For 71-year-old Marvin Barnes, his life and Sycamore are totally intertwined.  He grew up here, was educated locally (including graduating from NIU), and then had a more than 40-year business career primarily at Sycamore Containers, Inc.  He volunteers on the city plan commission and has past service as a school board member where he also served as Board President. During his presentation at this week’s Rotary meeting, Barnes praised the special feeling of community he experienced while growing up and entering the workforce.  He gave special mentoring credit to banker Cliff Danielson and Sycamore Container executive Larry Kendzora for giving him the opportunity to get started on a rewarding career.

 

Barnes shared a couple of examples of life-shaping experiences that were special to him.  One of those was growing up in a household where his Mother passed on the wisdom of what became a 30-plus year career as a kindergarten teacher.  He credits her for a life-long outlook of always finding ways to grow.  He recounted her kindergarten learning approach by following rules such as “say please and thank you,” “take turns,” “wash your hands” and on down a basic life-skills list including his personal favorite, “take a daily nap.”  He also shared a learning experience while school board president.  He got a call from an irate parent at 12:30 in the morning after the person got off their late-night work shift.  It seems the parent was upset with a reprimand given to his child earlier that day.  When Barnes questioned why the call had to be made so late at night the response was, “ I pay your salary and this is when I’m available.”  Barnes patiently explained that he made no salary as school board president at which time he said there was abrupt silence followed by a change in the conversation to a calm and rational discussion of what the best next steps might be to address the problem.  Barnes said this taught him how important it is to fully  understand varying viewpoints when beginning to tackle emotional issues.

 

Barnes said he made a conscious decision to stay in Sycamore even after there was a change in corporate ownership at Sycamore Container and he was offered a chance for a promotion into a higher manager’s role requiring a move to the west coast.  Barnes said as a parent he wanted his four children to have the same meaningful hometown experiences he had as a foundation for growing up.

August 19, 1946 – 42^nd U. S. President Bill Clinton is born in Hope, Arkansas.

 

August 20, 1833 – 23^rd President of the United States, Benjamin Harrison, is born in North Bend, Ohio.  He was the grandson of the ninth President, William Henry Harrison.

 

August 21, 1936 – College and Pro-Basketball Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He was a 4-time NBA MVP, and 13-time All Star while playing for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and LA Lakers.  He won NBA championships with the 76ers and the Lakers.

 

August 23, 1912 – Actor/Dancer Gene Kelly (whose many credits and innovations include dancing with an umbrella in the 1952 musical film “Singin’ in the Rain”) is born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

August 19, 1920 – The 19^th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution is ratified giving women the right to vote.

 

August 21, 1959 – President Dwight Eisenhower signs a proclamation admitting Hawaii as the 50^th State of the Union.

 

August 24, 79 AD – Vesuvius, an active volcano in southern Italy, erupts and destroys the city of Pompeii and also the cities of Stabiae, Oplontis, and Herculaneum.

 

August 24 and 25, 1814 – During the War of 1812, Washington, D.C. is invaded by British forces who burn the Capitol, the White House, and other public buildings.