Jesse Rutherford*

Jesse Rutherford was an integral part of the recreation and parks profession for over 30 years. He started his professional career in 1944 as a recreation center director with the Ypsilanti Parks and Recreation Department and became the Director in 1968, retiring in 1974. During this period of time, he was a role model for young professionals. Many of them have remained in the profession because of his commitment to the profession.

Jesse served as a conduit for persons beginning their careers in the field of recreation and parks and encouraged them to get involved in the Michigan Recreation and Park Association through committees and programs in their respective communities. He encouraged many persons employed in the field of recreation, particularly those working in large cities to join the Michigan Recreation and Park Association and to participate in programs offered at the summer conference as well as the annual winter conference.

On the national scene, Jesse worked tirelessly to sensitize the National Recreation and Park Association to meet the essential and critical needs of urban recreation professionals serving the needs of the urban communities. At that time, programming and educational sessions at the national conference were primarily designed to address the needs of Directors and Administrators of major cities and large park systems. Jesse’s efforts were instrumental in charting the course of the national organization for future professionals at all levels.

Involvement and accepting challenges were key words in Jesse’s professional vocabulary. He was appointed commissioner (1973) and served as chairman of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority supporting acquisition of the then proposed Mill Creek Metropark despite local opposition; he designed and directed the development at Hickory Woods, an Executive Golf Course in Ypsilanti, MI; presenter at several MRPA State Conferences, as well as, several NRPA National Conferences. In addition, he was the first minority President of MRPA (1968); founding member of the MRPA Minority Affairs Committee and NRPA Ethnic Minority Society; becoming the first minority to be a member of the NRPA Board of Trustees (1973). As a result of his untiring efforts, he received two prestigious awards, the NRPA Citation Award and MRPA Fellowship Award.

Jesse was a positive force in his community championing the idea that recreation and park services play an invaluable part of everyone’s daily life. He carried this message to different organizations within his community where he volunteered. These organizations included: Parents Coordination Council, Juvenile Court Advisory Committee, Business and Professional League and Kiwanis Club.

Jesse Rutherford is recognized as a dedicated pioneer who initiated new directions for the recreation and park profession, not taking no for an answer.