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base of the lantern 40 feet above,
the light is resplendent, the air
fresh and bracing. The sweeping
360-degree vistas are breathtak-
ing.
You can almost imagine Frank
Emerson standing here, taking in
the enchanting tableau and revel-
ing in the height and breadth of
his accomplishment.
Gary Wright is a retired communica-
tions and advertising executive who
was manager of corporate commu-
nication at RLI Corp. for 22 years. A
freelance writer, he focuses on his-
torical pieces, including stories that
helped shape Peoria and the region.
The Past
“I spent most of my childhood in Peoria,
Illinois. Peoria is a little left of Chicago, which
is fitting, since everything about my family is a
little left of something.
You may have heard the saying “It’ll play in
Peoria.” Translation: It won’t offend anyone.
Ah, yes, safe, safe, Peoria. Picket fences, gen-
eral stores, the whole nine.
So it was no wonder that, year, after year,
when I was a kid in the late 1960s, my fam-
ily went on constant road trips in search of
culture.”
Camryn Manheim (1961 - )
Actress & Human Rights Activist.
Wake Up, I’m Fat! 1999.
Yes, They Said That…
Quotes from Famous Peorians
By Dr. Peter J. Couri
12
thePeorian.com