GREEN SPRINGS—During the past 54 years, The St. Francis Health Care Foundation has donated more than $360,000 to the St. Francis Health Care Centre, much of it raised through the annual Reverse Raffle and, in the first 17 years, The Cadillac Dinner.

The raffle and dinner, started by Sister Stephanie Kozlowski of the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Health of St. Louis, and Tony Szymanowski, of Tony’s Bakery was held at the Moose Temple in Green Springs, where Fort Stephenson now stands. Later the events were held at The American Legion and now at Ole Zim’s. The 1953 event was the first reverse raffle in the area.

Vince Miller, owner of Miller Pontiac-Cadillac, and a member of the Advisory Board of Directors of St. Francis, donated the first Cadillac says his son, JR Miller. The value of the car was $4,200.

In the early days the dinner and raffle were always held on Tuesday nights because Tony’s Bakery was closed on Wednesdays. Tony’s granddaughter Ruth Rectenwald remembers her grandpa’s dedication.

“Grandpa worked so hard on this event that he checked himself into the hotel there for one week before the event and then checked out when it was over.”

After the second year, Tony and Frances Szymanowski asked their son Clem to host a cocktail party in their home before the event. There were approximately 50 people invited including politicians, business owners, friends and family.

Clem Szymanowski’s daughter Marlene Dauble remembers the furniture having to be moved to accommodate all of the guests. Ms. Rectenwald says the ladies wore beautiful dresses and the men wore ties.

Ms. Rectenwald had the honor one year of pulling each ball from the hopper with the names of all who had bought a ticket. Her dad says the Whirlpool Corporation was a great sponsor that donated the first washer in 1965. Ms. Rectenwald remembers it because she bought the washer from whomever won it that year.

Clem Szymanowski was on the board at St. Francis until 1990. During that time he was the chairman and master of ceremonies of the event for a number of years.

Bea Fox, who has never missed a raffle, says, “I never won the Cadillac and I never won any of the beautiful geraniums that were always the centerpieces in all theses years, but I did win $500 a few years back.” She remembers Ellen Chudzinski won two Cadillacs (in 1963 and 1970).

Mrs. Chudzinski’s granddaughter Karen O’Neil says, “I remember grandma buying tickets for all her children and in 1970 they pulled her son Vince’s name and grandma kept the Cadillac.” The value was $5,300.

Dick Smith of The Fremont Company says, “I remember I was in high school and I worked at Miller Pontiac-Cadillac and my job was to wax and buff the Cadillac and take it to The American Legion the day of the event.”

This year’s Reverse Raffle was May 4. Bea Fox, Clem Szymanowski and JR Miller were expected to attend.

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If anyone knows who won the first Cadillac or has stories or photos to share, call Sue Bowden at 419-639-6226 or e-mail her at sbowden@sfhcc.org. Sue Bowden is the development and foundation assistant for Green Springs St. Francis Health Care Centre.