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Independence, MO —
As a freshman at St. Mary’s High School, Liz McClure began to come out of her shell when her fellow classmates and teachers realized that she excelled at music.
That ability allowed McClure, who graduated from St. Mary’s in 1969, to have a variety of opportunities in school and upon graduation that she might not have had otherwise. Those opportunities led to her years working with the city of Independence, the Independence Chamber of Commerce and most recently the Truman Heartland Community Foundation.
“Because of my musical ability, I was given opportunities that I might not have otherwise had if I had attended a larger high school,” said the lifelong Independence resident. “I would play the score for the spring musical and rehearse with the upperclassmen. That start, rehearsing with those older than myself, helped me to better work with others later in life.”
USO tours and music
McClure was born in Independence, the oldest of three siblings. After graduating from St. Mary’s, she attend the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Because she started taking courses at the conservatory in high school, she entered UMKC with 11 credits toward the bachelor’s of music education degree that she would eventually receive.
“I started playing the piano in the fourth grade,” she said. “I was a normal kid who didn’t want to sit and practice. I wanted to be outside playing with my friends. But my mother pushed me and stayed behind me. I think it was in high school that I saw the benefits of staying with the piano and putting that time in practicing.”
As a student at UMKC, even more opportunities came, especially in the form of joining four USO tours while in college. McClure played piano, sang and danced, traveling to 16 countries.
“My upbringing was pretty conservative, so it was amazing to have that kind of opportunity to see other cultures,” she said. “It was an education that you cannot get out of a book, which is why I believe every young person should travel abroad if they have that opportunity.”
One of her most memorable experiences was during her first USO tour when she traveled to the North Pole. She said while it was not the most beautiful location, the experience is the one that stands out the most.
“I think it was one of my most rewarding experiences as a performer because the people there were so isolated,” she said. “They were hungry for any type of entertainment. I think it also stands out in my mind because it was my first trip.”
As a freshman at St. Mary’s High School, Liz McClure began to come out of her shell when her fellow classmates and teachers realized that she excelled at music.
That ability allowed McClure, who graduated from St. Mary’s in 1969, to have a variety of opportunities in school and upon graduation that she might not have had otherwise. Those opportunities led to her years working with the city of Independence, the Independence Chamber of Commerce and most recently the Truman Heartland Community Foundation.
“Because of my musical ability, I was given opportunities that I might not have otherwise had if I had attended a larger high school,” said the lifelong Independence resident. “I would play the score for the spring musical and rehearse with the upperclassmen. That start, rehearsing with those older than myself, helped me to better work with others later in life.”
USO tours and music
McClure was born in Independence, the oldest of three siblings. After graduating from St. Mary’s, she attend the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Because she started taking courses at the conservatory in high school, she entered UMKC with 11 credits toward the bachelor’s of music education degree that she would eventually receive.
“I started playing the piano in the fourth grade,” she said. “I was a normal kid who didn’t want to sit and practice. I wanted to be outside playing with my friends. But my mother pushed me and stayed behind me. I think it was in high school that I saw the benefits of staying with the piano and putting that time in practicing.”
As a student at UMKC, even more opportunities came, especially in the form of joining four USO tours while in college. McClure played piano, sang and danced, traveling to 16 countries.
“My upbringing was pretty conservative, so it was amazing to have that kind of opportunity to see other cultures,” she said. “It was an education that you cannot get out of a book, which is why I believe every young person should travel abroad if they have that opportunity.”
One of her most memorable experiences was during her first USO tour when she traveled to the North Pole. She said while it was not the most beautiful location, the experience is the one that stands out the most.
“I think it was one of my most rewarding experiences as a performer because the people there were so isolated,” she said. “They were hungry for any type of entertainment. I think it also stands out in my mind because it was my first trip.”
Santa-Cali-Gon and motherhood
After a short stint as an elementary music teacher, McClure began working with the Independence Chamber of Commerce in 1973. At that time, the chamber was attempting to revitalize the Santa-Cali-Gon Festival, which had not been held since the 1940s. She said she enjoyed the position because her responsibilities changed every day. She quickly became one of the organizers for the annual festival.
“It was such an awesome opportunity for a young person, she said. “Because of my music, I was already comfortable working with adults. The 1974 festival was the first since 1946. I was important for the chamber to bring it back as an annual event for community spirit and to celebrate our history.”
In addition to Santa-Cali-Gon, McClure was responsible for the Fourth of July celebration and the Halloween Parade. But Santa-Cali-Gon, she said, will always have a special place.
“It was not as large back then, but we still had almost 100,000 people attend,” she said. “The basic format for the celebration was developed back in 1974. It feels pretty good to walk around now and see some of the same vendors I used to work with as an organizer. It is nice to see how much it has grown.”
Shortly after her son Todd was born in 1980, McClure left the chamber be a stay-at-home mom. She said it was important to her to spend that time with Todd and bond with her young son.
“That is valuable time in those first two to three years,” she said. “I feel sorry for those young mothers who have to go back right away because it is in those first few years that you really begin to bond. I am grateful that I had that kind of opportunity.”
Raising a child and working full-time for much of his life was not always easy, McClure said, but she said with a strong support system, she had it easier than most.
“I don’t think it was as difficult as some moms have it,” she said. “Gary’s parents were here and he (Todd) was just down the street at Messiah Lutheran so he as close if I needed to be there.”
McClure’s son has recently been accepted to Southern Illinois University and will be working on his PhD in marketing. She said he has been her greatest joy.
“I had a beautiful healthy child who has been an extreme joy in our lives,” she said. “He is also a musician too, playing the piano. He has not brought one day of trouble to us.”
Truman’s Birthday
In 1983, McClure was thinking of returning to work when she learned about a new position created by then-mayor Barbara Potts. The city of Independence was getting ready to celebrate the 100th birthday of President Harry S. Truman, so McClure came on board to help plan the centennial.
“I was once again given another opportunity to do something unique for the city,” she said. “I was right on the planning stage, using my own ideas to help plan this important celebration for the city. I was very busy, but the experience was so rewarding.”
During the next seven years, McClure not only helped with the centennial celebration, but was also involved with the start of the Independence Community Foundation, which would later become the Truman Heartland Community Foundation. She helped type the by-laws and early drafts of the foundations charter. She had no idea that she would later be working with the foundation itself.
“I think that was my happiest time, working with the city,” she said. “I was able to work with so many community leaders and help create so many things. I think that is why in was so tough when that experience came to an abrupt end when Barbara was no longer mayor.”
Truman Heartland Community Foundation
McClure spent a few years working with Dick King, a lawyer in Kansas City – and a former Independence mayor – before coming to the foundation in the mid 1990s. In addition to organizing events such as the annual gala, she also works with donors and the foundation’s grant and scholarship program – both of which she finds “very rewarding.”
“The gala is a special event because it celebrates the good things people are doing in the community. It makes me proud to see how many people respond to the event,” she said. “I think over the years I have found out what is entertainment and what brings people to something like this. I am able to hear and see all of the things that go into the success of any event or production, which is a good quality to have in this position.”
McClure said the biggest challenge is the “shear amount of work” that goes into staying connected with the foundation’s donors. She said assets of grown from $2 million in the beginning to almost $28 million now. Despite that, the same amount of staff exists now as when the foundation was first started.
“Some days it can be a little frustrating responding to all the donors,” she said. “We are not the biggest community foundation in the area, but we are always available to our donors when they call. We think that personal connection is very important.”
Mentors
Looking back, McClure can point to three mentors in her life.
“I learned what it is to be a good leader from Barbara Potts. Carolyn Weeks (who also worked for Potts) taught me what it takes to be a good administrative assistant,” she said. “And from Carol Sue Bass, I learned what it is to be a true friend.”
McClure said she has been truly blessed with not only her family, but the friends she has made along the way.
“It is interesting to think that some of the same people I earned from the in the beginning, I am still working with,” she said. “I have been blessed to have some great people in life.”
