Quaker Peacemakers Project: Dick Ashdown

Richard “Dick” Ashdown is a member of the Clear Creek Monthly Meeting and currently resides in the same house where he was born, just down the road from the ILYM Meetinghouse in McNabb, Illinois. Dick has been a trustee of the yearly meeting since 1966. He spent six years overseas teaching as a civilian employee of the US government of a total 16 years teaching, then went on to sell insurance for almost 30 years. Today he is retired, working with timber and machinery most mornings. He has recently returned to flying his plane, often taking aerial photographs to assess crop damage for area farmers.

Click here to hear Dick’s reflections on peacemaking.

The Peace Resources Committee interviewed Dick in front of a live participatory audience at the 2012 Annual Sessions of Illinois Yearly Meeting. Listen in to hear his reflections on going to war, protecting freedom, being raised during WWII, the role of the military, teaching overseas in service, being raised in McNabb, farm life, the definition of community, how Quaker process is present throughout his life, and his love of nature. In 2011 Dick presented the annual Jonathan W. Plummer Lecture, which can be read here.

Click here to learn more about the Quaker Peacemakers Archive Project where you can nominate Friends in Illinois Yearly Meeting you think should be included in this effort. The project aims to compile and preserve an oral history of Friends whose contributions to peace building offer wonderful opportunities for reflection. As Friends tell their stories in their own words, these recordings will capture and preserve unique and inspired personal acts and thoughts which enrich our Yearly Meeting.

Music: “The Sun is Rising” by Longital (Gloria, 2008)

7 thoughts on “Quaker Peacemakers Project: Dick Ashdown

  1. Wonderful and so professional. Like the music. Thank you Breeze! Did not realize what a wonderful voice Dick has until listened to it like this, without his presence.
    Wondered if some of the breaks were a bit too long. . . What do others think?

    • Maurine, the one regret I have about how Dick’s interview turned out, was the inability to include your comment about Dick’s role in his community (I should have passed you the microphone!). Might you share those remarks here? I will forever have in my mind the image of him and his buddies down at the coffeeshop…

      • One of my favorite experiences of visiting McNabb is seeing Dick with his buddies at the morning coffee roundtable at Merino’s Cafe. He brings his Quaker perspective quietly to his community in his gentle way of talking to his peers. His service on the Grange, the Lions Club and as a Conservation District member keeps that Quaker presence alive in his hometown. All true peacemaking begins at the community level.

  2. I am so glad you enjoyed Dick’s reflections. I agree, his voice is really wonderful (maybe he has a future in radio!). When it came to the production of this interview, it was a bit different that Sandra’s since Dick’s thoughts weren’t centered around a central story like hers were. I wanted the pauses to communicate a separation of the ideas presented – but it’s always a challenging balance between too long and not long enough!

    • Breeze, I liked and understand the purpose of the pauses. Just for me, at least when i was listening, the pauses made me wonder if more was coming. It is indeed an artful and intricate process and I laud you for using this wonderful technique. Friends especially should appreciate silence :^)

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