By Nicki Lock
Seventy-five years ago, in late May of 1951, a group of approximately 100 city and rural businessmen held a dinner with the goal of organizing a Chamber of Commerce in Bedford. At that meeting, nine men were elected to the board of directors. Those nine men were Paul Bartlett, Sr., Frank Bowen, Robert Cobb, John Emmert, William C. Hewitt, John M. Larsen, Jr., Rollie Livingston, William G. Young, and Robert Zeller. Robert Cobb was elected president of the board. Tentative dues were set at the first meeting, $25 for a firm and $12.50 for an individual.
The slogan for the newly formed Chamber of Commerce was, “Let’s Give Bedford A Future.” Over 100 people and firms joined the Chamber in June 1951 and almost $5,000 was raised from membership dues.
Other individuals who were on various committees were Richard Thompson, Gordon Beard, Paul Stephens, Lowell Caskey, Kendall Terrell, William Lewis, Wilbert Wilson, William Hensch, Evan Vredenberg, Harry Johnson, Horace Beemer, Leo Labedz, A.W. Hamblin, Mary Hamblin, Henry Krejci, and Marion Young.
Harley Hansen from St. Paul, Nebraska, was named as the secretary for the Chamber of Commerce with a starting salary of $3,600. The first order of business when Hansen met with the board was to establish four committees, retail trade, better business, industrial and membership.
The first project of the newly formed Chamber of Commerce was Dollar Days, where 60 Bedford merchants and places of business participated.
In February 1959 a new group, Bedford Junior Chamber of Commerce or Jaycees, was chartered. Guy Sleep was president of the Jaycees. A few of the things the Jaycees did were helping sponsor the July 4th parade, held teen dances, sponsored an Easter egg hunt, and held the outstanding young farmer’s banquet. They also helped, one year, obtain a doctor for Bedford and helped gravel the drive at the local Legion Hall.
