5DifferenceDifference2013

Cody EntErprisE publiCation

Five whomade a

Howard DonleyBob Davidson & Buck Wilkerson

Rod & Sandra SmithRobin & John McClure

Bryan Monteith

2 • 5 Who Made a Difference • January 23, 2014

DanMillerEntertainer

jaCQueSiMSHoliday Helpers director

jaMeSKleSSenSForward Cody CEO

jiMnielSOnBusinessman - philanthropist

rhOnDaShiPPFormer Cooperative Extension educator

2009

Dr. SteveMaininiHeart Mountain Volunteer Medical Clinic

linDaharbrOnSpirit Mountain Hospice House director

autuMnMitChellYoung philanthropist

DOnnaFlOryCody Cupboard founder

bettyCOzzenS

2010

Congressional Gold Medal recipient

Past honorees

Enterprise staffers contributing to this section include Jeff Carter, Darian Dudrick, Chris Frost, Raymond Hillegas, John Malmberg, Bruce McCormack, Megan McCormick, Corey Morris, amber Peabody, John sides and Betsy simon.

Cody Enterprise publication

any people make a difference in our daily lives.

the Enterprise is recognizing five of those special individuals/couples/groups who have had a remarkable impact on others and the Cody community.

One common trait shared by these people is how they touched the lives of those around them through their caring ways and service.

there are, of course, many others deserving of this recognition.

We look forward to paying tribute to some of them in the future and welcome suggestions from readers.

We hope you enjoy the Cody Enterprise’s “5 Who Made a Difference – 2013.”

niCKFeeley-PerryRelay for Life

Kelly & rObGarrettWinter clothing drive

annMarieMcMahillFormer director of WPH Prevention and Wellness Office

MarjOrie & DiCKWilDerField of Honor, Cody Heritage Museum

2012

julieSnelSOnGranny’s Love founder

alSiMPSOnNational political leader

WeSlivinGStOn &jOrObiSOn

GrahaMjaCKSOnWPH Foundation director

SanDiFiSher

2011

Serenity Pregnancy Resource Center executive director

Parade outriders

First place for “best special news, sports or Feature section”

2012 National Newspaper Association contest

Make a difference

PatChilDerSFormer state representative

&January 23, 2014 • 5 Who Made a Difference • 3

Wilkerson DavidsonBUCK BOB

yoming Veterans Memorial Park is a place – a beautiful, serene setting – that honors Wyoming residents who died in service to their country.

Korean War veterans Bob Davidson and Buck Wilkerson (Davidson also served in Vietnam) have dedicated themselves to this tribute.

“this is part of giving back,” Wilkerson says. “the servicemen who died never had a chance to come home and have a family. I feel obligated to honor these guys.”

the park received its state of Wyoming designation with the agreement of former Gov. Dave Freudenthal.

“He helped us with the WWII monument and provided state funds,” he said.the park, nestled along Us 14-16-20 just west of Yellowstone Regional

airport, features war monuments for World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Operation Enduring Freedom, and a street dedicated to Lt. shane Childers of Powell, the first american killed in the Iraq war.

a new World War I monument is under construction. “the city took down the WWI monument in City Park and replaced it with

restrooms,” Davidson said. “We kicked around the idea and decided we could raise the money for a new monument.”

the tribute will include a bucking bronco with “Powder River, Let ’er Buck” on top. the Wyoming motto traces back to WWI.

Most of the funding comes from personal and business contributions.“We sell sidewalk pavers to anyone who wants to place a tribute in the

park,” Wilkerson said. “that has raised $90,000 and paid for most of the sidewalks.”

after seven years, Davidson and Wilkerson are proud of the community effort.“Bob has spent more time at the park than anyone,” Wilkerson says. “We

have the funds to complete the WWI memorial, with a residual account to maintain the quality of the park.”

the new monument will be dedicated on Memorial Day, May 26.

W

DEVELOP PARK TOHONOR WYOMING VETERANS

4 • 5 Who Made a Difference • January 23, 2014

DonleyHOWaRD

orn and raised in Cody, Howard Donley has had a goal of increasing community involvement in musical events.

With 46 years of participation in a barbershop quartet, Donley helped boost publicity and audience attendance at Community Concert series performances for about a decade.

For years, Donley, who moved back to Cody from California in 2002 with his wife Joanne, also researched talent to bring in for concerts.

“When Joanne and I went to a concert in Cody for the first time, there were only 100-150 people,” he said. “I told Joanne it was a crime to see so few people and that this just wasn’t the Cody I remembered from my youth.”

Last year, Donley ended his involvement after helping the concert series get its footing.

In October, Donley brought his musical expertise off the shelf again when he was tapped to assist “the Music Man” performance to be held this summer.

“You get out of life what you put in,” said Donley, who is now retired after nearly 40 years in civil engineering. “I now have the time in my life to be involved in the community, so I got involved to help Cody.”

His first mission is to help Cody retain its musical background.

“Cody and Park County have had a tie to musical entertainment since the beginning with the band that Buffalo Bill was in after he founded the town,” said Donley, who also was a member of Cody Rotary Club for 11 years. “I want Cody to keep with the history and build on it. there’s nothing in the Big Horn Basin that touches what happens in Cody.”

B

BRINGS MUSIC, SERVICE TO

CODY COUNTRY

January 23, 2014 • 5 Who Made a Difference • 5

McClureROBIN & JOHN

John and Robin McClure of McClure Custom Builders wanted to help veterans in Cody.

In establishing contact with various veterans organizations, the McClures always were told the groups would make sure their donations went to the people who could help.

“But we wanted to be the people who helped,” John said.He later read a story in Professional Builder magazine about “Operation

Finally Home” in texas. It was exactly what the McClures were looking for.“It was people like us – not government or veteran organizations,” John

says.the McClures had the skills and could get the volunteers to build a house –

but didn’t have a specific veteran in mind.so they reached out to the community for nominations.and the nominations received all were for the same person: Coast Guard

veteran James Butz.

then, a lot on 19th street was donated.“there was no turning back after that,” John says.the McClures raised funds and broke ground in august 2013. they still

must raise about $25,000 of their $150,000 goal.“It’s phenomenal to see so many people willing to help,” Robin says.they expect to complete the home in late spring or early summer.Veterans face other issues like employment, training and reenlistment, the

McClures say, but they aren’t sure how to solve those. they believe Operation Finally Home has helped to start the conversation about larger issues.

When the walls go up, before the house is finished, the public will be invited to leave “notes of love” inside the walls. “those messages will always be there,” Robin said.

the project hasn’t been without sacrifice for the McClures – they’ve given their time, money and privacy to get it done.

“It hasn’t been easy, but it has been a labor of love,” Robin said.

BUILD HOME FOR VETERAN’S FAMILY

6 • 5 Who Made a Difference • January 23, 2014

MonteithBRYaN

Bryan Monteith started in education when he was 5 – and never left.

the former Cody school District superintendent, who retired June 30, 2013, remains active in education as chairman of the state school Facilities Commission.

During his career, he was named Wyoming superintendent of the Year, south Dakota administrator of the Year, and won the Myron Bason Leadership award.

Monteith, originally from Watertown, s.D., took the helm of the Cody school District in 1996 after an extensive career in education.

He attended Northern state University in south Dakota and the University of south Dakota.

a college road trip to Oregon took Monteith through Wyoming, and he “fell in love” with the state, he says.

“I made up my mind I wanted to live and work in Wyoming,” Monteith says.

after earning a master’s degree in history and government, he taught in Platte County schools.

He later earned an administrative certification from the University of Wyoming and became principal of shoshoni schools.

In 1986 he returned to Watertown as assistant superintendent.

“But I really wanted to be in Cody,” Monteith said. “I always had a great appreciation of Cody.”

that desire came to fruition in 1996.Reliance on faculty is important to the work of

a superintendent, Monteith says.“the ability of an administrator to do well is

dependent on the quality of the people hired,” he adds. “the most important part is selecting the best people and creating the right environment.”

the community also is important to success.“I understand the culture of Cody, which is who

I am,” Monteith said.For him, the single most important factor

always has been the students.“I always thought about the classroom and my

responsibility to the students – to help them to the future you can’t yet see,” Monteith added.

LED CODY SCHOOLS

FOR 17 YEARS

January 23, 2014 • 5 Who Made a Difference • 7

SmithROD & saNDRa

ince taking over operations of the Provisions of Grace Food Pantry, directors sandra and Rod smith have helped a growing number of families.

But they say it wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of volunteers and donors who help meet the food pantry’s needs. From their south Fork location at the church, 348 families were served in the last quarter of 2013.

Because of that community support, Food Bank of the Rockies, and Walmart and albertsons in Cody, the 70-90 families a week who come to the pantry have well-rounded meals available 5-7 p.m. Fridays and 1-1:30 p.m. sundays behind Grace Baptist Church.

“We’re blessed to be able to offer vegetables, meat, dairy and other items,” Ron said.

the pantry also focuses on food children like and can prepare themselves.

“We also like to have food on hand that’s easy for latchkey kids to make at home after school,” sandra said.

Once the couple geared up operations of the pantry, Rod says sandra started to make sure it went to the next level – not just offering food but well-rounded meals families need.

“We have 30-plus volunteers – members of Grace Baptist Church, Mormon church missionaries and members of other churches have all stepped up,” Rod said.

sandra also has taken to posting information about the food pantry on seven websites.

“I figure that people who see the information may know people who are in need of food and they can pass on the word,” she said. “the Web also helps in getting volunteers to help us.”

From unloading, sorting and helping store food items, running a food pantry takes a great deal of time.

“sandra always says, ‘Running the food pantry is a high-paying job, though we don’t make a dime from doing it,’” Rod said.

DIRECT FOOD PANTRY THAT HELPS NEEDY

S

8 • 5 Who Made a Difference • January 23, 2014

West Park Hospital has experienced many exciting changes in

2013 and we are very excited about the changes ahead of us in 2014. WPH could not be successful without the 600 plus outstanding employees, 55 plus physicians, a committed and supportive Board of Trustees and residents of the Big Horn Basin who support WPH. On behalf of all the staff at West Park Hospital District, we would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the residents of West Park Hospital District. We appreciate you supporting our organization and medical staff!

West Park Hospital would like to recognizeour Community for making a...

The BIG hORN BASIN’SReGIONAl MeDICAl CeNTeR707 Sheridan Ave., Cody, WY 82414307-527-7501www.westparkhospital.org

> MELISSA FRASER, RN, Chairman

DOUG < McMILLAN CEO

Difference!

BECKER’S100

GREAT PLACESTO WORK