Mourners gather for former Fort Smith Administrator Ray Gosack memorial, Mayor Sanders remembers a ‘great person, a go-to guy’

Gatherers at Grace Community Church said goodbye to Ray Gosack on Tuesday (Oct. 25). The former Fort Smith City Administrator died Oct. 21 at age 58 from a sudden illness. Gosack, who served as Deputy City Administrator for 12 years with intermittent spans as “acting” City Administrator, finally took the full-time job in January 2011 after a unanimous vote from the Fort Smith Board of Directors.

He retired in July 2015, but not before leaving behind a professional family of more than 800 employees, many of whom joined Gosack’s friends and family to pay respects at Tuesday’s memorial service.

During the service, longtime friends and colleagues Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders and City Director Don Hutchings shared prepared remarks about Gosack along with Jeff Jones, pastor at Grace Community Church where Gosack attended for a number of years. Sanders said Gosack was a private man, and that “even his friends didn’t know all his accomplishments.”

Some of those accomplishments listed during the service included the adoption of Fort Smith’s first-ever comprehensive plan in December 2014; the development of a water supply and landfill capacities to meet regional needs through the year 2070; contributions to Fort Chaffee redevelopment that resulted in “hundreds of jobs and hundreds of millions in private investment;” and nine successful tax referendums.

Sanders remembered a man, who took pride in his appearance, loved to travel, and brought professionalism and “an amazing memory” to every aspect of his life. He was a man, “who was not one to brag and congratulate himself … a great person, a go-to guy.”

Sanders also acknowledged that a position like Gosack’s is one that naturally draws a lot of criticism, “some of it based on erroneous information, and yes, some based on meanness.” But no matter what came his way, he added, “Ray always listened and never said harsh things in response.”

“There was not a better friend or a better example than Ray Gosack, and we shall miss him,” an emotional Sanders concluded.

City Director Don Hutchings, also the lead pastor at Evangel Temple, followed Mayor Sanders and said Gosack had called him “about three weeks ago and explained what he wanted me to say at his memorial service.” At first, Hutchings admitted, “I thought he was kidding.”

But then, “with a quiver in his voice,” Gosack told Hutchings about the diagnosis and that it was just a matter of time. Hutchings said he was “honored” to have an opportunity to speak on behalf of “a great hero of mine and of yours” and laughed at Gosack’s response when he inquired what he wanted him to say.

“Typical Ray Gosack,” said Hutchings, holding up a sheet of paper, “I got a list.”

Reading from Gosack’s responses, Hutchings said, “Tell them the value of friendship. Tell them how important it is to love each other and encourage each other.”

“In hospice Wednesday we were talking, praying, and reminiscing, and I said, ‘Thank you so much for helping me a few months ago in coping with the loss of my brother.’”

Hutchings said Gosack provided him with a card of comfort after Hutchings’ brother died and had written, “My prayers are with you as you celebrate your brother’s life. He meant so much to so many. His reach was farther than any of us will ever know.”

“That’s Ray Gosack. He’s talking about himself, and he didn’t even know it,” Hutchings said.

He continued: “As I pulled in here today, I saw great-looking streets, people heading in for jobs. And Ray helped to build the streets and get the jobs in town, and yet so many of the people working today don’t even know who Ray Gosack is. That’s amazing to me.”

Also in “typical Ray fashion,” Hutchings recalled the last thing he said to Gosack before he died — “that we need to name streets and parks after you — and I offended him. What kind of person gets offended by being honored?”

Gosack, Hutchings concluded, because he was a public servant right to the end.

GOSACK REMEMBERED
In comments to Talk Business & Politics both before and after the event, city directors and colleagues weighed in on the legacy of Ray Gosack.

“Ray personified what it means to be a public servant,” said City Director Tracy Pennartz. “He always strove to do what was best for us. His legacy as our City Administrator will be remembered. I am thankful he chose to serve Fort Smith.”

City Director George Catsavis, who worked mostly with Gosack during his six years on the Fort Smith Board of Directors, remembered a man whom “everybody liked.”

“He was extremely knowledgeable with city government,” Catsavis said. “He knew everything, and was fun to work with – very outgoing and fun to be around. … This is very sad. Ray was a good person. I’m just really shocked. He was always available to answer questions, and I really feel he had the city’s future at heart in everything he did. We’ll miss him.”

Deputy City Administrator Jeff Dingman, who was hired by Gosack and served as acting City Administrator prior to the hiring of Carl Geffken in April, called Gosack “a friend and mentor.”

“He had a very academic-based approach to city management, and was well-respected in the profession, especially within the state of Arkansas. I didn’t see him often over the last year, but when I did it seemed he was enjoying his retirement. He was a champion of Fort Smith to the end, and he will be missed,” Dingman said.

GOSACK’S CAREER
Gosack’s career with the city included being responsible for streets, traffic control, engineering, water and sewer utilities, parks, and sanitation. Some of the key projects he had a major role in include Chaffee Crossing redevelopments (Graphic Packaging, Mars PetCare, Umarex USA, Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas, infrastructure construction), Lake Fort Smith water supply expansion project, wet weather sanitary sewer improvements, numerous arterial street projects, landfill cell expansions, downtown streetscape and resurgence, various retail developments, makeover of Carol Ann Cross Park and construction of Elm Grove Community Center at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

Prior to returning to Fort Smith, Gosack served during 1988-1999 as the assistant village manager and director of management services for the Village of Homewood, Ill.

He also worked as administrative assistant for the city of Fort Smith between 1985 and 1988. Gosack earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Arkansas. He was recognized as the outstanding 1985 graduate of the MPA program. Gosack also served as a B-52 (bomber) pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

He is survived by his brother Mike Gosack, and his wife Teena, both of Greenwood, Ark.; godson Tyler Smith of College Station, Texas.; cousin Mary Louise Martin and her husband Tom of St. Louis, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews.