Column: Who was Jerry York?

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From left: Jerry York, his wife Peggy York, and Fred Swift. (Submitted photo)
From left: Jerry York, his wife Peggy York, and Fred Swift. (Submitted photo)

Commentary by Fred Swift

Jerry York was a fighter for Carmel. His leadership changed the face of Carmel by setting off a chain of events that took the community, functioning as a small town in the 1960s, to its move to city status which we have today.

Jerry created an organization known as the Carmel Clay Concerned Citizens Committee or 5Cs. In the late 1960s into the early 70s the organization opposed and ultimately refined a community master plan for establishing prescribed areas of the town for business development, recreational uses and residential zoning.

But it was in 1971 that the 5Cs endorsed a slate of candidates for the Town Board of Trustees that really brought change. The candidates were elected and set off on plans for public utility expansion, establishing of a business park and an aggressive annexation policy. Within four years with the board’s encouragement, voters determined that Carmel should become a city.

Jerry, who never ran for office himself, continued to be a citizen watchdog. He supported changes he thought best for the community, and sometimes opposed policies he felt were not in the public interest.

But, Jerry was into more than politics. Sports at all levels were his passion. He was a founding member and “mover” of the Carmel Dad’s Club. He also originated a Carmel Classic Track and Field Championship event. Bruce Jenner, Jesse Owens and other national sports celebrities appeared at the Classic and attracted wide publicity and participation in the annual event.

Jerry could be controversial and confrontational. He didn’t mind such labels, and always kept his eyes on his goals. He had been a wrestler in high school and college, this despite the fact he was physically handicapped. One leg was much shorter than the other due to an accident suffered in his youth.

At his side through his projects and battles was his wife and mother of their four children, Peggy. She, with Jerry’s help, was elected three times to the Carmel school board. She operated the York Kindergarten in Carmel for 25 years. And Peg and Jerry thoroughly enjoyed golf, playing mostly at Woodland County Club.

Jerry’s working career was in insurance and securities sales. He worked hard, but always took the time needed for his community responsibilities. He was a member of the Amateur Athletic Union, Carmel Rotary and a devout Presbyterian.

In the 1990s the Yorks moved to Florida, but returned to Carmel each summer for several years until declining health forced Jerry to give up his travels. But, interest in his former hometown never ended as he kept in touch with friends here until he died in 2011 at the age of 88, Peggy still lives in a Delray Beach, Florida, retirement community where the couple spent their last several years together.


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