On Sunday, August 15th, from 2-4:00 pm, the African American Gallery will unveil its newest exhibit honoring the life and career of Lee Marks, former track and field coach for Guilford High School. This exhibit will be on display until the end of October.

Lee Marks, the son of Otis and Corine Marks, was born in Carthage, Arkansas on November 17, 1944.  His family moved to Rockford, Illinois when he was three years old.  As a youngster, Lee participated in baseball, football, and track. Lee attended Rockford Public schools.  After graduating from West High School in 1962, he attended Sioux Falls College where Lee ran track and played football. 

After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, Lee began his teaching career as a fifth-grade teacher in the Rockford Public School District in 1966.  In 1967, Lee was hired at Guilford High School as a physical education teacher as well as an assistant football and assistant track coach. Lee served thirty-five years as a teacher. The position of the Head Boys Track Coach began in 1969, making Lee the first African American head coach of any sport in the Rockford Public Schools. 

Lee devoted forty-seven years to coaching track at Guilford High School. Over those years, he received a Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois as well as several awards.  Most recently Lee was awarded the Rockford Register Star Distinguished Service Award in 2016 prior to his death. Recently, the Rockford School District #205 Board of Education officially named the outdoor track at Swanson Stadium The Lee Marks Memorial Track.

Lee was married to his wife Karen for fifty years.  To this union, they had three daughters Cynthia, Valerie, and Allison. Lee died on June 17, 2017.  His family is excited about the fact that Lee’s legacy will remain in the community forever.

On Sunday, August 15th, the African American Gallery will host a special presentation featuring Karen Marks, his widow at 2:15. Jazz saxophonist Harlan Jefferson, a Rockford native will perform at 2:30. This event is free to the public but donations are greatly appreciated. 

The Heritage Museum Park is a historical campus containing the Ethnic Heritage Museum and Graham-Ginestra House. Our mission is to preserve the cultural history of all nationalities, especially those of southwest Rockford, where the city began. The Ethnic Heritage Museum is a cultural center and museum, featuring six ethnic galleries; African American, Hispanic, Irish, Italian, Lithuanian and Polish. The Graham-Ginestra House, built in 1857, was Rockford’s first commissioned historic landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places. This beautiful home features Italianate and Greek Revival Architecture and provides unique insight into the lives of some of Early Rockford’s most prominent.

General admission to both museums is only $5 student, $7 individual, $15 per family or free to members. The Heritage Museum Park has re-opened safely and responsibly.  Masks are optional on the museum campus. The Ethnic Heritage Museum is handicap accessible. There is parking available in the parking lot on the corner of South Main and Morgan Streets next to the Graham-Ginestra House and on Loomis Street by the museum. For more information call 815/962-7402  or visit www.ethnicheritagemuseum.org.