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Getzes receive lifetime achievement award

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By David Burke | Friday, April 4, 2008 10:21 PM CDT | () comments

When Tom and Karen Getz married in 1973, the Quad-City businessman, then the president of Moline Forge, encouraged his new wife — who moved with him from Chicago — to get involved in the community.

They both got involved, through Quad-City Arts, the Quad-City Symphony Orchestra Association, Arrowhead Ranch, the Family Museum of Arts & Science, Putnam Museum and many other organizations.

The involvement of Karen, who died in October, and Tom Getz was honored Friday by the Quad-City Presenters at its second Arts Advocacy Awards. The Getzes received the Don Wooten Award for lifetime service, which is named for the former Illinois state senator, Genesius Guild founder and longtime radio station WVIK-FM executive and broadcaster.

“I just wish she were here tonight,” Tom Getz told about 40 people gathered at Turner Hall in the Village of East Davenport. “She would have enjoyed this so much.”

Karen Getz was called “The Hook” by Quad-City Arts, which nominated the couple for the award, for her recruiting efforts on behalf of its programs as well as the organization’s annual Festival of Trees.

“Tom’s tireless efforts in fundraising and countless hours of service on nonprofit boards and committees have made an immediate impact and a lasting difference in virtually every sector maintained and supported by charitable giving of time, talent and treasure,” Quad-City Arts officials wrote in the nomination.

The Quad-City Presenters, a consortium of about 50 arts organizations, also gave awards to businesses and individuals:

-- Modern Woodmen of America, a Corporate Donor Award for its support of family events, education, the arts and more, including sponsoring Quad-City Arts Metro Arts program and providing the funds for an annual free weekend for families to enjoy Niabi Zoo, the Family Museum, Quad-City Botanical Center and Putnam. The fraternal organization was nominated by Quad-City Arts.

-- Ruth Evelyn Katz, for 40 years of supporting the arts along with her late husband, Isador. She had leadership roles in the Quad-City Symphony Orchestra, Quad-City Arts, the Rock Island Art Guild and Rock Island Public Library. She was nominated by the Augustana College Art Museum.

-- Connie Runge, called a “founding mother” of the Colonel Davenport Home. She has been involved in preservation efforts since the U.S. bicentennial year of 1976. “She is the authority on the house and its story,” her nominators from the Colonel Davenport Home wrote.

Katz and Runge received the Individual Donor Award.

-- Lora Adams, who has acted in four shows and directed five for New Ground Theatre, which nominated her. “She is an invaluable creative partner and gives unstintingly of her time and ideas for New Ground,” the nomination from the theatrical company read.

-- Becky Gulling, president of the board of directors for Davenport Junior Theatre. “She has put in countless personal hours to keep Junior Theatre going, moving forward and growing,” Junior Theatre officials said in a nominating letter.

David Burke can be contacted at (563) 383-2400 or dburke@qctimes.com.