Don Harry Kordecki

Born in Chicago in 1931, a son of the late Harry and Helen A. Kordecki. He came to Georgia in 1951 with the Air Force. He lived and worked in the Marietta vicinity until moving to Cartersville in 1961 where he opened Cartersville Radio Station WKRW, which he operated for 20 years. He spent his nearly 50 years in Cartersville, serving the community, as a broadcaster, activist for the arts, and dedicated civil servant.

Among Don’s many accomplishments and recognitions are:

•1963 - Cartersville Jaycee Young Man of the Year

•1965 - helped to create the Georgia Theatre Conference, a statewide organization of educational, professional and community theatres, and was its first and third President

•1968 - served as president of the Cartersville Chamber of Commerce

•1969 - awarded the Georgia Broadcaster Citizen of the Year

•1974 - awarded the Girl Scout Thanks Badge for 10 years of service on the Northwest Georgia Girl Scout Board

•1975 - he and his wife, Ollene, created the Pumphouse Players and he served as President for many years

•1977 - the Best National News Story award from The Associated Press

•1988 - helped to change the Grand Theatre from a movie house to a performing arts venue

•1991 - retired from the U.S. Air Force after 21 years of service

•1991 and 1994 - served as President of the Downtown Cartersville Alliance, a precursor to the Downtown Development Authority

•1995 through 1997 – served on the theatre panel of the Georgia Council for the Arts

•2005 - received the inaugural award for Contribution to the Arts from the Cartersville/Bartow County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Don used his many theatrical talents to contribute to numerous productions of the Dramateurs, Cobb-Marietta Ballet (now the Georgia Ballet), Red Top Mountain Players, Pumphouse Players, Cartersville City Ballet, Pumped Up Players, Grand Theatre Opera Company, and other theatrical organizations. He served as a member to the Advisory Board of the Georgia Art Commission (predecessor to the Georgia Council of the Arts) under Governor Carl Sanders. He was a charter member and organizer for the Etowah Creative Arts Council and served for over 17 years as a board member, officer, committee chair and lobbyist for the Georgia Citizens for the Arts.

He served as chairman of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, chairman of the Bartow County Library Board of Trustees, treasurer of the Cartersville-Bartow County Cultural Arts Alliance, and was Technical Director at the Grand Theatre.

Don loved Cartersville and Bartow County where he knew and loved nearly all of the residents. He was devoted to his family, who are devastated by the loss. Don is survived by, his wife, Ollene, son, Adam, sister, Joan Baldwin, two daughters by a previous marriage, Patty and Cory, four grandchildren, Michelle, Kira, Samantha, and Chris, one great-grandchild, Audrey, two nieces and a nephew.

Graveside services will be held 10:30 A.M. Friday, October 29, 2010 from the Georgia National Cemetery with Rev. Ted Smith officiating. Military rites will be observed.

A visitation will be held from 6:00 till 9:00 P.M. Friday, October 29, 2010 from the Owen Funeral Home.

Memorial services will be held 2:00 P.M. Saturday from the Clarence Brown Conference Center on Highway 20 with Rev. Ted Smith officiating.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Etowah Scholorship Foundation.

Owen Funeral Home, 12 Collins Drive, Cartersville, Ga., is in charge of the arrangements