Steve Ourecky - First recipient of Czech Heritage Award
- ccefnebraska
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Steve Ourecky was recognized as the recipient of the 2025 Czech Heritage Award
presented to him from the Czech Culture and Education Foundation of Nebraska
(CCEFN) at the group's annual banquet held at Abie's Place, Abie, NE, on March 30th.
The award recognizes those individuals who have done outstanding work in the
preservation of Nebraska Czech culture.
Mila Saskova-Pierce, board member of CCEFN and the honorary Czech consul for the state of Nebraska, presented the award to Steve. Saskova-Pierce stated, "I cannot think of many other people who deserve this award as much as Steve.
He is a true follower of the first Czechoslovak president Thomas Garrigue Masaryk, who called on the Czech
people to work, no matter how much or how little to continue the cultural and economic advance of the whole nation. Steve’s work for the Czech community has happened in too many domains to mention them all. He became involved in the Czechness of the Wilber community as a little boy, following in the footsteps of his grandmother Irma
Ourecky and his aunt Doris Ourecky."
Steve created space for the continuation of the community life in Wilber, by restoring the Fox Hole Tavern and Cafe, where people can meet every day for a plate of good Czech food, talk with friends, and listen to Czech folk music.
The Fox Hole also offers space for meetings of Czech organizations combining the entertainment with the
planning of future events. He also renovated a former building used as a bank which now offers lodging to visitors to the community.
Steve is also involved in the preservation of the Czech Nebraskans’ past. He actively helps with the Wilber Czech Museum.
In addition, Steve also invites groups of folk music performers from the Czech Republic;
this collaboration with the Czech Republic provides not only an opportunity for young
Czechs to become acquainted with the US, but it also builds bridges between the US
Czech communities and the communities in the Czech Republic.
Steve supports the University of Nebraska Czech language instruction through his
active membership on the board of the Czech Language Foundation and the cultural
program of the student Czech Komensky Club. He has offered many scholarships to
students of the Czech language and supported and promoted cultural programs at UNL
offered to the whole UNL community.
Steve also is recognized for his publication, the Czech Slavnosti. The bi-monthly paper has a variety of articles about present day Czech Republic events and sites, news about Czech cultural groups and events in the U.S., memoirs written by early Czech pioneers, and recipes in both the Czech and English languages.
Steve is a long-time member of the Nebraska Czechs Incorporated and a member of
the board.
Last, but not least, he has been supporting the USA Czech-Slovak Queen Pageant
during the festival in Wilber. This pageant chooses the brightest young women from the
USA to become representatives of Czech ethnic life and an active link between Czech
American communities.
Debra Polacek, secretary of CCEFN, said, "Steve Ourecky is a modest individual with a
quiet demeanor who takes great pride in his Czech roots. Steve is committed to his
Czech heritage and hometown of Wilber, Nebraska"
The CCEFN Heritage Award constitutes not only a recognition for decades of Steve’s
selfless work; it also recognizes the fact that Steve has been an inspiration to all and
has shown us how to remain active in the Czech Nebraska cultural work.
Nominate someone for the 2026 Czech Heritage Award Here
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