Galleries dedicated to two museum founders
Sue Spencer and JV ‘Vic’ Ostermiller were instrumental in museum’s creation
Museums do not suddenly spring up overnight made of whole cloth. Sometimes it takes a woman with a portable typewriter writing letters and a man with a winning smile and the ability to slightly twist an arm to get the funding needed to make it happen.
Sue Spencer and JV “Vic” Ostermiller were two such people, and they were honored on Saturday, Oct. 16, with two galleries named for them at Fort Morgan Public Library and Museum.
Both had been former presidents of the Fort Morgan Heritage Foundation.
Sue Spencer East Gallery
The upper level’s eastern gallery space was named for Sue Spencer, with it now officially being named The Sue Spencer East Gallery.
“The museum meant so much to Sue and was a big part of her life, for more than three decades,” Bill
Spencer, Sue’s husband, told those attending the dedication ceremony. “Let’s go back to 1975, the year the museum opened. Financial support was a big problem. The city was not on board with much help. Fundraising was really huge, so Sue got out her portable typewriter and began writing letters. She wrote letters to institutions like the Gates Foundation, the Burlington Northern Foundation, the state Historical Society and many others.”
Bill Spencer continued, “One such letter went to the Williams Family Foundation, whose spokesman at the time was a local lawyer noted for his dry wit. Wrote back the foundation was having difficulties meeting its goals but her letter brought him to tears and he enclosed a check anyway.”
Sue Spencer served as president of the Fort Morgan Heritage Foundation from 1976 to 2008. She passed away on June 28, 2020.
JV “Vic” Ostermiller East Lower Gallery
The museum’s lower level gallery space was named for Ostermiller, with it now being called The JV Ostermiller Founders Gallery.
“I’ve never seen a more engaging smile like Vic Ostermiller,” said Barb
Keenan. “He just smiled like he was asking you to do something.”
Vic’s son, John Ostermiller, was among those speaking at the unveiling of the gallery being dedicated to his father.
“We are getting a real history lesson today, which should happen in a museum,” John Ostermiller said. “I’m going back to 1969, when Vic was elected as president of the newly formed Fort Morgan Heritage Foundation. The
Foundation was to work for a new library and museum in Fort Morgan. Barbara (Keenan) was also elected to that same board.”
John Ostermiller continued, “Vic gave a speech when he was sworn in that I think emphasized what occurred from 1969 to 1976. He stated, ‘The success of the Heritage Foundation in establishing a library/museum in Fort Morgan will depend on cooperation of all citizens in the area. It will require time, efforts and money of many people to build and establish a museum that will preserve for the future the accomplishments of the past. Works of past and present day authors and artist will no doubt fill an important niche in a local museum.’”
JV “Vic” Osterrmiller served as president of the Fort Morgan Heritage Foundation from 1969 to 1976. He passed away on June 3, 1997.
The dedication ceremony was hosted by Fort Morgan Library/Museum Director Chandra McCoy and other speakers, including Fort Morgan Mayor Ron Shaver, Barb Keenan, past Heritage Foundation President Don Ostwald and
Bill Spencer.
Along with the around 50 people in attendance were several members of both the Spencer and Ostermiller families.