People and News

Michael Richter

Michael Richter has been named general manager of the new St. Louis-based PlayLearn Products Division of Playground Corporation of America, it was announced by company president, Asher B. Etkes.

Richter will continue as PCA's national vice president in charge of sales. He now supervises the marketing of the company's extensive lines of educational, recreational and leisure-time products.

As administrative head of the PlayLearn division, he will be further responsible for the introduction and the sales distribution nationally of new lines of creative preschool play equipment for early childhood development. Buyers of this type of equipment include nursery schools, day care centers, kindergartens and lower elementary schools.

Richter will be charged with setting up and managing a national distribution network of 400 sales outlets. In addition, he will oversee the development and marketing of PlayLearn's new products as they are introduced.

A native of St. Louis, he will continue to work out of the offices of PCA's St. Louis plant in Westport Industrial Park. The modern 22,000 sq. ft. facility serves as the principle production, warehousing and shipping center for the New York- based company.

Richter was the general manager of Salsich Recreation, Inc., St. Louis, for three years until its merger in 1969 with PCA. Salsich was then a leading local distributor of sports and athletic equipment for major U.S. manufacturers, including PCA. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of PCA, with new production capabilities, Salsich now designs and manufactures its own lines of equipment.

A graduate of St. Louis University, he lives with his wife and four children in the Kirkwood suburb.

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Steven S. Plumb has joined the staff of the Glenview Park District and has assumed the position of Assistant to the Superintendent.

Steve has a B.S. Degree in Outdoor Recreation from Colorado State University and a Masters Degree from Penn State University.

He joined the Glenview Park District on September 1, 1972.

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Rodney Denisar was recently appointed manager of the Glenview Park District's new indoor ice center, scheduled for opening in January. Rod has been on the Glenview staff for nearly one and a half years in the capacity of recreation supervisor.

Before joining the Glenview staff, he served on the staff of the Arlington Heights Park District.

He is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a Degree in Recreation and Park Administration.

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David F. Phillips was appointed Director of the Wheeling Park District August 3rd to replace Ferd Arndt who retired.

Dave holds a B.S. Degree in Recreation and Park Administration from the University of Iowa. He served with the Arlington Heights Park District before moving to Wheeling as their Recreation Superintendent prior to being appointed Director.

Dave is certified through the Illinois Park Recreation certification program.

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Elaine Potts

Elaine Potts, a recent graduate of Southern Illinois University with a B.S. in Education with a major in Recreation has been appointed Social Director / rental consultant for the Littlestone Company, Chicago, Illinois, at Mallard Lake Apartments in Wheeling, Illinois.

Elaine will direct the activities of some 500 apartment dwellers in the existing recreation center, pool, lake, play areas, and planned lighted tennis and volleyball courts.

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Harry Coffey

Harry Coffey was recently appointed to the position of Recreation Supervisor for the Bensenville Park District. He replaces Steve Levon who returned to pursue studies at George Williams College in Downers Grove, Ill.

Harry is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a B.S. Degree in Recreation and Park Administration and is now attending graduate school at George Williams College majoring in Recreation Administration. He recently served two and one half years as Director of Recreation for the Village of Riverside, Ill. His responsibilities at Bensenville will be that of program planning and supervision of Park District Aquatic facilities.

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Janet Merutka

Janet D. Merutka (Kuhlman) has been named Vice President of Marketing and Promotion for the Littlestone Company, a loop real estate firm.

The Littlestone Company is involved in the management and development o f over 2,500 rental and sale units in the greater Chicago area. In her new position, Jan is responsible for hiring all apartment personnel including social directors and recreation personnel. She reviews and critiques all architectural plans for play areas and recreational facilities.

Beyond her recreation oriented responsibilities, she co-ordinates selection of all apartment and town-house materials, model decoration, brochure design, the total advertising media schedule and marketing studies.

Jan was formerly with the Franklin Park Park District in Franklin Park, Illinois, and the Illinois State Conservation Deartment in Springfield.

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Jon Steven Jackson and Garry Regon have been named Assistant Directors for Evanston's Lighted School Programs.

Jackson holds both a B.S. and M.S. Degree from S.I.U. He did his

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internship at Little Grassy Campground working with mentally and physically disabled. He also spent three years in the U.S. Army as a Personnel Management Specialist prior to joining the Evanston staff.

Regon has a B.S. Degree from Ohio State University in Public Recreation and a Masters Degree from Indiana University in Park and Recreation Administration.

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Owen L. Thomas has been appointed Community Coordinator for the Evanston Recreation Department.

Thomas is a former professional football player with the New York Giants (terminated because of a leg injury) and is a graduate of George Williams College.

For the past three years he has been Assistant Dean of Students for Kendall College.

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Norman Merrifield, an experienced recreation specialist, has joined the Evanston Recreation Division and has been assigned to the Foster Community Center.

He has a Degree from Indiana University.

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Louis F. Schick has been named Sports Supervisor for the Evanston Recreation Department to replace Bill DiCanio, Jr., who was promoted to Maintenance Superintendent for the Evanston Parks Department.

Schick has a B.S. and M.S. Degree from Southern Illinois University in Recreation Administration.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 19 November/December, 1972