Jubilee never takes the duty of picking a Grand Marshal lightly.
It's a mixture of duty, history, loyalty, community and family.
The pick for the 49th Amsterdam Jubilee embodies all of the above.
Her parents set a great example of community and family. Through their example. This year's Grand Marshal was raised and continues to leave her mark.
She has touched and shaped generations of our community.
The following tribute was written by her oldest daughter and we could not of said it better ourselves.
Please help us welcome and honor our 2025 Amsterdam Jubilee Grand Marshal
Cathy Slattery
We couldn't be more happy that she is ours.
Cathy Slattery, formerly Cathy Lewis, was born and raised in Amsterdam. Her parents, Bill and Marjorie Lewis, were strong supporters of the Amsterdam community. Cathy attended Miami R-1 school, graduating as valedictorian in 1976. She was active in basketball, choir, and was regional vice president and then president of FHA. Cathy was the editor of the yearbook her senior year and had a hand in restoring items from the Bates County Museum.
After graduating from Miami, she attended CMSU in Warrensburg and earned her associates degree. She came back and worked at Miami as an aide in Kindergarten for two years before returning to CMSU to earn her Bachelor’s and then her Master’s. She was hired at Miami as a second grade teacher which she taught for two years before moving to her true calling as a Kindergarten teacher. She touched so many lives in her 29 years teaching Kindergarten. From yearly Zoo Trips, cooking every Friday, decorating the bank windows for Jubilee each year, to planning and hosting the best Kindergarten graduations, she devoted so much time and love to the youth in the Amsterdam community. Being a Kindergarten teacher was apart of her identity and her love of kids and doing what was best for them was always evident. Cathy was also the junior class sponsor many years planning prom and helping with project prom and was also apart of the PDC. She was moved to fifth grade and taught there for a year before retiring in 2015 leaving behind a legacy of true Eagle Pride. She worked as a sub at the Archie school district from her retirement until the premature birth of her grandson where she took on the role of Gigi full time.
Aside from devoting her life to educating generations, she was a constant supporter of the community. Cathy and her husband Dennis served on the Jubilee Committee for a few years before starting their family. She was the Amsterdam 4-H leader for 15 years. She was also a cooking leader and Clover kids leader. She worked for Barb and Nason Corwine at the Amsterdam Cafe and was an aide at Lake Mary’s School for Exceptional Children just over the state line.
Cathy married her husband Dennis June 1st, 1985. Together they have five children. Sons Jared, living on this earth an hour, Clay, and Ryan, and daughters Jenna and Caitlin. They raised their family in Amsterdam and instilled a sense of community pride in each of them. They loved living in this small town and continued to support the school and community with three of their children attending Miami from Kindergarten with their Mom as their teacher to graduation.
Growing up in Amsterdam gives you a different perspective than many have. Many people see Amsterdam as a tiny town with not a lot going on, but Cathy never even considered raising her family anywhere else. Her parents were staples of the community and raised her to know that family is what matters most, and that family doesn’t always mean those who share your blood or last name, but those who love and care for you. Bill and Marjorie served the Amsterdam community well over the years and are missed greatly.
Today, their children still live nearby. They have been blessed with 11 grandchildren: Zoe, Charlotte, Olivia, Bexon, Evelyn, Annalise, Ellasyn, Gibson, Anderson, Amelia and Langston.
Today, Cathy enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, trips to the lake, and attending all their activities. She still lives in and supports the Amsterdam community. She has been apart of many Jubilee parades from the time she was a teenager into adulthood with her own children participating and is honored to be apart of the parade again this year with her family by her side.
Mark your calendar, the Amsterdam Jubilee happens on September 27th.
