In a split decision, after the Raccoon News spent much time deliberating on its man of the year award for 2009, it came down to a toss-up between the late Jim Ridgeway, formerly of 12th Lane near Juneau St., Milwaukee and:
Bob Heeschen, of St.Paul, MN.
Jim Ridgeway was known, among other achievements throughout his giving life, to grow a mean community garden in the 1980s, ex-officio in charge of several contiguous plots across the street from and owned by Friedens United Church of Christ. The garden in total was devised from torn-down house lots that were originally and erroneously placed on a grave yard. This lemon-aide from lemons approach was considered the ultimate of organic gardening back then. Jim ran the show.
Jim was also known for his shy welcoming smile and the gardening help he gave when asked, to Hmongs, whites, blacks, mostly poor, who wanted to grow their food from the richest compost. Jim liked to fish and rode a bus everywhere. He never drove. Milwaukeeans often thought they recognized this unheralded man, now, at this late date, Man of the Year, passing through their neighborhoods.
Our other choice as man of the year is the former Special Agent Robert Heeschen of the 113th Counter Intelligence Corps, USA, 1958-1962. He spent most of his working years afterward at the Eagle Signal Company of Davenport IA. Now retired, he is shown in his current incarnation as a docent ( & ticket-taker) at the famed railroad museum in Minneapolis.
Always a respectful man, Bob used to safely stop the government unmarked car he drove in his rounds at his duty station, Chicago, (rounds which cannot be discussed in this medium), then he would pull over, get out and stand at attention with his hat removed and held over his heart whenever any funeral procession passed, anywhere in the city. This was the sort of man Bob was and is. A well-taught son of an Army officer who fought in WW II, as it happened.
We always were touched by these gestures of Bob's. Someday, we vowed, someday we would see to it that Bob Heeschen was appropriately recognized. The time is now.
Robert Heeschen shown in mufti in acurrent photograph in his cover as a
railroad museum docent. Still wearing a real necktie.
