The Federal Communications Committee requires both the television and radio stations to give a certain amount of time to Public Service. Most citizens in order to justify there existencedo a certain amount , spending much time effort to help the local community .
Over the years it has been my privilege to have been able to take part on various boards and committees. I will try to give a brief run down of a few of the most important ones.
The first one came when I was about 18 or 19. I took my younger brothers to the local Boy Scout meetings. Soon I was helping and before long was made an assistant . A year later they gave me the Job of Scout Master . My year and a half in this c apacity was one of the most pleasant experiences of my life. I had some of the best boys ever to come out of the Nunica area to work with. One made the grade of Eagle Scout. There were over thirty boys in the Troop at the time. I had to resign when I was drafted into the Army.
Number 2
My early Sunday Schooling was mostly in the Nortinville Chapel all the way from the early grades on up through High School Soon I was asked to be a teacher and later they made me superintendent . A job that I did not feel that I was quite ready for at the time but I tried to do the best job. The only thing that stands out about this is that I helped to start a Sunday Church Service by having a visiting Preacher come in from Spring Lake. It was only a month or two after it started that I was drafted into the Army. I understand that it continued and later organized into the Church that it is today.
Number 3
I have written a book on my Army life where most of my experiences are given in detail so will only give the high lights here. I was in the Military Police where we guarded a radio Station that broadcast military communications through out the world. Spent time as a Drill instructor for new recruits.
Spent several weeks as a rifle instructor on the rifle range. Put in eight months working with prisoners in the guard house. Was in the Air Force as a flying Cadet recruit but washed out as my depth perception was not the best. Ending up in a Pr isoner of war identification unit that processed Japanese prisoners , For the International Red Cross. I had the opportunity to process the Highest Ranking Officer of the Japanese Army who was later hanged as a war criminal, General Yamashita. I was mustered out of the Army in January 1946.
Number 4
After W.W. 2 the first years were spent trying to get myself established in the farming business. Soon I became active in the Community Group s of the Ottawa County FarmBureau. Later I was elected to the Ottawa County F arm Bureau board of directors for two three year terms, the last three I was chairman. The chairman of the Michigan Farm Bureau appointed me chairman of the Rules Committee for the State for one year.
Number 5
My only other try at elective office was to the west Michigan Farm Credit Association board of directors. The purpose of the assoc. was to loan money to eligible farmers along the western edge of Michigan from Scottville in the north and South Haven to the South. I was elected to five terms as a director two years of which I was Chairman of the board. During the time I was chairman the amount of money loaned grew to almost thirteen Million dollars.
This is the only organization that paid both mileage and per diem so the many hours spent were reimbursed to me.
Number 6
It was shortly after we had the tornado go through and I was in need of a diversion, that Mayor Creason of Grand Haven called to ask if I would consent to be on the board of the Grand Haven Municipal Hospital. My term there saw the Hospital go from a city owned to an governmental Authority that it is today. I continued as the Crockery representative until the first building expansion was completed and it turned into the modern hospital that it is today.
Number 7
My next two appointments were very similar as one was a part of the other. They were the West shore Comprehensive Health Planning Commission covering the Counties of Ottawa an Allegon . This was spin off of the Federal Health program, Th e purpose was to keep costs in the health area down by preventing the duplication of services in any one area. It had tremendous authority as no health care facility could do any expansion without the approval of this board.
After two years on this board they sent me as the Farmer representative on the larger board that covered all of West Michigan. Here is one time that I felt the lack of education, the board was made up of Doctors, Dentists, Lawyers and PHD Professors f rom Hope and Grand Valley Universities. The Chairman was a outstanding District Court Judge from Grand Rapids. There were about twenty in all. I soon found that there was much back scratching going on, but that is another story. My stay here was on ly for a few months as I was elected as a Deacon of the Church and the meeting dates conflicted., so I resigned.
Number 7
My time as a Deacon was shortly after the arrival of Reverend Zylstra. It gave me an education on how the Church operates and gave me a better commitment to spiritual matters. My name was on the ballot several times for Elder but I am tha nkful that I was not successful in being elected.
Number 8
There were a number of appointments to Township office. The most notable one was the board of appeals where I served for six years, three of which I was chairman. It was not a comfortable job and I was glad to retire.
Number 9
By this time I found myself in the early seventies and I had made up my mind not to get on any more committees , But when a neighbor suggested that I might be able to contribute some stories about the early history of Crockery Towns hip I jumped at the chance. So I now find myself as part of the Crockery History class. It has been rewarding and we are very proud of the book "The Crockery Collection' that we have published. We are now in the process of printing a sequel to it to brin g our History up to the Twenty First Century.
Number 10
Of all of things that I have accomplished in my lifetime is the raising, along with the help of my wife Etta, six children . They are now all out on there own and all have good jobs. They have contributed to their community in both Church and in public affairs. They have all been Deacons and Cadet leaders . They all have spouses that we are very proud of. This would not have happened without the direction of their mother who has been the greatest thing that ever ha ppened to me. Thank you ETTA.
Looking back now and seeing it all in print I would have to say that I have paid my dues to society.