shorted by $500 and my father said, “Well, he didn’t catch it, did he?”
CHAPTER 19: THE CIVIC SOLDIER
As Johnnie Babcock points out, “While he valued privacy in his home,
Roy was active and maintained a high profile in civic affairs. He was as
much a joiner as the insurance and real estate agents who dominate most
service club memberships.” His civic and business activity earned him
many honors and awards.
As Babcock said, “A loyal Rotarian, Roy rose through official chairs
but never accepted its presidency. For many years he was instrumental in
securing top-drawer speakers for their Wednesday noon meetings. It
proved unlikely that anyone would refuse Park’s invitation to address the
organization. He was a faithful Presbyterian, not only as a ruling elder, but
also an usher, frequently passing the collection plate. He even found time
to take responsibility to oversee and supervise the minister.”
Tony DiGiacomo, former president of First National Bank, on which
board Roy served, was quoted in the Ithaca Journal when he was running
area United Way operations in the 1950s. Roy was chairman of the United
