A couple events will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9, to honor and remember the late Neal Gamm, who gained fame as the Governor of Forgottonia.
“The success in the ‘70s of Forgottonia was all dependent upon getting publicity and bringing attention to this. And Neal Gamm was some sort of magician who was able to make that happen,” said Bill Jacobs, who is one of the organizers of the events.
Forgottonia was a tongue-in-cheek political campaign that began in September 1973. It was created to draw attention to western Illinois. Organizers said state and federal politicians often forgot about the region when doling out dollars for transportation projects and other needs.
Gamm was from Ipava. He was a theater student at Western Illinois University and a Vietnam War veteran.
He passed away in November, 2012.
The September 9 events
The first gathering will begin at 11:15 a.m. at Fandon Christian Church. Fandon was the capital of Forgottonia.
A county proclamation will declare a section of County Road 600 North in Fandon as Governor Gamm’s Forgottonia Veterans Freeway, and road signs will be unveiled.
The McDonough County board will be asked to approve the resolution this month.
The celebration will continue at 1:30 p.m. at Forgottonia Brewery in Macomb. Mayor Mike Inman will declare it Neal Gamm Day in the city, there will be remembrances of Gamm, and the band Forgottonia Train Wreck will perform live.
“It’s all about bringing people together. It’s about community. It’s about bringing people from all walks of life. We don’t care what your politics are. Let’s just celebrate who we are and honor those who helped us become who we are,” Jacobs said.
“We are a better community -- if not region -- because of the people and the Governor of Forgottonia.”
The brewery will unveil its Welcome Home Neal beer, so named because as a Vietnam War veteran, Gamm never received a welcome home. A portion of the revenue from sales of the brew will be donated to the Honor Flight program for U.S. military veterans.
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