Community Conversation to celebrate William H. Thorpe Memorial Park in Macomb on Sept. 12

MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois Museum, in partnership with the City of Macomb, invites the public to a Community Conversation celebrating the life and legacy of William H. Thorpe, Macomb’s first black police officer. The event will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Western Illinois Museum. This one-hour program is open to everyone, and refreshments will be served. The museum is fully accessible and offers free parking.

The Community Conversation will explore the challenges Thorpe faced as a black man in rural Illinois and how these experiences shaped his career, efforts to bring about change and personal perspective. Mayor Mike Inman will lead a dialogue featuring Thorpe’s family, colleagues and friends including Helen Thorpe, Carl Thorpe, Gregg Huston, Pam Huston, O.J. Clark, Allen Henderson and Jeff Hamer. Attendees are encouraged to share their memories and experiences during the discussion.

The event will also provide a preview of the upcoming Story Walk project, which will be installed in William H. Thorpe Memorial Park. Guests will have an opportunity to learn more about Thorpe and explore the creative plans and vision behind this tribute to his service to Macomb.

This program is partially funded by a grant from Illinois Humanities.

For more details, call the Western Illinois Museum at 309-837-2750, text at 309-837-2613, or email at info@wimuseum.org.

Thorpe was a Macomb native who graduated from Macomb High School and Western Illinois University. He served in the U.S. Armed Forces and was deployed to Korea from 1951 to 1955, where he was one of 600,000 African-American veterans who faced extreme racism and discrimination during the Korean War.

After returning from Korea, Thorpe pursued his goal of becoming a police officer in Macomb, overcoming racial bias to serve his community. His perseverance and dedication continue to inspire future generations. To learn more about Thorpe and the memorial project, listen to a recent interview on TriStates Public Radio.

The Western Illinois Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and preserving the history, culture and traditions of McDonough County. The museum serves as a vibrant community hub, offering exhibits, lectures, music and other programs in a historic setting. For more information, visit wimuseum.org or follow @wimuseum on social media.

Illinois Humanities is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants and educational opportunities that spark conversation, foster reflection, build community and strengthen civic engagement for everyone in Illinois.

Founded in 1974, it is a state partner for the National Endowment for the Humanities and supported by state, federal and private funds. Illinois Humanities provides free, high-quality humanities experiences throughout Illinois, particularly for communities of color, individuals living on low incomes, counties and towns in rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations and communities highly impacted by mass incarceration.

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