Over the past two years, Odell has invested in a new roof, new flooring, a new boiler, and new HVAC systems. The cost of these essential projects has been high, and to receive such a generous donation is a most welcome breath of fresh air. The gift came as a grand surprise to the library, but since its announcement, many who knew the Miticks have commented that it’s ‘just the sort of thing’ Stan and Ruth would do.
At Odell’s Board of Directors meeting in April, Mr. Pons elaborated on the generous gifts that his aunt and uncle left behind. Ruth (née Bealer) was born and raised in Morrison. She became the first of her family to attend a 4-year college and as luck would have it, she made her way to the University of Colorado. There she met Stan, a Denver native, who had recently returned from the European Theater of Operations, having served in the Army Air Force during the Second World War. The couple was married August 27, 1948, and settled in Morrison several years later.
Ruth was a passionate educator with a career spanning some 38 years in the field. Starting as a girl’s physical education teacher, she went on to teach remedial reading and later helped struggling students in a variety of subjects. Aside from her dedication to education, Ruth was an avid golfer, historian, and outdoors-person.
In 1980, Ruth and Stan moved into a home on 2 ½ acres of wooded ravine. There, Ruth and Stan designed and built “switchback” trails throughout the property. The trails were open to the public and the pair, especially Ruth, tended to and enjoyed them for more than 40 years. Ruth passed away at the age of 95 on August 25, 2021.
Though born and raised in Colorado, Stan quickly became a mainstay in the Morrison community. Stan put his degree in Mechanical Engineering to good use as one of the first engineers for Morrison’s General Electric Company. Between his 43 years of full-time employment and another 19 on a part-time basis, Mr. Mitick gave an impressive 62 years to the company. During that time, Stan also served in many civic roles, including 21 years on the Board of Morrison Community Hospital, 20+ years as a Friend of the Park, and an Advisory Board Member of the Morrison Education Foundation since its inception. Stan passed away at the age of 97 on December 15, 2020.
Together, the couple invested their time and energy into the community they loved. As nephew Tom Pons recalled, “Morrison meant a lot to them and education was so, so important to them both.” Stan and Ruth valued learning, which is why this round of giving went entirely to educational institutions. Beyond their generosity to Odell, the Miticks left gifts to the Sauk Valley College Foundation, the Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico Education Foundation, the Morrison Education Foundation, the Sauk Valley College Foundation (SVCF), and the University of Colorado.
Odell could not be more grateful for this gift which strengthens the library’s mission to inspire life-long learning in the community. The Mitick’s legacy is sure to live on for many generations to come.
Mary and Tom Pons (seated) with Odell Board of Directors (L-R): Jess Wroble, Marc Adami (President), Chris VanderLeest, Judy Deter, Nora Wenzel, Anne Mills, Meridith Layne (Director), and Heather Bush. Photo provided by Katie Rider.
