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A Star Over Old
Town Saginaw:
Robert F. Maul
By Sam
Fitzpatrick
 Robert F.
Maul (better known as Bob to most Saginawians) will truly be missed,
as he leaves behind a positive attitude centered and grounded by both
pride and joy towards the Saginaw Community.
Having passed
away at the age of 55 while battling a debilitating illness, Maul knew
deep within his heart that with a little hard work and love, he could
change the community. One of his most passionate
workings was held in Old Town Saginaw, where he started the Lawn
Chair Film Festival. It can be attended almost every Sunday during
the summer months. Here Bob Maul brought people together for a purely
fun, and totally free purpose - get together with a few friends and
watch a few flicks in the gorgeous nighttime summer weather.
Bob could always be seen at the popcorn stand on
Hamilton Street during Lawn Chair, talking to new people and selling the
popcorn, never a frown on his face.
“He knew how to bring people together to make it happen,” says Wendy
Scott of The Saginaw Convention and
Visitors Bureau, “He did wonderful things for the west side
community. He provided people, ideas, and opportunities for new ideas.
People will take his legacy and continue it”.
“He should be
remembered for what he accomplished while he was alive - he will live
on, people will acknowledge him and remember him,” adds Paul Chaffe,
former editor of The Saginaw News.
Bob Maul also
connected Saginaw with its neighbor, Bay City, through the Saginaw
Rowing Club, re-established in December of 2004 by Bob himself
(originally founded in 1868). Long, sleek wooden and fiberglass rowing
boats can be seen gliding gracefully across the Saginaw River, where Bob
was seen riding in the bow, rowing at his hardest. Rowing was one of his
favorite things to do, and it brought out the community more. The
Saginaw Rowing Club will sometimes row all the way up to Bay City, often
to be met by the Bay City Rowing club. The Saginaw Rowing Club brings
together athletes of all types to build endurance and enjoy the resource
of the river through rowing.
Bob had
tremendous ideas for Saginaw.
He literally lit
up the beautiful and historical churches of Old Town Saginaw. Chaffe had
a few drinks with Maul one night, when he tossed out the idea of how
neat it would be to light up the steeple at his church, St. Johns
Episcopal. Chaffe loved the idea, and responded, “Let’s not stop
there, let’s light them all!”
Taking a drive
during the night, one can see the work of Bob Maul and Paul Chaffe all
over Saginaw City. The list of churches and buildings the two lit up
include: First Congregational, The Water Treatment Plant, St. Paul’s
Lutheran, St. Johns Episcopal, the Cathedral of St. Mary,
Michigan Baptist, Holy Cross Lutheran, First Presbyterian, St. Andrews,
Holy Family Catholic, First Baptist, and Grace United Baptist.
“He changed the
way people look at the skyline,” adds Chaffe, “It was my great pleasure
to share the appreciation of these beautiful historic churches. It
alters the way people look at the river, and the courthouse. The
courthouse looked like a sterile mode, full of rats. When you see the
ice skating rink in the winter, you see the rabbits at Easter, he
changed the way people look at that”.
Bob Scheibner,
local Saginaw artist, says, “He gave me a more positive attitude about
Saginaw, negativity will get us no where. He showed me that there’s
people out there who care”.
Bob Maul is a
local hero and he truly believed Saginaw had the potential to achieve
greatness. “I think he came from the heart,” Scheibner adds, “not from
the pocket book. He had the belief that he could bring the neighborhood
together, instead of just bringing in more money”.
Scheibner also
thought that Bob should be remembered “As a bright star over Old Town,
and Saginaw”.
Saginawians will
cherish men like Bob Maul, a positive and bright being, full of great
ideas to pull communities back together, and stay together. |
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