McCOOK, Nebraska – A businessman who has had extensive ties to McCook since the 1990s is expressing his gratitude to the community through a generous donation to the McCook Community Foundation Fund for the benefit of the Discovery Center of Southwest Nebraska project.

Jerome Knoll, along with his wife, Linda, has made a $400,000 gift which can be used for the construction or renovation of a facility to house the Discovery Center. The account is considered expendable, which means that gifts and investment earnings into the account can be expended in their entirety for its designated purpose.

Knoll was in the hog business for over 30 years in both North Platte and McCook. His North Platte operation finished hogs from 40 pounds to market. In 1990, he and Don Roberts of McCook purchased Centennial Pork and began raising pigs four miles north of town. He continued in that business for the next 22 years.

In 1996, Knoll purchased the northern portion of the Westview Plaza in McCook, from The Buckle location north to Carver Cinema. In 2000, he partnered with Chris and Annette Wagner to purchase the Ford dealership, adding the Toyota franchise four years later. In 2005, the Knolls and Wagners partnered again to purchase the GM dealership in McCook.

In 2012, Knoll decided to exit the hog business and then sold his interest in the car dealerships to the Wagners in 2013.

He began thinking about selling his Westview Plaza property about three years ago. Knoll, who is 79, recognized that he had no one to take over management of his properties if something happened to him. He also wanted to be able to do something for McCook.

The pandemic put plans for the sale of Westview Plaza on hold for some time, but in 2021 Cody Dame, who owns two businesses located in the property, purchased it from Knoll.

Knoll told the Gazette that selling the Westview Plaza property was bittersweet. It meant that he no longer owned property in a community that he appreciated. “It was kind of a sad day for me a couple of weeks ago, as I drove out of McCook without owning a business there. First time in 31 years,” Knoll chuckled.

But the sale of Westview Plaza also allowed Knoll to fulfill another dream. He had discussed ideas for giving back to the community with Mark Graff of McCook and Jim Gustafson of the Nebraska Community Foundation. A little over two years ago, Denise Garey, Affiliated Fund Development Coordinator for Southwest Nebraska, told Knoll about the efforts being done for the Discovery Center.

“When I learned about them, that was exactly what I was wanting to do,” Knoll said. He went on to explain that he wanted to do something positive for the youth in McCook and he was impressed with the leadership provided by the Discovery Center committee members.

Knoll emphasizes that he greatly values the dedicated and loyal McCook employees that helped his businesses thrive. He told the Gazette that doing business in McCook was a “great positive experience” and he treasures the many business relationships he developed in the community. He said that employees in McCook “are like none other”. He went on to say, “During all this time, many great employees worked at these different companies. I have told many people over the years, ‘if you want to start a new business, go to McCook’ because of the many great employees in that town.”

About the Discovery Center of Southwest Nebraska

The gift will be placed in an account within the McCook Community Foundation Fund designated for the Discovery Center of Southwest Nebraska. The effort to build a children’s museum in McCook commenced in 2017 with leaders hoping to develop a facility that stimulates imagination, sparks creativity and inspires a passion for discovery.

The Discovery Center board of directors includes Patty Tidyman, Cathy Jones, Sondra Jonson, Julie Rippen, Tasha Blomstedt, Becky Wolfe, Caitlin Whitehead, and Judy Anderson.

In the upcoming weeks and months, they will begin soliciting feedback from the community on elements of interest, such as exhibits, an indoor play structure, toddler area, maker’s space and more. They hope to include rotational programming and exhibits as the concept becomes more developed. “We want to make sure the community has a chance to weigh in,” Tidyman said. The feedback process will include online surveys and public meetings.

Once a high-level design is in place, a capital campaign will begin. The organization will pursue grants as well as community donations.

Tidyman commented, “So many people work hard to ensure that our community is family-friendly, safe and welcoming. 

“The Discovery Center will be an added amenity to our area that will continue to deepen the roots of those well-established values.”

“We are so thankful for the Knoll family who believed in us early in the project while we worked to establish a strong foundation. And our gratitude continues, not only in response to their generous financial gift, but also because of the wisdom and support we’ve received as the project has gained traction.” 

“The Discovery Center will be a place where young people will be able to go learn and have fun,” Jerome Knoll said. “I strongly encourage the residents of McCook to support this project and help make it become a reality.”