Robert McCoy passes

[Paul Ringstrom]

Sunday, Oct 17, 2021 Robert "Bob" McCoy passed away at age 93. He and his wife, Bonnie, were the longtime owners of WBG's Blythe House in Mason City. During his life Bob was intimately involved in everything and anything that concerned historic restoration. He was instrumental in getting the Stockman House acquired, moved and restored and the Historic Park Inn acquired and restored. Services are scheduled for October 30, 2021 at the Presbyterian Church in MC.

The Blythe House, 431 1st St SE, MC (5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 4,394 sq ft, 1.95acre lot) has been sold to a couple from Chicago. Asking price was $424,900. The sale has not closed yet. More info when it becomes available.

[Roderick Grant]

This is truly a sad day. My condolences to the McCoy family.

I first met Mr. and Mrs. McCoy in 1984 on an SAH tour of Mason City. They were a delightful couple. The FLWBC Convention in Mason City in the 90s was one of the best, thanks in part to the McCoys' involvement.

Bob's work in service of FLW has been exemplary, A true gentleman in every sense, he shall be missed.

[DRN]

I had the opportunity to briefly speak with Mr. McCoy during the 2012 FLWBC Conference in Mason City. He was most engaging and possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of Wright’s and WBG’s work and influence on the town.

During a visit to the Stockman house gift shop, I found and bought a reprint of the 1968 issue of the Prairie School Review McCoy authored which was devoted to the history FLLW and WBG in Mason City....I’m assuming the reprint still might be available in MC.

[pmahoney]

I have found Bob's 1968 article to still be one of the most informative pieces written about Mason City architecture. The late Larry Woodin advised the Building Conservancy's Conference Committee regarding the 2012 conference " that it must be scheduled as soon as the Park inn restoration was complete to insure that Bob was able to enjoy the events he so ably facilitated.

[Mark Hertzberg]

I have just posted a photo-rich tribute to Bob on: www.wrightinracine.com

Thank you, Paul Ringstrom for having alerted us to Bob's passing, and to Pat Mahoney for a quote for my article.

Mark Hertzberg

[Roderick Grant]

At the time of the SAH tour in '84, the bank was a shop and the inn an office of some sort on the ground floor, with the rooms above vacant, as my aged memory recalls. Its salvation looked unlikely and its future looked grim.

The Stockman House was on the market. Ginny Kazor and I took a side trip not on the agenda to see it. A cleaning lady was in the house, and let us in to tour the ragged thing. She told us the house was up for sale at $15,000! I could write a check, I thought. But Mason City was not on my agenda in those days.

[Paul Ringstrom]

But Mason City was not on my agenda in those days.

I assume that Roderick did not have MC on his agenda due to the lack
of restoration momentum in town at that time. Fortunately there were a dozen or so locals that picked up the torch, lead by Bob, and got both Stockman and Park Inn restored. This momentum has continued with the ribbon-cutting for a new Prairie-inspired Music Pavilion just a few steps south of the HPI on the plaza. The downtown mall is being purchased and totally revamped along with a new hotel just south of the mall.

Roderick, you are invited to return.

[Paul Ringstrom]

From Peggy Bang (Founding Board Member of Wright on the Park, past WOTP Board President, and current Board Member of WOTP)

Shortly after Mason City hosted the 1993 Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy annual conference, Dr. Robert McCoy, who had chaired that event to highlight the restoration of the Stockman House, was appointed to their Board of Directors. Their mission is to “facilitate the preservation and stewardship of the remaining built works designed by Frank Lloyd Wright through advocacy, education and technical services”. Bob was assigned the task to save the City National Bank and Park Inn Hotel from being demolished. Their hope was that the structure would be restored. Once assigned this task, Bob was diligent in working on solutions to save this structure. He was one of the founding Directors of Wright on the Park. It wasn’t until the Vision Iowa opportunity was presented that the combined resources from our community, state and federal levels made this dream became a reality. Bob would be the first to say he did not do this alone but certainly he was the leader of the effort to restore the Historic Park Inn Hotel.

For more on Bob's preservation work in Mason City, please see the article written by WOTP Honorary Board Member, Mark Hertzberg
https://wrightinracine.wordpress.com/

And Bob's obituary can be viewed
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/gl ... d=31119672

[Mark Hertzberg]

Thank you, Paul. I got the same email from Wright on the Park and have added that information and the newspaper obituary to my post.