While many think of unsung heroes as police, fire fighters, nurses, etc., the first name that came to my mind was that of Bobbie Jo Hartline.

Many know her as the key person coordinating the Dowagiac Dogwood Fine Arts Festival for 25 years. I volunteered at the Dogwood office and could observe Bobbie Jo, who was always smiling, polite and had an incredible grasp of details.

While I do not know the scope of her duties, some of it is evident in the public sculptures in Dowagiac and the many arts programs we all enjoyed during the festival. She was the first person to have contact with artists, performers, the printers and the public, and was at ease with everyone.

She never sat down at an event, and was always taking care of details and helping the patrons or the performers. No task was too big or small for her.

While still working for the festival, she coordinated the contributions for the 90 minute WNIT program “Our Town,” bringing recognition to Dowagiac.

After 25 years, Bobbie Jo moved to the office of the Dowagiac city manager. Since then, she has continued to give her considerable talent to other artistic events in Dowagiac. She is on the Orphan Train Project Committee and co-wrote the grant application for funds to design and install a mural on the side of the post office.

She worked with out-of-town videographers who were hired to film short informative videos of Dowagiac for the city’s website. She led the videographers to different parts of the community they could showcase in film.

All the above efforts on her part have helped Dowagiac’s image considerably. When I travel, I am always surprised at how many people know about Dowagiac. I feel this is partly due to Bobbie Jo’s efforts to publicize Dowagiac. In my mind, she is an “unsung hero.”

Bobbie Jo does not know I am nominating her, and the above information has been gleaned from personal observation and newspaper items.

— Jean Rowe