January 19, 2021
Members of the Plymouth Park Board, Park Department and City Administration attended the Jack Wilhelm Drive dedication ceremony Tuesday evening at 4:45 in the Mayor Charles O Glaub Addition of Centennial Park.
Jack Wilhem’s son and daughter and family members attended the ceremony that was hosted by Park Board President Dave Morrow at the corner of Randolph Street and Becknell Drive.
Morrow said, “We are here to honor a great civic leader. Jack did a lot for this community. Jack served on the park board for 24 years. He was on the board when the Chuck Glaub addition land was purchased in 1970. He worked closely with Mayor Glaub and the entire park board developing the plan for this park addition which opened in 1974.”
Jack Wilhelm also served two terms on the Plymouth City Council. Morrow said, “Jack was a Democrat in a highly Republican district. I remember my dad telling me that Jack is the only Democrat that could get elected in that district because he was so well liked and respected.”
Jackie Wilhelm Nifong, Jack’s daughter said, “On behalf of the family we want to thank you for honoring him in this way. My dad loved Plymouth. He loved the Blueberry Festival but most of all he loved this park.” Born and raised in Burr Oak, Jack told his children one of the highlights of the summer was when his dad would bring them up to Centennial Park once or twice a summer. His favorite thing was the curly-Q slide. She said, “The love for this park started way back when he was a little guy and it continued all through his life.”