“I just want the facts to get out there,” Powers said. “This
referendum is so critical to Rockford’s future.”
The notion that Rockford can be more vibrant and prosperous than it
is today is a bottomless well of inspiration for the 68-year-old
Rockford native. He took a job managing property and equipment in
the city’s Public Works Department after returning to Rockford in
1987 after a 25-year career in the Army. Powers expanded Rockford’s
anti-graffiti program while working for the city.
“I was told to develop a graffiti program and at the time I didn’t
even know how to spell ‘graffiti,’ ” Powers said. “But I knew that
to do this, I had to get out into the city’s neighborhoods where the
people were.”
Powers relished the job.
“As a supervisor, I could get on the radio and say ‘Hey, this person
needs help with an issue on Buckbee Street,’ or wherever the problem
happened to be. I could break through the red tape just like that.
It made you feel good.’ ”
Powers’ anti-graffiti crusade didn’t stop there. He helped develop
NoGraf Network, a nonprofit network of 450 anti-graffiti programs in
16 countries around the world.
Powers retired from his city job in 1999, and health problems have
slowed his pace. He was diagnosed with chronic lung disease three
years ago, and more recently with heart failure. His breath comes in
huffs and puffs and is sometimes aided with inhalants and oxygen,
though a new medication from his doctor is “giving me strength I
haven’t felt in years,” he said.
“Jim is one of the most civic-minded people I’ve come to meet in my
time here,” said Bob O’Brien, director of Chicago/Rockford
International Airport. “He gets on the phone and he uses e-mail to
get the word out, whether it’s to line up support for passenger
service at the airport or any of the many other community endeavors
he is involved in.”
Even a tumultuous 12-month stint as chairman of the city’s Fire and
Police Commission wasn’t enough to sour Powers’ upbeat attitude
about Rockford. The three-member commission was heavily criticized a
year ago for taking too long to hire a police chief. The criticism
grew to a clamor when the panel rescinded an offer to an outside
candidate after undisclosed problems arose with his background
check. In the end, the commission chose an applicant from inside the
department, Rockford native Chet Epperson. Powers’ health problems
grew worse last summer, and he resigned from the volunteer post.
“I really got stressed then,” Powers said. “You’re down and people
are kicking you. But I still enjoyed that job. The other part of the
job that wasn’t as public was being able to see the young guys, the
young faces coming in to join up with the police department. There’s
a lot of talent there. When you see that, it makes you proud.”
Powers is still involved with North End Neighborhood Association. He
manages the group’s Web site and its annual neighborhood garage
sale. He’s also vice president of Neighborhood Network, a new
umbrella of local neighborhood associations that’s taking shape.
“Neighborhoods need people like Jim Powers because without dedicated
volunteers neighborhoods have a tendency to fall apart,” said Ald.
Bill Timm, R-9. “Jim’s been a real spark plug in the North End
Square neighborhood.”
Staff writer Isaac Guerrero can be reached at 815-987-1371 or
iguerrero@rrstar.com.
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