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Tiedemann's 1980s vision relevant today

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By the Quad-City Times | Friday, September 21, 2007 |

Look at Margaret Tiedemann’s 1985 to-do list as new president of the former Davenport Chamber of Commerce.

Then look around town.

Things we take for granted today were visions for Tiedemann, who passed away Saturday and is remembered 10 a.m. today at a service in St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

Of course, Tiedemann didn’t do it alone. But her vision and drive at a critical time in Quad-City history propelled initiatives that pay dividends today. Here was her list, published in the March 31, 1985 edition of the Quad-City Times.

1. Renovation of the Adler, then called the Orpheum.

2. Expansion of the ground transportation center with a plan that even included a skywalk.

3. Development of an Interstate 80 welcome center.

4. Creation of a parking garage at 2nd and Main streets.

5. Encourage an Interstate 74 interchange at 53rd Street.

The headlines at the time celebrated Tiedemann as the first woman to head the Quad-Cities’ biggest chamber of commerce. That gender distinction seems dated now, and didn’t seem to matter then to Tiedemann. She was assistant president of W.G. Block & Co., where she started doing secretarial work and advanced to the top in a career that exceeded 50 years with the company.

Along the way, she took on leadership roles at St. Ambrose University, United Way, the former Mercy Hospital and many other social and business causes. She knew our community from all sides as a native who made a lifetime commitment to the Quad-Cities.

Tiedemann provided a model for leadership still relevant today.