Glide Honors 2025 First Citizens While Celebrating a Tradition Dating Back to 1960

GLIDE, Ore. — The Glide community gathered Saturday at the Glide Community Center to honor its 2025 First Citizens, Bill DeGroot and Kara Weber, during the annual Glide First Citizens luncheon, a longstanding tradition that has recognized local service and community involvement since 1960.

The event celebrated not only this year’s honorees, but also the decades of volunteerism, leadership and community pride that the First Citizens tradition represents in Glide.

Dennis Moore, who served as master of ceremonies, was recognized as Glide’s 1996 First Citizen and is also known for his service with the Glide Fire Department. When asked by The Roseburg Receiver what it takes to become a First Citizen, Moore said one of the most important qualities is diversity in service.

“It’s all about diversity,” Moore said. “Diversity is the key thing to becoming a First Citizen in all of the things you do and what you are a part of.”

Moore said the honor can be difficult to attain, noting that some people may be nominated or considered year after year and still may never receive it.

Kara Weber recognized for broad community involvement

Organizers said:

Kara Weber is a lifelong Glide resident who comes from a family of community volunteers. She has continued in the family tradition in helping to provide family-friendly activities that appeal to all ages. Kara’s volunteer activities have included the planning and achievement of numerous Glide Community Club events, Glide School District activities and more.

She is the manager of the monthly bingo night, which raises funds for Glide High School scholarships. She decorates the building for festive community and club activities, hosts the Halloween trunk or treat for families, and is the Christmas party hostess.

She has supported the Glide School District with activities such as the renovation of the Glide Elementary playground. She organized the drive for school supplies for Glide Elementary students and volunteered with fundraisers for school events and sports.

Kara always attends and purchases auction items at the FFA Alumni auction that supports the Glide High School FFA program. Additionally, she purchases local 4-H and FFA animals at the Douglas County Fair. She donates popsicles on those hot summer days as well. She encouraged the Glide community to support local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kara has been an incredible achiever in this community. She gives so much to so many. We are pleased to honor her as the 2025 Glide First Citizen.

Bill DeGroot honored for years of service to veterans, families and community institutions

Organizers said:

We are pleased to recognize Bill DeGroot as the Glide First Citizen of 2025. Bill was a Glide High School graduate in 1966 and returned to Glide. Bill followed in the footsteps of his mother, Asa DeGroot, who was a Glide First Citizen in 1989.

Bill assumed the duties of steward of the Glide Veterans Memorial during 2009. As steward for 15 years, he has been responsible for all official administrative Memorial Day tributes for the Glide and Idleyld Park community to honor the service of all men and women of Douglas County who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States and in official allied support capacities.

These duties include the annual memorial brick wall drives. It started with 350 names in 2009. A total of 134 names have been added to the memorial wall, which brings the total to 484.

Maintenance and improvement accomplishments over the past 10 years include securing grant funding for and replacing the lighting, enlisting support from Glide Area Landscape Nursery to enhance the grounds with trees, shrubs, flowers and bark mulch, as well as installing a water meter and a drip irrigation system, maintaining the memorial flags and flagpoles, observing flag protocol on national holidays and other observances, and managing the memorial’s financial affairs, official correspondence, media and public relations.

Bill has been on the Wimberley Cemetery Board of Directors since 2016, and has served as administrator since the passing of John Livingston. Bill is responsible for the sale of burial plots and the interment of all those who are buried in the cemetery.

He was instrumental in facilitating the first official land survey of Wimberley Cemetery and the construction of a map board at the entrance to mark the locations of all the named grave markers placed there.

His duties included working with the board members for the removal of three dozen hazard trees and replacement of a large culvert that failed during a heavy rainstorm in 2025 that closed the access road. Wimberley Cemetery is a pioneer cemetery which has served the families of North Umpqua and East Douglas County since the 1850s. The results of their work demonstrate the leadership qualities, skills and selfless contributions of this volunteer board, including Bill DeGroot.

Bill has served as crew leader of the North Umpqua Bible Fellowship firewood project for nearly 10 years. His duties include receipt of donated logs on private property as well as to the North Umpqua Bible Fellowship log yard, coordination of volunteers, securing equipment, and the identification and screening of eligible recipients.

Last year, the North Umpqua Bible Fellowship firewood project team delivered approximately 20 cords of firewood to needy eligible recipients.

Bill’s volunteer services speak for themselves and demonstrate the leadership qualities, talents and selfless contributions of all volunteers from Diamond Lake to Dixonville.

The luncheon also highlighted the many people and groups who helped make the event possible. Organizers thanked Arlene Kidd, Rebecca and Sam Dunnavant, Nan Smith, Olivia Meisner, Kat Muchmore, Dennis Moore, Kristy Strong, Sharon Gow, GHS National Honor Society, GHS Choir, Glide Scouts, Celine Weber and others for their contributions to the event.

Additional moments throughout the program reflected the community-centered spirit of the banquet. Scout Troop 4585-114 presented the colors, while Johanna Jackson performed the national anthem. Greetings and introductions were given by Barbara Pieske. The Glide High School Music Department also performed during the event under the direction of music director Nicholas Perine.

A display at the luncheon recognized previous First Citizens dating back to 1960, underscoring the history behind the honor and the generations of community members who have helped shape Glide. Names marked with an asterisk indicated those who have since died.

For many in attendance, the banquet served as more than an awards event. It was a reflection of the people, service and shared commitment that continue to define the Glide community year after year.