Fountain Will Memorialize McKee

Jason Miller
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Of all his accomplishments over nearly 30 years of service to Michigan City, one of the highest, according to Roger McKee's son, Bob, was making sure Millennium Plaza wasn't built over with condominiums.

For that, on Saturday, Oct. 6, the city's park board - of which Bob McKee is president - will name the fountain at that park after Roger McKee, a former city councilman who died last year.

"From a personal standpoint, I'm proud of all the accomplishments and his great track record of service to this community," Bob McKee said Tuesday. "As a community we should be proud."

By a resolution passed earlier this month, the park board will dedicate the fountain to McKee, officially naming it "Roger J. McKee Memorial Fountain." A ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the fountain, in the footprint of the Franklin Street Bridge on the banks of Trail Creek.

In the resolution, the park board honors McKee's "lifetime of extraordinary achievements ... in humanitarian causes and public service to the city of Michigan City, Indiana, and to its parks and recreation department."

The resolution also notes McKee's efforts in the public acquisition of Mount Baldy and West Beach, both of which are now part of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Bob McKee said the board looked at several different areas at which to locate a memorial, but chose what McKee called a "showpiece" area at the entrance to the city's "showpiece park."

"He was a tremendous advocate for Michigan City," Bob McKee said. "He had a way of relating to everybody."

Contact reporter Jason Miller at jmiller@thenewsdispatch.com.

Fountain Honors McKee

Amanda Haverstick
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - A man who made being an advocate for Michigan City his mission is now remembered with a fountain in his honor.

The Millennium Plaza fountain was named Roger J. McKee Memorial Fountain on Saturday in honor of his achievements and public service.

McKee, who died Dec. 12, 2006, served as a city councilman, was the Michigan City postmaster for 27 years and a member of numerous boards and commissions.

McKee's son, Bob, served as master of ceremonies during Saturday's dedication, which featured a roster of speakers from political colleagues to close friends.

"I certainly thank everyone for coming," Bob McKee said. "I'm sure somehow, someway, my dad has thanked everyone here as well."

U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Granger, described McKee as a mentor, advisor and father figure.

"You look around our city ... much of this would not be here if not for the vision of Roger McKee. He touched our lives in so many ways," Donnelly said. "I think of (McKee) and I think of duty, honor, country, God and family. They don't come along very often like Mr. McKee."

McKee, Mayor Chuck Oberlie said, had a vision for the community that resulted from his ability to work with others, including acquiring the land where Millennium Plaza sits during the casino negotiations in the mid-1990s.

"The owners of the property did not want to give it to the city. The mayor (Sheila Brillson) wanted it greatly. Roger said ... there will be no gambling without this piece of property belonging to the city," Oberlie said.

"We're not here for us - we're here for the next generation. Roger believed that, and his decisions were based on making this a better community, a better United States for the people who are going to follow in our footsteps."

Political ally, family doctor and friend Dr. Vidya Kora said it is fitting to name the fountain after a man who was committed to making the city beautiful.

"In all the years, I saw Roger in different roles and different capacities. Once he made a commitment to a cause, there was no stopping him," Kora said. "Roger belonged to the greatest generation who fought for his country ... and when he returned home from World War II, worked hard to build our country and community. The fruits of his hard work and the hard work of his generation we enjoy today."

Duneland Health Council President Norm Steider, who worked with McKee on both the boards of Memorial Hospital and Duneland Health Council, recalled his strong support of developing an inpatient alcohol and substance abuse program.

"As he explained to me on a number of occasions, treating substance abuse and seeing an individual recover and seeing a family brought back together as a result of the treatment was truly as miraculous as open heart surgery," Steider said. "If the mark of a good life was having left the world a little better place to live, Roger McKee led a good life."

Sanitary District Superintendent Al Walus recalled his work relationship and friendship with McKee.

"I personally must thank Roger for many years of great friendship," Walus said. "As a community, we thank the entire McKee family for sharing your father with us because, quite frankly, we needed and relied upon his leadership."

Contact Amanda Haverstick at ahaverstick@thenewsdispatch.com.