About 300 people turned out March 18 for a gala at the Arnold Recreation Center – the first of several activities city officials have planned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Arnold’s incorporation in 1972.
Excitement was high when the gala started but was replaced with sadness when a well-liked community leader suffered a medical emergency.
The festivities ended early when Michael D. Allen, 69, of Arnold collapsed and had to be rushed to Mercy Hospital South in south St. Louis County. He died at 12:02 a.m. March 19 at the hospital, said Allen’s wife, Peggy, who worked as a secretary for the Parks and Recreation Department from 2013 through 2020.
“It turned out to be a very difficult evening,” Mayor Ron Counts said. “It is certainly a tragedy to lose Mike. He was a good man. He worked hard in the community, and his wife, Peggy, worked for the city for quite a few years. It is just every time we think we have a master plan, we really don’t. God is making the decision for how things really are, and we may not understand the reason, but I think things were going phenomenal until what unfortunately happened.”
Before the evening ended, guests at the invitation-only event were treated to dinner, music and other activities at the rec center, which was decorated to the hilt.
City Administrator Bryan Richison said Parks and Recreation Department staff members did a fantastic job decorating the facility.
“I received numerous compliments about the decorations,” he said. “I thought they did a great job with the colored lighting they brought in. It set a nice kind of mood.”
Two of the 10 stone replicas of the Arnold water tower that have been created were set up outside the entrance to the building, and guests walked down the main hallway on a red carpet into the area where a cocktail hour was held. A dining area was set up on the lower floor of the rec center, including an elaborate dessert table.
Richison said on Monday that he didn’t have the total cost of the event, but the city paid Pasta House $20,739.12 for the dinner and spent an additional $3,525 on the dessert table, with treats provided by Cake House Design.
Before dinner, a musical duo entertained guests, and Ward 2 Councilman Tim Seidenstricker played the piano and Ward 1 Councilman EJ Fleischmann sang a recently discovered city song, as well as “God Bless the USA.”
Former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace, who grew up just outside Arnold and graduated from Fox High School, attended and was slated to be the evening’s master of ceremony but the evening ended before his duties began. There were supposed to be some speeches and a video presented at the event, too, but they were nixed as well.
Sen. Paul Wieland and state representatives Dan Shaul and Mary Elizabeth Coleman attended, and two proclamations, one from the Missouri Senate and one from the House, were presented to the city.
Arnold Ward 4 Councilman Gary Plunk, who is chairing the 50th anniversary, said he is saddened about the loss of Mike Allen, but thought the gala was well planned.
“It showed what Arnold is capable of doing,” he said. “I am sorry for what happened to Mike and Peggy, but before that, I think everyone’s spirit was lifted up just a little.”
Also at the gala merchandise featuring the city’s 50th anniversary logo made its debut and is now available for purchase. Some of the items include T-shirts, sweatshirts, bottle openers and insulated beverage holders, and they may be purchased at the rec center, 1695 Missouri State Road.
Arnold Parks and Recreation Director Dave Crutchley said the city also plans to celebrate the anniversary at the city’s annual Independence Day Celebration on July 2 and at the Arnold Days festival set for Sept. 16-19, both to be held at Arnold City Park on Bradley Beach Road off Jeffco Blvd.
Richison said the remaining eight water tower statues will be decorated by various artists and displayed throughout the city.
He said banners denoting the anniversary are up at City Hall and the rec center, and more banners will be placed on the light poles on both sides of Michigan Avenue.
The city also has teamed up with the Leader to produce a coffee-table book filled with photos highlighting Arnold’s history as a city since its incorporation in 1972, which is expected to be available before the Independence Day celebration.
In addition, a special section covering the city’s history and growth over the past five decades will be published in the Leader.
“This was the kickoff; it is just one of the events that we have planned,” Counts said. “I know it was disappointing that we lost Mike and had to cancel most of the evening. That was the right thing to do, and you know what, we are going to move forward with other things we have
planned. We will work towards making those successful.”
Richison said Arnold has budgeted $50,000 to cover the cost for various anniversary activities, although the city could budget more if it’s needed.