Robert W. "Bob" Mickle (12 February 1925 – 1 March 2009) was an American city planner, community leader, and activist from Des Moines, Iowa.[1] He was active in his planning career for nearly 40 years. His lifelong commitment to community activism and volunteerism, is recognized to have had a lasting impact[2] on the city of Des Moines.[3][4] Among his accomplishments are the founding of the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, construction oversight of Des Moines' "Skywalks" footbridge system,[5] and the Mickle Center.[6]
Robert Mickle | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert W. Mickle 4 October 1926 Boone, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | 3 March 2015 (aged 88) Boone County, Iowa, U.S. |
| Resting place | Linwood Park Cemetery |
| Other names | Bob |
| Occupations |
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Mickle was the founding director of the Central Iowa Regional Planning Commission. He served as head of the commission from its creation in the mid-60s until 1972, when its rapid growth necessitated a redistribution of responsibility. Mickle continued to serve as director of planning, while the executive director position was given to Joel Gunnells.[7]
The Mickle Center
editRobert Mickle Business and Neighborhood Resource Center, locally known as "the Mickle Center,"[8] is both the name of an organization and the building it operates in. The center was named after Robert Mickle for his contributions to Des Moines. Originally a senior center, the building was trusted to Mickle for $1 by the City of Des Moines on the condition that the organization would operate as a nonprofit.[citation needed] The building was subsequently renovated under Mickle's direction. Its newly renovated facility included office spaces, meeting rooms, and a community room.[4] The center, officially registered as "Neighborhood Investment Corporation", has served the Sherman Hill neighborhood[9] and the greater Des Moines community as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization[10][11] for several years. It functions as a shelter for many charitable organizations and a venue for various social activities.[12][13][14][15] As of December 2019, the president of the center is Jack Porter.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Noted community activist Bob Mickle has died". urbanDSM.com. Des Moines Development Forum. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ Elmer, MacKenzie (19 April 2017). "'I want to see cranes in the sky', carried along for 24 years". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "About Bob Mickle". micklecenter.com (Robert Mickle Business and Neighborhood Resource Center). Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ a b "About Mickle Center". micklecenter.com (Robert Mickle Business and Neighborhood Resource Center). Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Robert William Mickle - View Obituary & Service Information". Robert William Mickle Obituary. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
- ^ "Robert Mickle Obituary (2009) - the Des Moines Register". legacy.com. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ Heth, Jerald (15 February 1972). "'Be Regionable'". Des Moines Tribune. p. 11. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Robert Mickle Business and Neighborhood Resource Center". micklecenter.com. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Mickle Center – Sherman Hill". Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ "Iowa Nonprofit Organizations: Neighborhood Investment Corporation". inrc.law.uiowa.edu. The Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Neighborhood Investment Corporation | Des Moines, IA". Pinkaloo Charities. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ Leimkuehler, Matthew (6 July 2017). "How a group of scrappy Iowans created one of Des Moines' biggest music events". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ Ta, Linh (11 October 2014). "New LGBT center welcomes central Iowans". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ Kilen, Mike (25 March 2016). "No church building. No pulpit. But brimming with faith". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ Meinch, Timothy (27 June 2016). "Community kitchen planned for Sherman Hill". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 22 January 2021.