People Who Have Made A Difference

So many people have contributed to the success of Riverside over the years— inevitably, someone will be left off the "official" list. Nevertheless, there are a few names that stand out and shine bright, even among those known for their leadership and commitment. Folks who saw a better future, not just for themselves, but for the people in their community. Folks who worked tirelessly to "do the right thing." People with passion and big hearts and and even bigger vision for the little city we all call home.
To all of these folks and those whose tales are yet unsung, the citizens of Riverside, Missouri offer a profound "Thank You!"

Mayor Mike Holmes

Former Riverside Mayor Mike Holmes helped shepherd the community through challenges and accomplishments. Originally from San Pedro, Calif., Holmes moved to the area in 1989. Among other vocations, he has successfully operated an engineering and training consulting firm. His wife, Cathy, is well known for her office and administrative assistance. Together, the couple has customers that include Boeing, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy. Holmes first sought a post on the Riverside Board of Aldermen at the encouragement of Ed Young. As a "junior" Council Member, he was indoctrinated to the "old" ways of doing city business. "Ed would call me up regarding his position on an issue and suggest that I make a motion supporting his point of view, which was incidentally most often somewhat controversial. Well you know I was often the bad guy to the applicant, attorney or citizen, as the case may be, and that occasionally caused me some grief."

Holmes recalled the much discussed "interaction" between Riverside leader Loo Rodeberg and Kansas City Star writer and now editor Rich Hood. "During the time I served, Rich Hood, now the vice president and chief editorial page editor for the Star, was a beat reporter. We were in an image struggle and when a strip bar in Northmoor ran an ad for dancers stating a Riverside address, Lou Rodeberg charged over and went into the office waving the newspaper and announcing she wanted to speak with the manager about this ad. Of course we had our own problems with liquor establishments in town at the time, but I really think we made a lot of progress towards a cleaner image."

Holmes also recalled only one instance in which some of the negative rumors about public life came true. "Before joining the council I had heard all of the rumors regarding graft, corruption and patronage. Well, I can honestly say in the more than eight years I served, I was actually approached only once. I refused the only bribe opportunity I ever had." Holmes has since moved from Riverside, but even from Independence he still keeps track of his "home town."

Mayor Ed Rule

While several of Riverside's mayors can take credit for helping build a city from scratch, Ed Rule may have seen some of the most dramatic change in the city's history. Serving as mayor from 1996-2000, Rule presided over the city just as it embarked on several dramatic capital improvement programs, thanks to funding from the Argosy casino.

"Yes, it was dramatic," Rule recalls today. "We certainly had an opportunity to make a bigger impact on this city than has ever been or maybe ever will be. You don't get too many opportunities to build city halls or city parks. For a city our size - about 3,300 people - that's a lot of capital improvements."

Rule said previous Boards of Aldermen should be credited, as well as Mayors before and after his two terms. "We've set the stage," he said. "The board and mayor now are preparing for the next big leap—that's the levee." "The levee" is the Riverside-Quindaro project that was completed in 2005. Rule noted that the levee was an extremely long-term project. "The mayor's before me have worked on that for 50 years trying to get that done," he said. "The city has a lot invested in that project, but they'll more than get their money back."

Rule also saw the city's use of funding from the Argosy casino have a major impact. "The riverboat and its income has been a tremendous factor," he said. "I look for really great things to happen in our city. I've always been a big supporter of this city and always will be."

Although he's a "newcomer" to the community, having only moved here 30 years ago, Rule also has a long-time connection with Riverside; his grandfather-in-law is the late Ferd Filger, first mayor of the community. "He was a wonderful man," Rule said. "I never heard him say one bad thing about any person."

Gary Hohimer

In a city of pioneers," Gary Hohimer was right at home. While many Riverside leaders were literally inventing basics such as a city budget or parks, Hohimer was on the front line in public safety. A native of the small central Missouri community of Triplett, Hohimer recalled that as a youngster he admired the shiny car and starched uniform of a Highway Patrolman. "I always wanted to be in law enforcement," he said. "That always stayed with me." Hohimer came to Riverside and in 1959 graduated from Park Hill High School. In 1963, he was working at the old Riverside automobile racetrack when he met Vern Davis. Davis was both a security guard at the racetrack and served as Riverside City Marshall. "I told him that I'd always wanted to be in law enforcement," Hohimer recalled. "He said, 'I may have a job for you.'"

Hohimer soon found himself one of Riverside's three full-time officers, a job that soon taught him important police skills. Working alone without backup on the midnight shift, he was often the only law enforcement officer when 30,000 people attended races or when crowds became rowdy in one of the many taverns, which then lined Riverside's main streets. "I learned to use my head instead of my back or my mouth," he laughs now. "Most of the people you met weren't bad if you handled them right. But it could be exciting." He now laughs about some of the events that at the time taxed his abilities.

He was on duty on a busy weekend at the racetrack when weather forced a rainout. The track manager informed the crowd that they would be given rain checks, but some in the audience didn't accept that option. They voiced their disagreement by surrounding the ticket office and setting it on fire, with the manager, Hohimer and others inside. While that event ended well enough, another fire ended tragically and brought about a major advance for the city.

The El Chaparral apartment complex was the scene of a disastrous fire. At that time, a nearby volunteer fire organization was paid to provide protection in Riverside, but the El Chaparral sustained substantial damage. "The fire response time was consistently up to 45 minutes," Hohimer recalled. "The apartment fire started in the laundry area and probably could have been contained. But it ended up taking out 12 units on three floors. We realized we had to have something better."

The city first tried to create its own volunteer fire department, but the difficulty in getting people to train was a problem. In 1973 Riverside formed its Department of Public Safety, a group that addressed police and fire protection with cross-trained officers. Hohimer became the first director. The new organization was a definite improvement, but was nothing like today's operations. At that time, manpower was still limited but resources were probably the biggest limitation. Reports were written by hand (in triplicate!). Once when "statistical analysis" was needed, a resident with ties to a large wholesale grocer borrowed some computer time. "Everyone worked very hard in those days," Hohimer now recalls. "It's nothing like the department we have now, but it was a good start. Everyone who was involved can be proud of their hard work."

Loo Rodeberg

Alderman and community leader Loo Rodeberg became one of Riverside's most influential residents. Rodeberg grew up in a family of eight children during the depression. Even though times were tough, the family took pride in their home and community-values that Loo brought with her to Riverside in 1957. After moving here, Rodeberg saw that there were things she would like to change. She sought out others in the community who had the same dream and together these residents set out to make Riverside a better place to live. The result was the Pride and Progress Committee.

At the time Rodeberg served on the Board of Alderman, there were few women involved in politics. Her unique perspective was a major contribution to the city and she was a hard-working advocate for her constituents. Loo's commitment to the city and occasional "challenges" sometimes brought humorous results.

During the early Pride and Progress efforts, proponents were aware that Riverside did not have a stellar reputation in the community. Much of their work was in fact geared to improve the appearance and reputation of a city that was intent on improving itself. But at one point, Kansas City Star writer Rich Hood was blamed for material that was less than complementary. Rodeberg, always one to go to the source, strode into the Star offices and was quoted by some as labeling Hood a "fink." That meeting did eventually end on a positive note.

Hood, who went on to become a key editor for the publication, took a second look at the community and began to note the improvements which were taking place. And when time came for Rodeberg to retire from the Board of Aldermen, Hood attended her retirement party wearing a T-shirt printed with "Star Fink." Rodeberg passed away in 1997, but she would be very proud of the improvements that have continued in Riverside, a community that she fought long and hard to better.

Gary Brenner

Gary Brenner might deserve the name of Riverside Renaissance man. Brenner is a former Alderman who was instrumental as an amateur archaeologist on the Renner Brenner site. He has written on both prehistoric and historic aspects of Riverside. His work was invaluable in capturing the ancient history of Riverside. His interest in the past began when he was only 10. His father was building an apartment complex on Homestead Road. Gary became fascinated with artifacts turned up by the bulldozer, asking the driver to stop whenever something was uncovered. "I was spotting artifacts left and right. After two or three days, the driver went up to my father and said, 'I love your son, but if you ever want to get this job done, I will have to do it without his help!'"

Gary's collection of Brenner family and Native American artifacts includes approximately 25,000 pieces, although many might be unrecognizable as historical to laymen. "People are surprised at what's under their feet, when you point it out. Right on top of the ground where City Hall is being built, there are hundreds of sandstone abraders that were used to sharpen bone and other tools. Most people walk over them without knowing what they are."

Some of his best work appeared in early editions of the city newsletter. Brenner drew on a wealth of family and community history, and conducted valuable interviews. "I was lucky that many of our early residents and community leaders were still alive. Ferd Filger (Riverside's first mayor) told me about nearly dying as a child while his family was crossing Line Creek in a horse drawn wagon. The wagon tipped over and he was swept away. It was something he always remembered."

Brenner is also an amateur weatherman. During the 1993 flood, his floodstage forecasts proved more accurate than those of many professionals. "I was giving reports to the National Guard and everyone involved in fighting the flood and trying to protect their property. I wasn't a professional, but I helped provide information for the business owners who had $70 million worth of property threatened by that flood."

Irene Jones

Riverside made an important step in growth when the Mid-Continent Public Library opened a branch in 1970. The branch at Woodland and Gateway was opened by Mildred Barr. After 11 months, assistant Irene Jones took over and operated the library for 19 years. Ironically, Jones' retirement in 1990 coincided with plans for a new facility at Gateway and Vivion Road.

Nevertheless, Mrs. Jones gets much of the credit for "building" the library as it stands today. It's just that her work involved people, especially children, not brick and mortar. "We pulled out all the stops, tried everything we could think of to pull people in," she recalled. "I even dressed my husband Norman as Santa Claus for the kids. It was slow going at first. But after a while that library was full."

The tactics worked. Before long, "story hour" for young people, early adoption of multi-media and other programs kept the 5,000 s.f. building full most days and evenings. The new facility, built in 1990, continues that legacy with a wide range of programs.