoria NBC affiliate, between 8:30 – 9:30pm the evening of January 21, 1950. Coast to coast coverage was provided by NBC between 10:30 – 11:00pm. Several dignitaries were invited other than the DSA winners and judges.
A letter dated January 16, 1950, from Illinois governor Adlai E. Stevenson, stating that he would be unable to attend the banquet. It is personally signed by the governor himself, with no indication that this letter was written by any assistant.
A letter from then Rep. Gerald R. Ford, indicating that he would be in attendance. His letter, also dated January 16, 1950, is signed Jerry Ford. Other letters and telegrams received came from Henry Luce, Clinton P. Anderson and Dr. Charlie Mayo.
