Page 8 The Advocate News (Wilton-Durant, Iowa) Thursday, December 20, 2012

OpiniOn

'He cared about every aspect of Wilton'

Ill remember the meetings where hed walk riday, Dec. 14, 2012 went from being just another day to one of those remember in with a bag full of candy from his store that where you were when kind of days he would pass out to everyone including the media and those in attendance in the in an instant. The nation is still trying to put together council chambers. Ill remember how hed take the unthinkable, senseless, evil tragedy that his time at the end of meetings to thank people took place in a Newtown, Conn., elementary around town often city employees for school where 26 people 20 of which were help that hed witnessed or heard about. Ill children seven years old or younger were forever marvel at how he always had a watchful gunned down in an act of bloodshed that will eye on our town, especially its aesthetics! Speaking of which, Richard had been adaforever leave all of us around the world wonmant for a few months about dering why. There may be the fact that he wanted to see a time/place to write about Wilton have a community this, but not now. Christmas tree this year. The town of Wilton The wish was answered dealt with its own heartache and a tree was donated and Friday when we learned of placed in Elder Park a few the passing of Richard Garweeks ago. Richard would rison, 71, a true steward of By Derek Sawvell volunteer his time each year the community. as Santa Claus during the While arriving back to my office after the lunch hour Dec. 14, I spoke Wilton Window Walk and due to his ongoing for a moment with Ritchie Creamer of the city battle with cancer, he was unable to play the of Wilton, who was working to patch areas of role this year. While Dennis Boorn took his Cedar Street in front of our office. He asked if place and did a wonderful job, I couldnt help I had known about Garrisons passing. Sadly but wish that it was Richard there to turn on the lights to that tree downtown. I sure hope I had not. Instantaneously, my mind began racing, he got a chance to see it in recent weeks. In his 32 years on council, he served under consuming itself of several Richard moments Ive encountered over the years. Rich- six mayors: Will Stoelk, Robert Gust, Carol ards name is synonymous with Wilton, due Wade, Ken Lincoln, Dick Summy and Ira in large part both as proprietor of Garrisons Bowman. I spoke with Wiltons current mayor, Ira Garden Market and Greenhouse, and as a member of the Wilton city council a seat Bowman, Monday, who said that Richard was still making trips for the market as late as last he had held since 1980! week. That was Richard, said Ira. Its hard to fathom that for He was honest, humble, an easy going my lifetime and then some (I guy. I couldnt ask for a better council perwas born in 1982), Richard has son, Bowman continued. He was influential. had a seat on our city council. Every decision he made, he put people first. For more than 10 years, I He always thought about how things would have had connections to this affect them. He remembered, it seemed, every newspaper. Ive covered several Richard decision that was ever made and when a meetings involving Richard. He Garrison huge asset to me and council. had a sense of humor and wit Bowman also shared that in speaking with that was quite unique. In fact, whenever it was his turn to speak, this feeling of what is he Richards wife Karen in recent days, she told him that she and Richard had been married for going to say today? always came over me. However, no matter what he said, or how 51 years and that when he proposed to her, he he said it, his comments always showed that said hed give her a flower every day. I didnt he had the city of Wilton and its residents on know Id have to grow them! Karen said to his mind. He was the one continuous voice Ira. Ken Lincoln, a former council member and on council that could lighten or brighten up any meeting or specifically, any discussion, mayor and great friend to Richard, noted how Richard always had good things to say about regardless the topic.

Case in Point

Dressed for successAlways putting the community first, Richard Garrison (at left) joined three of his Wilton chamber members to promote Founders Day circa 1985. Who could resist buying a Founders Day button from these gals or guys? Along with Richard are Wayne Einfeldt (Economy Lumber Company), Jerry Davies (Jakes Supermarket) and Loren Utterback (Lausers Variety). Richard, who owned Garrisons Garden Market with his wife Karen, died Dec. 14. Advocate News File Photo Wiltons citizens and that he always wanted to shake everyones hand. The duo spent quite a bit of time together over the years, especially on the golf course. Yet Richard hardly ever had time for play, as Lincoln noted hed always be looking at his watch because hed have to make a phone call or plan his next trip/delivery for his business. Lincoln added that you never knew what Richard was going to say next or how many people around the country he truly knew due to his market-related travels. Carol Wade, another former Wilton city council member and mayor, said simply that Richard was a wonderful person. I worked with Richard for 20 years. You could always count on Richard being at all the meetings and state what he thought was best for all the citizens and the city of Wilton, she said. City clerk Lori Brown said that Richard was a true Wilton historian and that his contributions to the council will be greatly missed. I will truly miss his big, hearty personality at the council meetings, she said. Richard and Karen were grand marshals of the Founders Day parade in 2006. In the interview with Connie Brown of the AN, Richard said he liked to plant things and watch them grow. He has! For decades, people in and around Wilton have benefited from both he and Karens wonderful talents. Yet Wilton has also grown, thanks in large part to Richard his tender love and care have helped shape our wonderful city. I asked Connie, a former editor here at the AN and current contributing writer, to provide some editorial commentary this week, as her decades covering Wilton city council gave her a ringside seat to Garrison over the years. Her editorial can be seen on this page. Also our own Barb Rochholz, who has been a member of our staff for nearly 30 years, found a copy of the first photo she ever took for the paper a photo of Richard and several other Wilton businessmen promoting Founders Day in 1985 which can also be seen above.

'Devotion and duty,' Garrison exemplified both

Richard Garrison grew up in Muscatine, but I have never met anyone who loved Wilton more than he did. The longtime city council member (32 years!) died last week, missing only one meeting as his health deteriorated. Devotion and duty Richards attitude toward his adopted hometown exemplified both. Two Monday nights a month for close to 20 years I watched Richard take his role of city council member very seriously. Richard didnt hide his feelings well and really never tried. He told you what he believed and stood by it until someone convinced him otherwise or he changed his mind, showing an openness that is to be admired in a public servant. I dont think anyone ever wondered what Richards position was on issues; he was a stranger to political doublespeak. Sometimes his comments were hard for me to understand, though, because he was trying to bring a matter before the council without naming names in a public meeting and he never forgot those meetings were public. He cared about every aspect of Wilton: financial stewardship certainly, but also the local populace, the employees who keep the city running, and all of the activities and special events that showed off his cherished city. I dont think there was anything about his hometown that didnt interest Richard. Wiltons appearance its curb appeal was important to him and I could not begin to count the number of meetings when I heard Richard say, with warmth and pride in his voice, The town is looking great! Once, at a meeting, he complimented local residents because it seemed everyone had chosen that summer to paint or remodel their homes exteriors; that thrilled Richard. He regaled out-of-towners with Wiltons attributes, too, and more than once Richard told the council about taking visitors on a tour of the city. Inevitably, he quoted his guests: They said Wilton is about the nicest small town theyve ever seen. Richards humanity often shone through. If a city employee ever helped a resident and he heard about it, he never failed to mention the incident at a council meeting. It was important to him that everyone who deserved recognition should receive it. One time I heard Richard reminisce, with emotion in his voice, about Wilton leaders of a half-century ago. Through the prism of youthful idealism, he saw them as practically perfect. I suspect that their example served as the model for his decades of public service. Richard turned sentimental the last time I saw him, at the Nov. 26 council meeting, when he told the group how sad he was that his health would prevent him from donning his red suit for one last turn as Santa Claus at the Window Walk. There are little things that I will miss from those Monday nights: the way he offered a handshake or high-five to the rooms occupants as he entered the council chamber, his occasionally playing devils advocate in the midst of stressful discussions, and the times that he lightened the mood with humor. Richard, we miss you already. Connie Brown

Upon Richard Garrison's passing, coupled with the tragedy in Connecticut, the Wilton Fire Department presented the above display in front of the Department garage.