As part of National Historic Preservation Month, the Perry Historic Preservation Commission will honor four recipients of its 2017 plaques for their outstanding contributions to the city’s history.
The plaques will be awarded at a ceremony Saturday, April 29 at 1:30 p.m. at Spring Valley Assisted Living, 501 12th St. in Perry. One of the plaques will be awarded posthumously and accepted by family members of the honoree — Clarence Powell –with the other three plaques going to honorees Ellie Wojan, Karen Liston and Don Strassburg.
The honorees have each left lasting impressions on the contours of Perry society. These are just samples:
- Because of Clarence Powell’s expertise and work as president of the Perry School Board, the community was able to build the current high school and sports complex.
- Karen Liston truly exemplifies her profession of nursing and is one of 100 Great Iowa Nurses.
- Ellie Wojan was the first non-nun to teach at St. Patrick’s School in Perry.
- Don Strassburg, along with Perry High School teacher John Arthaud, developed the first Distribution Education Clubs of America (DECA) program in Perry.
The award presentations will describe much more fully the contributions of each of these worthies to the history of Perry and its society. The Perry Historic Preservation Commission urges all Perry residents to attend the presentations and learn more about the jewels that have helped Perry grow and contributed to our rich history.
The April 29 awards ceremony if free and open to the public. Commission members include John Palmer, Ronda Onken, Judy Marckres, Jeanette Peddicord, Eugene Peel, Gary Martin and Joe McCarty.
