Ernie Peters was born in Hartley, Iowa. From 1973
until the time of his passing in August of 2004 Ernie
served as the Executive Director of Abbott House. During
those 31 years he provided safety and treatment to over
5,000 youth.
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with
us; what we have done for others and the world remains
and is immortal."
Ernie Peters.... By Fred Tully
I first met Ernie not long after he graduated from
Buena Vista College. At the time, he was employed by
the State of Iowa, supervising adolescent delinquent
kids. I was working in a state facility in juvenile
corrections where some of Ernie's kids resided. As a
beginner, he had a professionalism and poise that made
him a cut above most others. He took his work seriously
and viewed this job as his life's work. In 1968, we
entered the University of Iowa as classmates. In school,
the faculty viewed him as a talented serious student
who was a leader. Fellow students looked up to him.
After graduation, Ernie had a foundation for his life's
work. He put the client first, he subscribed to ethical
behavior and he committed himself to hard work. He was
promoted to important supervisory positions with the
Department of Social Services. While some of our classmates
were "white coat" therapists who sought work
with private agencies with whom employment was a status
symbol, in contrast, Ernie decided on Mitchell, South
Dakota to head an agency that was on the opposite end
of the spectrum of status.
During those years, many of the standard old private
agencies had gone out of existence. When he arrived
in Mitchell, he and his family moved into the facility
because there were no children. He built up Abbott House's
reputation with referral agencies, he worked to increase
private funding and he was good at it. He created a
program that was child center centered with focus on
quality and the knowledge that behavior disordered children
could change. Today, Abbott House is an outstanding
facility comprised of hard working professionals committed
to reformation of the child. It is , because of Ernie.
What manner of man was Ernie Peters? He was uncommon
- he was a gentle-man. He had a strong intellect, a
man well-read in his profession. He was a man committed
to bringing quality to the child care profession. His
work raised the standard of care in South Dakota. If
there was royal blood line amongst his peers he would
have been a crown prince. He would not have been a king,
because his manner was gentle and persuasive and not
dictatorial. Ernie changed people's minds with his point
of view because people would listen to him. In disagreements
many of us often cited Ernie's thoughts to bolster our
arguments.
He didn't pursue money of self-recognition in hi profession.
This was a classy man. He didn’t take the easy
road; he often took the hard one because that was the
path that needed to be taken. It was Ernie's determination
and professionalism that put together a program for
adolescents on the reservation. For years people talked
about creating a facility on one of the Indian Reservations,
but the topic was always dismissed with "it won't
work." Ernie said, "no one knows if it will
work unless we try." He exerted enormous effort
and fought many battles to create those services. His
trail blazing was monumental work.
Ernie's work defines a portion of who he was. But his
work can't be understood without defining him as a person.
If Ernie was your friend, you were privileged. He was
always willing to listen, he offered wisdom, he made
your laugh, and he made you better. He was gentle in
his approach. He didn't speak ill of others because
generally he tried to understand those he disagreed
with. He didn't use the pronout "I" because
he was prone to give credit to others.
Ernie would be pleased that we were complimentary of
his life, but he would be more pleased if we took the
lessons he taught as a commitment for ourselves. We
can - if we always put the child first in our dealings,
if we are polite in our interactions with one another,
if we not cut costs when those cuts are not in the child's
best interests, nor would he want us to spend money
extravagantly in programs when we should be more prudent.
Ernie's life has meaning because it impacts people's
lives and he made the world a better place. He eased
the pain of others, he helped them to take charge of
their lives, and he provided hope. Although he is not
here with us, he lives on in the lessons he taught,
in the example he lived. When we act with Ernie in mind,
we honor his life, we honor him. Those who called him
friend, whose who loved him will miss him, I know I
will. But he remains with us because we know what he
would say in most circumstances, we can model our behavior
after his example. Ernie looked up to "Grace Abbott
as an advocate and voice for children. He need not look
up; he is her equal, as others look up to him.
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