Peck, Williams, and Wilkison inducted into Hall of Honor

On Sunday afternoon three outstanding local citizens were inducted into the Dunklin County Hall of Honor.

Dr. Chester Peck (posthumously), Gerald Wilkison, and Carl Williams joined the ranks of previous notables in the 16th induction ceremony held at the Dunklin County Library in Kennett.

Library Director JoNell Minton welcomed the inductee’s families and friends and then speakers, Barbara Petty, Diane Johnson, and Julie Orf read tributes of the honorees.

Dr. Chester Roehl Peck, Jr. was born in Malden on January 4, 1916 to Chester Roehl Peck and Gladys Allwood. He attended Malden Public Schools, Central Methodist College, the University of Missouri, and Washington University where he received his medical degree in 1942.

On october 16, 1942, he married Charlotte Fry in St. Louis, Missouri.

In World War II, Peck served as medical officer I the Burma-China Theatre. In 1945, he was awarded the Combat Medical Badge by the Chinese Command, Inited states Forces, China Theatre.

In 1947, he and Charlotte moved to Kennett where they lived the rest of their lives and raised a family.

They had five children, Chester Roehl Peck III, Charles Thomas Peck, Richard G. Peck, Carol Jean Peck, and Joanne Elizabeth Peck.

Both Dr. Peck and Charlotte were active in the community of Kennett. Growing up Dr. Peck was an Eagle Scout. He received the Silver Beaver Award. He served on the Seminole District Boy Scout Committee and the Executive Board of the Southeast Missouri Council of Boy Scouts. He also served as the physician for the Boy Scout Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania and in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

He was a long-standing member of the First United Methodist Church in Kennett and was also a member of the board. He served on the County School Board, was past president of the Kennett Lions Club and past president of the Bootheel Antique Car Club.

Dr. Peck was also a past president of the Kennett School Board and was a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

He was a preceptor for the University of Missouri Medical School and belonged to the Missouri Medical Association. Dr. Peck was named physician of the day for the Missouri State Legislature and was honored in May 1975 by a resolution in the Missouri Hose of Representatives shortly after his death. He was an active member of the Republican Party.

Dr. Peck died suddenly on April 30, 1975 in Kennett.

Gerald Wilkison was born May 23, 1928 to Hugh and Verda Wilkison in Bloomfield, Missouri. He had one sister, Juanita Pruett and one brother, Jewell Wilkison.

Wilkison graduated from Bloomfield high school in 1946. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force where he served as a radio controller in tokyo during the occupation of japan following World war II.

Gerald attended the university of Missouri and Mound City Business College, graduating from their school of Reporting in 1952. He worked with the University City Police Department in st. Louis and was employed by the court reporting firm of Poole and Magano, reporting labor racketeering cases for the federal grand jury. In 1954, Gerald and his wife, Nova Aslin Wilkison moved to Kennett. In Kennett, Wilkison began work for the 35th Judicial Circuit where he was employed for the next thirty-six years.

As a court reporter, Gerald received numerous honors. He was a member of the Missouri Court Reporter’s Association, srrving two terms as president. Gerald was also a member of the National Court Reporter’s Association, and as a Registered Professional Reporter received the Certificate of Merit, which is the highest achievement attainable for speed and accuracy up to 260 words per minute, given to professional reporters, a distinction achieved by fewer than 2,000 reporters nationwide.

Gerald and his wife became a part of the community, raising their family here, daughter Sande Crunk-mitchell of Kennett and sons Don and Dave Wilkison both of Kansas City. He has two granddauhters, Sarah Wilkison of Kansas City and Courtney Rhew of Kennett.

When his wife, Nova, passed away they had been married almost 50 years. The Wilkisons were mebers of the First United Methodist Church where Geral was a member of the board.

He also served as a member of the board of directors for the Kennett Country Club and served as the golf tournament chairman for many years.

He also served as a member of the Delta Fair Board and is a past Master of the Kennett Masonic Lodge.

Gerald was a member of the Kiwanis Club attaining thirteen years of perfect attendance. He continues to be an active member of the VFW Post 5443 in Kennett.

Gerald has coached little league baseball and basketball and continues to be part of the Dunklin County Library Book Discussion Group.

In may of this year, Gerald was honored for service to his country by being selected to participate in a Veterans Honor Flight to Washington, d.c. By the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight Organization.

At 90 years young, he remains active and can be found each morning working out at Ultimate Fitness.

He is an ardent Cardinal’s fan and enjoys the horse races. He is known throughout the community as an excellent cook and continues to delight family and friends with samples of is baked goods.

Carl Ray Williams was born August 25, 1932 in Nimmons, Arkansas to Charles and Bertha Williams. He moved to Kennett at an early age, three weeks. Carl attended Kennett High School, graduating in 1950. He continued his studies at Southeast Missouri State University, receiving a Bachelor of science Degree in business Administration. Carl served in the United States Army from 1953 until 1955.

In 1956, he married Barbara Lemonds. Barbara passed away earlier this year. Carl and Barbara were married for sixty-two years. They have two daughters, Kenna Skelton of Kennett and Maria Simmons who passed away in 2015. Carl has two grandsons, Kellen Story and Mark Simmons, and four great-grand children, Van, Jo, Eve, and Mae Story.

Carl’s career has been as an accountant and tax consultant for thirty years as well as a property manager. He also served as a member of the Dunklin County Commission for eight years.

The community has benefitted from Carl’s business expertise in many ways. Carl served as chairman of the Kennett Park Board and the Kennett Tomorrow Commission. He was also treasurer of the Delta children’s Home and Dunklin County Community Service.

He served as a member of the board of the directors of the Kennett Chamber of Commerce, the Center for Family Resources, the Unico Bank, and Twin Rivers Hospital. He also served as a member of the Dunklin County Law Enforcement Restitution Fund Board. Carl currently serves as board member and secretary for the Family Counseling Center.

As part of the Jaycees he placed flags around town and in cemeteries for the American Legion Post, serving as Adjutant. Carl was president of the Kennett Boys Baseball Association, coaching teams for eleven years. Carl is also a member of the First Baptist Church.

Carl was instrumental in the renaming a block of 2nd street, Sheryl Crow Drive, getting the Missouri Department of Transportation to move the “History of Dunklin County” sign from First Street to its present location in front of the Dunklin county Museum, asking the Missouri legislature to name Highway 412 from Kennett to Hayti “The Governor John M. Dalton Memorial Highway, and securing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out debris removal and reconstructing the channel of the St. Francis River west of Kennett.

Perhaps what has defined Carl’s life more than anything has been his devotion to the Rotary Club where he has achieved perfect attendance for the past thirty years.

Carl writes the weekly club newsletter and whether it is assisting with their annual Dictionary Project, the annual breakfast for veterans, or any of the clubs numerous other projects, he is usually the first to show up and one of the last to leave.

Carl has received commendations from the city of Kennett, from the Kennett Park Board, and has been designated Paul harris Fellow by the Rotary club.

The qualification for inductees are they must be or have been citizens of Dunklin county and have distinguished themselves with their occupation, trade, or field of endeavor through intellectual, creative, humanitarian, and professional accomplishments. If you would like to nominate a future Honoree, contact any branch of the Dunklin County Library.