Gurnee says goodbye to former Mayor Welton
Gurnee said goodbye to former Mayor Richard Welton, who helped guide a quaint community into becoming a major retail and entertainment force.
About 300 mourners filled Gurnee Community Church for Welton's funeral service Wednesday morning. Welton, 72, a lifelong village resident, died Friday, July 31.
During the words of remembrance part of the service, Harry Welton said his older brother was a loving and devoted family man, a successful business operator, committed Christian, faithful friend and a dynamic mayor. He recalled his brother was a boy when he wanted to become Gurnee's mayor.
"Dick would practice his speeches in those early days," Harry Welton said. "We all had to hear him share ideas for solving the world's problems from some makeshift soapbox. He even called out play-by-play announcements of imaginary Chicago Cubs games. He always had them winning in the ninth inning with more excitement than Jack Brickhouse could ever muster."
Welton led Gurnee from 1973 to 2001, when he was defeated by Trustee Donald Rudny. In his 28 years as mayor, Welton oversaw development of Six Flags Great America, Gurnee Mills, numerous housing projects and the tremendous expansion of the village.
His oldest daughter, Natalie Ellis, remembered the first time she heard about her father's vision for Great America.
"After a family trip to Disney World, Dad said, 'Hey kids, wouldn't it be great to have a place like Disney World in your own backyard?' And in 1976, Great America opens in Gurnee," Ellis said.
Retired Gurnee Village Administrator James Hayner also remembered Welton during the funeral service. Hayner, who was Welton's brother in law, recalled a young, ambitious mayor with a desire to transform Gurnee from a small community into a regional retail and entertainment hub with desirable residential neighborhoods.
Hayner said the idea of Great America was controversial in a rural community of about 3,200 residents in 1973, so Welton decided to put the matter to an advisory referendum question. With a 773 to 252 tally in favor of Great America, Gurnee's growth explosion was about to start.
"In the past 39 years, (Great America) has brought over 105 million visitors to Gurnee," Hayner said, "and was the foundation to building a vibrant local economy. It also put Gurnee on the map and established us as a major player in Lake County."
Welton graduated from Warren Township High School in 1961 and from Carthage College in Wisconsin in 1965. He later served on the Carthage College board.
After college, he managed his family's Welton's Food Mart in Gurnee and developed the store into a five-location chain. Harry Welton said his brother took over after their father, Arthur, suffered a fatal heart attack in 1969.
Welton was appointed to the Gurnee village board in 1971. Two years later at age 30, he was elected mayor - the youngest in Illinois at the time.
His expertise as a government leader went beyond Gurnee's borders. He became known for his work with the Lake County Joint Action Water Agency, helping to bring Lake Michigan drinking water to more of the North and Northwest suburbs.
In addition, he served on the Pace suburban bus agency's board for 20 years.
Last year, the former mayor was honored with plans to turn village-owned land near the Des Plaines River into a public space called Richard A. Welton Village Plaza. Plans include rain gardens, perennial plants, seating and bronze markers indicating Gurnee milestones and Welton's contributions.
Hayner said it took a "unique quality" for Welton to be a visionary.
"Not many people possess it," Hayner said. "Gurnee was a lucky community to have a young, visionary, 30-year-old mayor elected in the early '70s prior to Lake County's development spurt. Even in those early years, he envisioned Gurnee as a community of opportunity, with a strong, vibrant economy, nice neighborhoods, all types of housing, good diversity, great services and the funds to provide them. Take a look. That's what we have.
"Dick Welton's leadership and vision laid the foundation for building Gurnee as one of the top suburban communities. Thanks, Mayor Welton, for putting us on the map. And as he would passionately say, 'God bless the village of Gurnee.' And God bless Dick Welton."
Welton's survivors include his wife, Debby; four sisters; two brothers; five children; and seven grandchildren.
Instead of flowers, donations can be sent to a fund for the Welton Village Plaza. Checks should be made out to the village and mailed to village of Gurnee, 325 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee, IL 60031.