GREGORY C. BAKER

From the day he became the first African-American police officer in Park Forest in 1983 to the day he retired as Police Chief of South Holland, Greg Baker was a sterling example of dedication and service to the community.

Baker retired from the Park Forest Police Department in 2006 after serving for 26 years in almost every position imaginable. In that time span, he worked as a patrol officer, detective, arson investigator, SWAT member, undercover narcotics investigator, community policing supervisor and managing the department’s Field Training Program. In addition, Baker was a member of a regional narcotics unit which allowed him to work in dangerous undercover positions which a large impact of alleviating the illegal drug trade in the Chicago area.

Baker’s dedicated service resulted in numerous promotions and increased responsibility. He was the first African-American in department history to reach the ranks of Commander, Captain, and Deputy Chief and in so doing helped mentor African-American officers, setting an example of the department’s diversity. He graduated from the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and was named the Village’s Police Officer
of the Year in both 1992 and 2001.

After retiring from the Park Forest Police Department, he became the Village of Riverdale’s Police Chief and later Police Chief for the Village of South Holland. He retired from that last position in 2017.

MARY DANKOWSKI

The Village was saddled with $20 million public and private debt for a blighted downtown area when Mary Dankowski became the Finance Director in 1995. When she retired in 2017, the Village had reserves, policies, and procedures in place to maintain sound financial operations.

During her tenure, the Village completed numerous projects without borrowing: purchase of four $750,000 fire engines, snow plows, and a sewer jetter; renovation of the Police Department; $10 million resurfacing of Orchard Drive; and water main projects funded through low-interest EPA loans.

Mary is proud of the 20 years of consecutive awards for “distinguished budget presentations,” the highest form of recognition for budgeting and financial reporting, represented by plaques lining one wall of the Village board room, given to Park Forest by the Government Finance Officers Association. She was active with that national association and became President of the Illinois association. Mary was named the Chief Financial officer of the year by the Daily Business Herald. In 1995, Mary restructured the TIF to begin Downtown redevelopment without tax burden to residents, then oversaw Downtown operations including leasing and buildouts until her retirement.

Mary has been a committed resident since moving to Park Forest with her husband and three daughters shortly after becoming Finance Director. She is the incoming President of the Park Forest Rotary Club, on the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters and the Treasurer of the Tall Grass Arts Association.

DELORIS JANOTA

Deloris was a great woman behind a great man, but she deserves recognition on the merit of her own considerable professional and volunteer contributions.

Moving to Park Forest in 1952, the late Ray Janota (Hall of Fame Class of 1999) was the first teacher hired by Rich Township High School. Soon after, Deloris, one of the first graduates from the new University of Illinois Speech and Hearing Science program, was hired by School District 163 to establish and develop the Speech and Language therapy program, then worked at both Blackhawk and Mohawk schools. After retirement, she was an advisor for many years. She established and provided speech services for residents through the Park Forest Health Department.

Deloris was also very involved with the Community Children’s Theatre, PTA, volunteered at the Health Department and was a docent at the 1950s Park Forest House Museum.

Son William recalls the years when the Janota house, driveway, and yard was overwhelmed by 500 bushels of apples delivered for the annual Rich High School Key Club sale. Deloris would cook a large pot of "Sloppy Joe's" to feed the small army of boys who helped Ray pack the apples for sale.

Deloris and Ray always shared project ideas, leading to better outcomes for students and residents for many years. Students were always welcome in their home. Deloris, now 95, still lives in the house she and Ray bought in 1952 where they raised three children.

 

YVONNE GAVIN ROBINSON

When Robert and Manila Gavin of Chicago Heights saw death notices in the paper they would call the families and offer to clean and press their clothes free of charge. This philosophy of caring for others was passed on to their children. Yvonne Gavin Robinson has used these lessons throughout her long and active life of helping others.

During her teaching career, she began the “Young and Junior Medics” program designed to teach children in grades 3 to 8 about health issues and careers and is the co-founder of the Charles Gavin Foundation, named for her late brother who offered medical care free of charge to those who could not afford to pay. Today the Foundation offers scholarships to those committed to the study of medicine.

Throughout her active life as a teacher and principal, she successfully combined service to others with active participation in community life, supporting the Rich Township pantry food drive and as site director for the District 170 enrichment program. In 1963, she and her late husband Leonard (Hall of Fame 1999) were among the first African-American families to move to Park Forest. Their story was one captured by Jack Star (Hall of Fame 2004) in an article in Look Magazine, May 16, 1967, “Negro in the Suburbs.”

She was co-chair of the 50th Anniversary of Park Forest program on Integration in 1999. The Smithsonian Institution’s “America on the Move” exhibit, pictures the Robinsons as pioneer African-American residents, along with excerpts from her “OH! Park Forest” Oral History transcript.

DOUGLAS C. ULREICH

Educators leave lasting impressions on their students and for 28 years, Doug Ulreich lifted spirits with song as the Choral Music Director at Rich East High School. Along with his duties as a teacher, for 35 years he put his stamp on the famed music program at Faith United Protestant Church including performances of Faith Theater, and numerous “Do-It-Yourself Messiah” programs sponsored by Rotary Club of Park Forest.

With his degree in vocal music performance from the University of California and after a four-year stint in the United States Air Force as a member of the Air Force Band, he returned to school at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. While performing in a production of “West Side Story” at Prairie State College he was invited to Faith Church at the behest of Robert Speaker, then its music director. In 1971 Ulreich became Speaker’s assistant and upon Speaker’s retirement in 1976 took over as Minister of Music; a post he held until 2011.

Doug put his personal stamp on the program at Rich East, with the Singing Rockets thriving under his care with concerts, musicals, and tours. One of his students, Dawn Upshaw, would later become one of the world’s great opera and art song singers. He is proud of many of his former students who have subsequent careers in music. Doug Ulreich has left a lasting musical legacy to the village of Park Forest and to the world.

COMMITTEE FOR NON-PARTISAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The early residents of Park Forest quickly realized that political partisanship should not play a role in the day-to-day operations of the community. That is why non-partisan elections – the ability to run on a candidate’s merits instead of backing by any political entity – have been the backbone of government in Park Forest. The idea of seeking office without the label of any political entity echoes the sentiment of the founders of the community who insisted that good government functions best when it functions independently.

Since its founding in 1955, the Committee for Non- Partisan Local Government has worked to ensure that every eligible voter in the village is informed about all candidates and issues in local elections. The group provides the citizenry the opportunity to hear all candidates and ask them questions at open meetings. This method of engagement allows all seeking local office to speak to the voters face to face. The Committee strives to make it convenient for any legally qualified resident to run for public office at minimum expense and regardless of race, creed, sex, age or political affiliation.

The Committee provides candidates a copy of non-partisan campaign practices, seeks a written agreement, and candidates feedback. Candidates statements are monitored for partisan content. The Park Forest Historical Society is proud to recognize the contributions of many residents and leaders over the years who have worked hard with this Committee to keep Park Forest elections non-partisan.

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