Roy Logan -- What makes this Lincoln Park District program director cook?

[November 03, 2008]  Roy Logan is the type of person one can't help but like. He, as well as his boss, Marsha Greenslate, will inevitably make you laugh or -- at least -- smile.

Logan has been program director at Lincoln Park District since 1999. Greenslate has been with the organization for 26 years and has served as director since 1995.

The two are often seen out and about the community together, working much like a "brother and sister" team. Roy self-describes their working partnership by comparing them to "Laurel and Hardy," due to their complementary irreverent sense of humor and the fun and energy they create in the presence of others.

It really is infectious. "We have a good time," says Roy. That philosophy carries over to the employees and volunteers they work with.

Both Roy and Marsha say they "knew each other a little" before they started working together. "We were the baby boomer generation -- we were raised a certain way, and we had the same sense of humor," says Logan.

Roy and Marsha are strongly plugged into the community beyond their park district duties. They are strongly involved in the Healthy Community Partnership and have served on the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Task Force and other committees.

They organize and participate in numerous annual community events, including the recent kids' Halloween party that was open to all kids in the community. They serve on the Lincoln Heritage Days committee, planning many of the Fourth of July activities.

And in the spring they help organize and host the children's and community health fairs and the Easter egg hunts at the park district. Some bunny has to hide all those eggs for the kids; know who that might be?

This past year Roy spearheaded the effort to construct a skate park on the park district grounds. He was approached with the idea by the parents of the late Cash Tapper, a Chester-East Lincoln student who died in 2003.

The Lincoln Skate Club was formed in 2007 and included both Tapper's parents and students. They worked together to raise $30,000, including a generous donation from Wal-Mart, and these funds were sufficient to build the park. The current skate park was started as a "smaller footprint" that could potentially expand as interest grows. The original cost of the planned park was $100,000. The skate park officially opened June 13.

Roy's undeniable hobby is cooking. He started in the restaurant business at age 16 and this past year was featured on cooking shows that aired locally on CITV.

Although he is not a classically trained chef, he does cook for staff get-togethers and private parties.

Roy is a descendant of the Logan family tree that dates back to the early settlers in the area, and he is also a second or third cousin of the county board chairman, Dick Logan.

You know if you've met Roy. He's a person who likes to put everyone he meets at ease, and he wants to see you smile. His preference is to take life's quirks and challenges and flip them to a sunny side up. He readily conveys that life is better with friends, and he likes calling lots of people "friend."

You can visit Roy and Marcia at the Lincoln Park District, and while you are there, you can use it as an excuse to enroll in the fine programs that are offered.

[By GEOFF LADD]

(See what's happening at the Lincoln Park District.)