Honoring the Legacy Behind the MLK Center Thanksgiving Tradition

Every year, the MLK Center Thanksgiving Dinner brings our community together around shared tables, warm meals, and true connection. It has become one of the most cherished traditions in the Quad Cities. This year marks the 36th annual celebration. At the foundation of this long running effort is the generosity of one man whose life reflected service, dignity, and a deep commitment to others.

Kindness in Action.

Jethro Cribbs of Davenport, Iowa, born July 22, 1930 in Carson Lake, Arkansas and passed away January 4, 2017, planted the seed for this tradition. While working at Lindquist, he wondered how he could repay those who had supported him throughout his life. His question became the spark for the very first community meal. As he said, “What can we do to repay some of the people that has helped us?”

That single reflection became his call to action. With the support of Del Lindquist, Jethro helped establish the Thanksgiving Day celebration at the MLK Center to ensure that no neighbor would spend the holiday alone or hungry. The first years were modest, but the need grew quickly, and the community responded. What began as a simple act of giving became a tradition centered on belonging, compassion, and hope.

Jethro’s influence reached far beyond the Thanksgiving table. He lived a life shaped by faith, family, service, and leadership. He attended Linwood School, Davenport Public Schools, and St. Ambrose University. He married Marilyn Roberts in 1948, and together they shared over 68 years of marriage and raised six children. He was a devoted member of Bethel AME Church in Davenport for 68 years.

His work life reflected both skill and perseverance. He retired as a supervisor from John Deere Foundry in East Moline in 1984. He owned and operated Jeff and Sons Landscaping, later known as Cribbs Landscaping Co., Inc. After retiring from John Deere and landscaping, he joined Lindquist Ford, where he became the first African American car salesman in the Quad Cities and later served as their Public Relations Manager.

Jethro was deeply committed to civic and community leadership. He served on the City of Davenport’s Affirmative Action Advisory Committee, was past President of NAACP Branch 4019 in Davenport, and served on Governor Vilsack’s Iowa Health Commission. He received numerous awards for his service, including recognition from Junior Achievement for his mentorship of local youth and the Power of One Award at the annual MLK Celebration at Centennial Hall.

He also founded Honor Seekers, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting unsung community heroes. He helped start a soup kitchen at Hiram Lodge to serve the homeless, shut-ins, and those facing hardship. He volunteered as a tutor for the Literacy Program for senior citizens at Scott Community College. In the Masonic community, he served as past Worshipful Master of Hiram Lodge 19 and as Grand Worthy Patron in the Electa Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star for four years. He was also a member of AG Clark Consistory where he served as Commander in Chief.

World Kindness Day gives us the perfect moment to reflect on what Jethro created. Kindness does not always appear in grand gestures. It grows through steady, daily acts. A warm plate of food. A sincere welcome. A volunteer sharing time with someone who needs to be seen. These small moments shape a stronger, more compassionate community.

The Thanksgiving Dinner he helped establish continues to embody these values. Volunteers arrive early. Families gather. Neighbors find new friendships. Each moment reflects the beloved community he envisioned. His example still ripples through every act of service at the MLK Center, reminding us that kindness remains one of the most powerful forces we can offer one another.

As we celebrate the 36th annual Thanksgiving Dinner, we do so with deep gratitude for the foundation he laid. His life reminds us that kindness multiplies across generations, inspiring us to keep building a community where every person is valued, welcomed, and supported.

We offer heartfelt thanks to Jethro Cribbs and the entire Cribbs family for the legacy they have shared with our community. Their commitment to service continues to shape the MLK Center and every life touched by this tradition.

If any details need correction or updating, please contact us so we may honor his story accurately.

Sources
Turner, Jonathan. "Food, love and compassion served at holiday dinner." Dispatch-Argus, The (Moline, IL), November 23, 2014. NewsBank: America's News. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/16A3C1BFF3C6BED8.

“Jethro Cribbs Obituary.” Tribute Archive. https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/15623336/jethro-cribbs