Ottawa honors Don and Betty Gillette

An Ottawa couple synonymous with holiday cheer was given a "key to the city" award during Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

Commissioner Wayne Eichelkraut Jr. presented the award to Don and Betty Gillette for their work in creating the Festival of Lights parade and other events.

"As a parade organizer, he brought generations of Ottawa youngsters our glimpse of Santa Claus and during the summers he brought thousands of music lovers to enjoy a concert series he helped start and watch grow," Eichelkraut said.

"Don and Betty Gillette believe children's smiles brighten the Festival of Lights parade more than any electronic light generator," he later added.

Four generations of the Gillette family were in attendance, many driving from all over Illinois to be a part of the celebration.

The couple started a parade company, Gillette Parade Products, but all of the works for Ottawa events were volunteer-driven.

Don told The Times the recognition was "unreal" and said he hadn't helped in the community to be recognized.

"That's not what we work for," Don said. "We've done this all these years because we lived in Ottawa, we wanted to raise our kids here, we went to school here. We wanted to give something back to the city and this is what happened."

He credits the creation of the Festival of Lights parade to his wife, Betty. He said he handled the building work while she did the decorating of the floats.

Eichelkraut said Don was one of the founding members of the Special Events Committee and has had a hand in many events, including the early days of the Friendship Day parade and the Music in the Park series every summer in Washington Square.

He added the two continued their donation of work and time to the city, even during busy parade seasons.

"Don's contributions over the years have brought many smiles and many pleasures to many generations," he added.