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Ethnic Life Stories Trail of Trees Episode 11 - Sterling Macer
Sterling Macer was born Mason City, Iowa in April 1933. He is the third of four sons born to Ruby and Aaron Macer. He grew up climbing the tree in his backyard, fishing and swimming, hanging out at the YMCA, and cruising on his scooter through the neighborhood with his brothers and attending church on Sundays with the whole family.
Macer’s father died when Macer was only eight years old. The day is vivid in his memory. With no savings and four children to raise, Macer’s mother had to work hard to provide for the family, and the boys brought home money from odd jobs whenever they could.
His teenage years brought complications to his life: Growing up Black barred him from many opportunities compared to his white friends. He had his first run-ins with overt racism while he was in high school. After high school, he met his wife-to-be, Dolores, at Drake University while he was attending barber school in Des Moines. The two were married in June of 1956 and later had three children: Deanne, Sterling Jr. and Dawn.
After earning his Masters and PhD, Macer had careers as a recreational therapist at an Iowa hospital and as the associate director of counseling and guidance in a Job Corps career center. Work brought the family to Springfield in 1977. Macer got an offer to work as a human resources manager at the GE plant, and he retired in 1995.
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Read all of Macer’s story and the rest of the Ethnic Life Stories Project stories by clicking here.
Follow Friends of the gardens on social media! We post park events, promos, and announcements of new ELSTOT releases on our Facebook and Instagram.
Find out more about Friends of the Garden by visiting our website, friendsofthegarden.org.
Interested in supporting the 501(c)3 nonprofit that maintains and enhances the gardens and trails at the Springfield Botanical Gardens? Find out more by clicking here.
Music is Bach Cello Suite no. 3 by Colin Carr from the Free Music Archive.
Episodes are edited, recorded, mixed, and published by Diana Dudenhoeffer.
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By Friends of the GardenSterling Macer was born Mason City, Iowa in April 1933. He is the third of four sons born to Ruby and Aaron Macer. He grew up climbing the tree in his backyard, fishing and swimming, hanging out at the YMCA, and cruising on his scooter through the neighborhood with his brothers and attending church on Sundays with the whole family.
Macer’s father died when Macer was only eight years old. The day is vivid in his memory. With no savings and four children to raise, Macer’s mother had to work hard to provide for the family, and the boys brought home money from odd jobs whenever they could.
His teenage years brought complications to his life: Growing up Black barred him from many opportunities compared to his white friends. He had his first run-ins with overt racism while he was in high school. After high school, he met his wife-to-be, Dolores, at Drake University while he was attending barber school in Des Moines. The two were married in June of 1956 and later had three children: Deanne, Sterling Jr. and Dawn.
After earning his Masters and PhD, Macer had careers as a recreational therapist at an Iowa hospital and as the associate director of counseling and guidance in a Job Corps career center. Work brought the family to Springfield in 1977. Macer got an offer to work as a human resources manager at the GE plant, and he retired in 1995.
__________________________________________________________________________
Read all of Macer’s story and the rest of the Ethnic Life Stories Project stories by clicking here.
Follow Friends of the gardens on social media! We post park events, promos, and announcements of new ELSTOT releases on our Facebook and Instagram.
Find out more about Friends of the Garden by visiting our website, friendsofthegarden.org.
Interested in supporting the 501(c)3 nonprofit that maintains and enhances the gardens and trails at the Springfield Botanical Gardens? Find out more by clicking here.
Music is Bach Cello Suite no. 3 by Colin Carr from the Free Music Archive.
Episodes are edited, recorded, mixed, and published by Diana Dudenhoeffer.