Commun ty Matters Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor
Golf tournament raises more than $19,000 Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor’s 24th Annual Dick Metz Memorial Golf Classic on May 6 raised more than $19,000 for the Manor’s Good Samaritan Program. The tournament was named for the late golf pro and Arkansas City native, Richard “Dick” C. Metz, who was a leading golf pro in the 1930s and 1940s. In his career, he won 14 professional victories and was inducted into the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame in 1991. After Metz’ death, a golf tournament named for him was started to benefit the Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor Good Samaritan Program, which provides assistance for residents who have outlived their financial resources through no fault of their own. “Our golf tournament continues to be a huge success from year to year,” said Sarah Griggs, executive director for Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor. “We are so blessed to have a large group of businesses, organizations and individuals who support Presbyterian Manor and our mission, not only at the tournament, but throughout the year.” Seventy-two golfers participated in the tournament, which featured a GOLF, continued on page 2
June 2018
40 years through the eyes of two women who were there As we continue to look back at the 40-year history of Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor, we thought we’d share the stories of two women who were there in the beginning. As they reflected on the vision that helped establish the community, they marveled at how far Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor has come. For Linda Headrick, “Ark City Presbyterian Manor Employee #1,” memories of the community date back to a time before there was even a community. Linda’s tenure with PMMA began in a small office in the Presbyterian Church—until the day she and her files rode to the new building in the back of a maintenance truck. On that first weekend, there were three women scheduled to move in. However, there was one problem. The building wasn’t done yet.
The Arkansas City Traveler reported that approximately 700 people attended an open house and dedication ceremony on Sunday, November 5, 1978, in Arkansas City for the newly built Presbyterian Manor at Fourth Street and Radio Lane.
“We had no dining room, no carpet in the hallways, and we had to set up one of the apartments as a dining room,” said Linda. “In fact, there weren’t even numbers on the doors.” Even in those earliest days, Linda remembers the community being “family oriented,” but notes that it was a far cry from the campus we are now accustomed to. “There have been so many changes over the years to make the community more homey,” said Linda. “Today, it just feels like one big, open living room—the way it should be.” FORTY, continued on page 3