Reception honors Discovery Center donors

Jerome Knoll addressed a Friday night gathering in his honor. The reception was hosted by the McCook Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee to thank Jerome and Linda Knoll for their donation which will be used to secure property to house a children’s museum in McCook.

Shary Skiles/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. - Members of McCook Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee, as well as some area business leaders, gathered Friday to honor and thank Jerome and Linda Knoll for the generous donation they gifted to the fund for the benefit of Discovery Center of Southwest Nebraska.

Mark Graff shared his observation that the Knolls felt blessed by the success they have experienced and with that blessing came a desire to “make a statement of appreciation” to the people who were friends, neighbors, and employees. Graff said that working with the Knolls brought back memories of Andy Anderson, stating that they both have a passion for the community and for youth.

Patty Tidyman, who serves on the Discovery Center board of directors, gave credit to Mary Dueland and Kathy McDowell who birthed the idea of a children’s museum, laid the groundwork and built community awareness for the concept. In thanking the Knolls, Tidyman said, “I can think of a lot of boards who would give their right arm to start their project with such a strong donation. And it’s not lost on us. We’re very thankful, not only because it helps us to meet our timeline faster and to reach our financial goal, but also because it validates our project in the eyes of the community and it communicates to people that we will be successful.”

Jerome Knoll told those gathered that he has had “one fantastic experience in McCook in the last 31 years.” He went on to say that through his various business ventures in McCook he has had fantastic employees and he is thrilled to help leave something in McCook that those employees’ children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will enjoy.

Jerome and Linda Knoll gifted $400,000 to the fund following the sale of the Westview Plaza property to Cody Dame. The Westview Plaza property is the last McCook business that the Knolls were involved in. Knoll said it was important to him that the property has local ownership, and he thanked Dame for his part in leasing the property and ultimately purchasing it.