Published in Talk of the Town - Whitley County June 25, 2008
Esteemed community volunteer, businesswoman Jacie Worrick asked to wear the Red Coat
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
An annual rite of Old Settlers Days, the traditional Red Coats Dinner was held Tuesday night at the Eagles Nest Event Center, an event marked by the ceremonious presentation of a new red jacket to the next person deemed worthy to wear it and serve as the association’s president in the coming years. 
A noted community leader, philanthropist and business owner, Jacie Worrick was selected as the latest recipient of a Red Coat and will serve as president of the association in three years.
A crowd filled with many former presidents cheered as current second vice president Jim Brock read Worrick’s impressive resume of servant leadership and involvement in the business community. She has served most recently as the president of the Whitley County United Way board of directors and serves on the Columbia City Rotary board. Additionally, she has been a past board member of the Columbia City Chamber of Commerce and a graduate of Leadership Whitley County.
Worrick is the third woman to be selected as a Red Coat recipient in the organization’s 105-year history and the fifth member of the Columbia City High School Class of 1963 to be selected for the honor. When the class of 1963 gathers for their class reunion on Saturday, there will be five Red Coats in attendance – namely Bill Webber, Jim Nelson, Mike Rush, Mike Redman and Worrick.
“I love this community and the people who live and work here,” Worrick said after donning her newly minted red jacket and addressing the audience following dinner.
Rather than an event fully focused on the rides and games, Worrick shared her vision of Old Settlers Days as something more meaningful. “It’s about saying thank you to those who’ve formed and cultivated the community we live in.”
In her entire life, Worrick can only recall missing the Old Settlers Days festivities on two occasions. “It’s just something that you do,” she said. “It’s a time to go and visit with friends.”
Worrick concluded by saying in the same way the community needed to debate some serious issues 50 years ago when it came to deciding the future for youth at that time, she sees the same issues at the forefront today and challenged those in attendance to consider the needs of the community’s youths, saying they will be the “Old Settlers” of tomorrow.
“I would be remiss in not saying, ‘Jacie, welcome to the group,” said 2008 OSD president Fritz Martin. Martin is serving this year alongside first vice president Tom Drew and second vice president Jim Brock. The OSD association secretary is Bill Webber and treasurer is John Lefever.
Published in Talk of the Town - Whitley County June 25, 2008