Subsequent to the 2004 death of Bruce V. Green, an advertising and marketing executive in Bloomington, a bequest was made to the Illinois State University Foundation to fund creation of the Genevieve Green Gardens at Ewing Cultural Center. The gardens honor Mr. Green’s wife of 47 years, Genevieve Carlock Green , who died in 1995.
Mrs. Green, who was born in Carlock, Illinois, attended Illinois State University and studied voice at Illinois Wesleyan University as a contralto. Mrs. Green, pictured at right, was well known in the community for her musical ability, and in fact, she performed for Mrs. Ewing in her home on several occasions.
Bruce V. Green, born in Bloomington-Normal, attended Illinois Wesleyan University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He served in the army in World War II, commanding an assault infantry rifle unit. He saw action at Guadalcanal and the Philippines. After the war, he launched his career as an advertising account executive. Mr. Green established Bruce Green Advertising Ltd. in Bloomington in 1966, a full-service advertising agency for print, radio, television, outdoor, and the Yellow Pages for nationally advertised products. He retired in 1988.
An avid gardener, Mr. Green wrote several articles for the Garden Writers Association of America, which were published in magazines throughout the United States. It was his wish that, upon his death, a garden would be built at Ewing Cultural Center in his wife’s name. Mr. Green funded the project with a bequest of over $5 million, the largest individual contribution ever made to the ISU Foundation. Mrs. Green had a profound love of flowers and nature, and many of her favorite varieties have been planted in the gardens.
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