Bob Foos
Carolyn and Don McGowan’s contributions to Webb City, especially the park department, over the last 50 years were formally acknowledged Thursday when the amphitheater was dedicated in their honor.
Nary an event at the amphitheater since its construction has gone on without a performance by Carolyn’s Pinocchio School of Dance students – and this one was no exception.
As a result, the seating was practically standing room only because of all the students’ parents. Also in attendance were Don and Carolyn’s many associates who have helped put on the performances and their friends.
Erin Turner-Berkstresser, the emcee at most of the amphitheater events, was back in town specifically at Carolyn’s request. Erin recently resigned as community development director for the city in order to get married and move to Marshfield.
Mayor Lynn Ragsdale noted the same way Andy Griffith’s “Mayberry” was known for its characters, Webb City is known for its characters, including Don (and especially) Carolyn McGowan.
Turner-Berkstresser read a “CliffsNotes” version of Don and Carolyn’s history in Webb City. Here’s the unabridged version as written by Carolyn.
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Don and Carolyn McGowan moved to Webb City 50 years ago in 1975 with their two young sons, Matt and Bubba. Carolyn was teaching in Carl Junction and Don was running his business, Universal Industial Pump Service. They both loved this town and decided to serve the community. Carolyn began by serving as co-chair of the Webb City cancer drive with her new friend, Jenell Roderique, and learned all of the streets in town.
Don began by serving on the Webb City baseball board. He was asked to run for city council – but convinced Carolyn to run instead. She served three terms and was elected mayor pro tem in her last term. Health issues caused Mayor P. D. “Don” Crockett to be step down in his third term. As mayor pro tem Carolyn became the first female mayor, serving six months prior to the 1985 election.
After the April 1985 election, Kathryn Patten became mayor pro tem and completed the last year of Crockett’s term. So within a six-month period, Kathryn became the second female mayor in Webb City history.
In 1982, the McGowans purchased the north half of the Unity Building from Merchant Miner’s Bank, and with the help of Angela Lowe and Kevin Costley, Carolyn opened Pinocchio Preschool on the first floor. Don began renovating the upper floors for apartments, and they both joined the Chamber of Commerce. In 1987, they purchased the south half from Nadine Drachenberg and opened Pinocchio School of Dance on the first floor. In 1990 they received a federal match grant, which allowed them to complete 10 loft apartments on the second and third floor.
In 1988, Don sold his business and opened the Bradbury Bishop Deli across the street from the Unity Building. Carolyn helped Don and Patty Graue decorate the deli. When he later sold the business to Todd Loudis, he financed the sale.
In 2018 at the chamber banquet, Don and Carolyn were awarded the Webb City Historic Preservation Award by the Webb City Historic Preservation Commission due to their preserving the Unity Building.
In addition to their business ventures, the McGowans also served on several boards. When the baseball fields were moved to King Jack Park in 1981, Don was president of the Webb City baseball board and Carolyn was the treasurer. Don and past president Danny Perry helped with the move, and Carolyn organized a jog-a-thon to raise money for baseball uniforms. She also organized parents to run the concession stand. Due to these activities, she was chosen to serve as Mining Days Queen in the fall parade in 1982.
In his years of retirement Don served on the Webb City Park Board from 2008 to 2022 and served as president in his final years. He also served on the Farmers Market Board, the Webb City Housing Authority and Senior Citizen’s Center Board. For many years he delivered meals with his dog Jack. As a U.S. Air force Veteran, Don volunteered at the Legion Hall for bingo nights with his friend, Rick Copeland.
Carolyn served three terms on the Webb City Library Board and organized monthly decade musical shows at the Library’s Centennial Celebration in 2013.
These performances were held at the Webb City Library and the Route 66 Events Center. For many years, she has been a member of the Friends of the Library and the Webb City Historical Society. She served on the board of the historical society for many years but was recently replaced by her son Bubba, who knows more about the history of Webb City than she does.
In 1999, Carolyn returned to public school teaching. Webb City R7 hired her to administer the Franklin Early Childhood Center and write their curriculum. She served in this position for two years and again retired. Cathy Hall took her place. For this reason, she received the Pillars of the Past Award from the R-7 Schools Foundation in 1919.
Carolyn loves theatre and her goal at Pinocchio is to prepare dancers to perform in shows. She has been active at the Joplin Little Theatre since 1978 having performed and directed over 60 shows. Her friend, Angela Lowe, has choreographed most of the musicals she has directed. Clint Newby and Matthew Holt have served as musical directors for her. She received the JLT Lifetime Achievement Award 20 years ago – but she still serves on the directing staff. Since 2008, she has taken her dancers to perform in the Valentine concerts held every other year at JLT. She also directs shows for Heartland Opera.
When the amphitheater was built 20 years ago, in 2005, Park Board director Tom Reeder approached Don and asked him to convince Carolyn to put on a show. She agreed, and the first performance included Bruce Benson’s jazz band, the Ninth Hour Quartet, plus the Pinocchio dancers. Since then she has been bringing her dancers to perform at the amphitheater, most recently as part of the July Cruise-A-Palooza celebrations.