Justice in the Wind
The Story of Bill Gluba
Written and Illustrated by Mollie Pettis
A BOOK by ME - True Stories Written by Kids for Kids
What an honor it was to meet and talk with Bill Gluba, and to have young author Mollie Pettis interview him via Zoom as well. Mollie was deeply moved by Bill’s story, as was her writing coach, Teacher Lisa LeConte. Bill’s presence at the MLK March in D.C. speaks volumes about his commitment to justice and equality. It took great courage, and I understand his mother’s concerns for her son’s safety. His participation that day empowered him to voice his concerns and advocate for change. When individuals feel empowered, they are more likely to take an active role in their communities, and that is exactly what Bill Gluba did in the great state of Iowa. I hope and pray that young Mollie will feel that same sense of empowerment as author / illustrator of Justice in the Wind, the story of this Civil Rights hero.
Deb Bowen
Executive Director Understanding Works
Author and Illustrator Mollie Pettis
“During our interview together, I realized that Bill and I shared many things in common. Though not a lawyer himself he expressed to me that he encourages all young adults to consider a future in law. I told him my aspiration is to become a lawyer! He believes law offers many lessons for young adults in regard to understanding the world around them. Faith is also something very important to both of us. We realize that the way you treat others is so important and that actions speak louder than words. I feel honored to have had the chance to write this book about Bill and others who fought for justice.” — Mollie Pettis
William Gluba – Civil Rights Activist
William E. Gluba (Bill) was born October 7, 1942 in Davenport, Iowa, son of William and Ellen Gluba, and one of four children. His mother was from Ireland and immigrated to America when she was 16. His grandfather immigrated to America from Poland. His mother walked long distances each day to clean houses, and his father worked multiple jobs to take care of his family. Bill gained the hardworking trait from his parents, so as a young boy he collected and sold scrap metal. He also worked at a grocery store, had a paper route, detasseled corn and worked at a gas service station. He paid his way through college working as a union construction worker.
Bill Gluba, age 4
Bill attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in Davenport and graduated from Assumption High School in 1960. On October 25th, 1960 Bill heard President John F. Kennedy speak in Davenport. He greatly admired President Kennedy. Bill went on to attend St. Ambrose College (now St. Ambrose University).
Bill earned his Bachelor of Arts, then went on to earn his Masters Degree in State and Local Government from the University of Iowa. He had a passion for Government and thought teaching government at the college level would be a good profession for him. But, young Bill Gluba felt called to follow another path in public and government services after graduation. In August of 1963, Father Mottet, a priest at Assumption High School, approached Bill with an opportunity of a lifetime. He asked Bill and five other local civil rights activists to attend the March on Washington. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place in Washington D.C. with the purpose of advocating for the civil and economic rights of African Americans.
Understandably, Bill’s mother was extremely apprehensive about her son taking part in this event. After hearing news broadcasts about violence and beatings surrounding civil rights protests, Mrs. Gluba feared for her son’s safety. Violence surrounding sit-ins, The Freedom Rides, and other brutal deaths of African Americans and whites who supported the Civil Rights Movement were very real during this time. Bill recalls that people were not as sympathetic to blacks, and some were not even bothered by the violence in those days. He remembers the fact that when he and his wife bought their home in the Glenarmil Addition of Davenport in 1979, the old 1940’s era abstract stated that the neighborhood was “strictly for whites.” He remembers the reality that housing and jobs were very discriminatory at that time.
The March on Washington made a large impact on Bill, who was only 21 at that time. He remembers the sights, the sounds and the music of the day. He remembers seeing 250,000 people gather for the historic event and realizing how he felt upon hearing Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Many years later he would also remember the singing groups and songs that were chosen for the day. He relates the meanings and messages in those songs to today’s world and recognizes how relevant they still are.
In 1968, another source of inspiration for Bill’s public and government service career was helping to organize Robert Kennedy’s appearance in Davenport. Kennedy spoke at the same spot that his brother, John Kennedy had spoken eight years earlier.
Bill was elected to the Iowa General Assembly in 1970 and served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1971 to 1972, and served in the Iowa Senate from 1973 to 1976. He served on the Scott County Board of Supervisors from 1977 to 1980. In 2007 Bill ran for mayor of his hometown of Davenport. He was declared the winner on November 6, 2007, becoming the sixty-fifth Mayor of Davenport. He served four terms as mayor from 2008-2016.
Bill has championed for civil rights throughout his entire career and beyond. He worked to make sure there were more minorities on board and commissions in the City of Davenport, including African Americans and women. In January 2014, Bill Gluba created a task force in the City of Davenport with the goal of building a memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Davenport. That project broke ground in 2023 with plans for a park and interpretive center. The site will be located across the street from the spot where Dr. King Jr. spoke to a crowd inside a Masonic Temple in 1965. From 1880-1940, the property had housed a restaurant, entertainment space and rental rooms for African Americans. Later on, Bill started an effort called Caring Cities Campaign, supporting the welcoming of migrant children to Iowa. It was met with backlash and debate from city council members and the governor of Iowa. The campaign was a self-funded initiative, and Bill reminded people that Iowa had a history of compassion in helping the displaced. He reminded them that during the 1970s, Iowa launched a private effort to help refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. His attempt to help solve the immigration crisis was featured on national news.
Bill and his wife Trish, high school sweethearts, were married for 51 years when she passed away in 2016. Together they raised five children and have six grandchildren. Bill advises the youth of America to get involved in government and gain knowledge of issues in their country and community. One of his granddaughters has plans to follow in his footsteps to emphasize civil rights and is pursuing a degree in international relations.
In 2023, Bill took part in a day celebrating Davenport’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. The Putnam Museum, hosting activists from years past, along with students and community members, premiered a movie titled I Am the Future: Standing on the Shoulders of the Past. All Saints Catholic School in Davenport borrowed the Putnam’s Civil Rights exhibit for one week and invited Bill to come and speak about his experiences. Bill spoke with 4th- and 5th-grade students about the meaning of the word prejudice. He explained how people like Father Mottet and, of course, Martin Luther King Jr. worked to educate and fight for Civil Rights. He credits Father Mottet and a handful of faculty members at St. Ambrose with providing him the intellectual background about civil rights and the spark to be more Christ-like. It is a lesson that has stuck with him always.
Davenport’s Civil Rights Movement, Bill Gluba 2023
Bill Gluba embodies the meaning of fighting for justice; he continues to impact his beloved hometown of Davenport, Iowa and beyond. He has spent his life spreading awareness of and fighting for the rights of all human beings. He has helped to educate people, young and old, that all humans deserve to be treated with respect and equality. One of his favorite quotes from Dr. King states: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Justice in the Wind: The Story of Bill Gluba
A BOOK by ME, a book series developed by Deb Bowen, empowers students to preserve history by telling the story of unsung heroes in our communities. For the young participants, it’s a guided cross-curricular project that gathers stories of people who do amazing things but have received little or no recognition. Students learn how to publish a picture book that is a primary source document with photographs and a biography.
Since 2003, Deb Bowen has been arranging meetings between students and individuals from the WWII generation. This intergenerational storytelling results in unique storybooks written and illustrated by kids for kids in the A BOOK by ME series. More about Deb Bowen >
