The Junction City Opera House Foundation recognized three local families for their contributions to the arts for the benefit of the citizens of Junction City and Geary County.

The foundation recognized E.J. and Eunice Rolfs, David and Sylvia Walker and Betty Waters and Jim Waters Sunday prior to the performance of award-winning folk musicians Connie Dover and Kelly Werts at the C.L. Hoover Opera House.

The Rolfs were recognized for their donation of the “Rolfs Building” adjacent to the Opera House. The donation was considered essential to the transformation of the former Colonial Theater into a fully functioning performing arts center that is now the C.L. Hoover Opera House.

E.J. said that they were very interested in the restoration of the Opera House and knew that it was obvious that it needed to have more square feet,” Our building happened to be next door and we knew the only way they could put this together was with our building.”

The building now houses dressing rooms, a catering kitchen, a meeting room and restrooms as well as the offices of the Junction City Little Theater and the Junction City Arts Council.

The Walker’s were recognized for their donations of both the statue in the roundabout adjacent to I-70 on East Chestnut Street and the Walker Reception Hall inside the Opera House.

David Walker said that he wanted to place a statue that reminded him of an Indian statue that sits on a hill just south of Logan’s Grove in Geary County, in a more public spot. “When the roundabout was built it seemed to be a perfect venue for that piece,” Walker said.

He also explained that he donated the money for the Reception Hall because it seemed like the right thing to do. “I know this has been a building the community has admired and been a part of the community for so long that it just seemed right to do it.”

The Waters of Waters Hardware were recognized for their donation of the bronze statue and plantings at the roundabout adjacent to I-70 on South Washington Street.

Betty said that she gives credit to her son, Jim,  and she at first thought it was a pretty big undertaking,”He takes on a lot and I worry about him doing to much. I was concerned it was to big but he got it done.”

Jim said donating the statue was a nice philanthropic thing that their company could do that fit well with the city. He got the idea to do it right after they put in the round about,” It was very plain and I had seen statues in roundabouts in other areas. I kind of thought that it would be neat to do something like you would see in the Plaza’s in Kansas City, but it ought to be something that really reflected Junction City and what was going on in Junction City.”

The statue is in honor to the military, which Jim thought was very appropriate.

The foundation presented plaques to each family that will be placed by each of their generous contributions.