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Friday, June 13, 2025

chatGPT differs with Gemini re Gezon Park & Parkway

chatGPT says" 

"It seems there's no direct historical evidence that Gezon Parkway was named in honor of H. Roger Gezon (1924–2010):

  • While H. Roger Gezon was a well-known Grand Rapids native who led C.W. Mills Paper Company and was active in local civic life dcta.net+6dykstrafuneralhome.com+6obits.mlive.com+6, there's no record linking him to the naming of a street.

  • Historic documents instead point to Paul Gezon submitting a petition in October 1925 regarding street renaming in the Wyoming area—corresponding closely with the creation of Gezon Parkway .

  • If any official record ties the parkway to H. Roger Gezon (or another Gezon family member), I couldn't locate it in local archives or municipal histories.

That said, it's worth noting:

  • Street‐name dedications often honor community leaders, and it's possible a later renaming or dedication could have referenced H. Roger.

  • But given the 1925 origins of the name, Paul Gezon's petition remains the most substantiated, contemporary link to Gezon Parkway's name.

If you've seen a municipality resolution or plaque naming it for H. Roger, that would be compelling evidence. Otherwise, the weight of historical documentation favors Paul Gezon as the likely namesake....

Public Service & Civic Leadership

  • In October 1925, Paul Gezon co-submitted a petition (with Ben Porter) to the Wyoming Park area authorities to eliminate duplicate street names—an action directly tied to the naming of Gezon Parkway alltrails.com+10facebook.com+10ancestry.com+10.

  • He later served on the first Wyoming City Commission in 1959, marking him as a foundational civic leader in the newly incorporated city findagrave.com.


👥 Community Involvement

  • In 1926, Paul was listed as Secretary of the Wyoming Park Association (or similar civic group), indicating his engagement in local neighborhood affairs ..."