Utica resident Dick Rhodes is the May recipient of the GFWC Seward Womans Club’s USA-250 History Hero Award presented at the May 9 luncheon meeting at the Seward Civic Center.
The award recognizes an individual who has dedicated much of their time to the preservation of both local history or history in general and given in celebration of the United States 250th Anniversary in 2026.
One USA-250 History Hero Award is given each month of 2026.
Rhodes’s nomination stated, “Dick is an outstanding, dedicated volunteer at the Seward County Historical Society Museum in Goehner. He is well known in his community for his kindness and true sense of history and the preservation history. He loves to share the stories that relate to many of the items in the Seward Co Historical Society Museum, and Dick can be found at the museum almost every day, volunteering in some form or manner.”
A 1964 graduate of Seward High School, Rhodes is the son of Earl and Ella Rhodes, one of five children, and was born in Waco before moving to Seward. He is married to his wife Marge, and they moved to Utica over four decades ago. He has been in the painting and decorating business all his life.
He is involved in the community of Utica and one of those to call when a project asks for leadership. He has enjoyed assisting with various improvement efforts at the Utica Cemetery, as well as the Utica Senior Center over the years.
Rhodes’s love for hunting and fishing sparked a dedication to the local Ducks Unlimited program in Seward County, promoting the conservation efforts by those area volunteers.
One of his avid hobbies is his membership in the Nebraska Metal Detecting Club, and he is assisted and coordinated a major treasure hunt in the Hastings area several years ago.
His real passion today is history, a passion that has developed and grown over the years. He loves to share history, collect and sell antiques and is concerned with the preservation of local history as well as Civil War history. He is a board member of the Seward County Historical Society, currently serving as the SCHS museum president and is a “working volunteer” at the Seward County Historical Society Museum in Goehner. He loves to “set a goal and see it through” as he stated ‘that goal setting concept can happen at the SCHS Museum, as there a many projects and ideas that need attention and can easily be accomplished.”
Several years ago, Rhodes lost his hand and wrist when feeding cattle and a locust thorn went into his wrist. While the thorn was removed, the infection continued and eventually, after 76 days at Bryan Hospital and 13 surgeries later, the doctors told him “we needed to save my life, but not my hand.”
After the surgery, the doctor visited with Rhodes and told him, “I want you to promise me when you leave “Don’t Give Up!”
“I look at this situation of the loss of my hand and wrist as a temporary setback on the road to prosperity,” Rhodes said.
He now lives by the motto “We all need to be determined!”
“Dick Rhodes is our ‘go-to guy,’ the first we call, regardless of the project. He is insightful and creative, positive in attitude and always willing to share his knowledge of history,” Sue Imig, representing the Seward County Historical Society, said. “He knows history and he knows many people to ask if he doesn’t know the answer. He is most deserving of this award.”
“Because of his dedication as a true volunteer, the GFWC Seward Womans Club is honored to name Dick Rhodes of Utica, the May 2026 recipient of the USA-250 History Hero Award,’” and wishes him continued success on his quest to share the messages of our history,” GFWC Seward Woman’s Club President Bonnie Kruse said. “He reflects all that this award represents, and we thank him for being a real History Hero.”
