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07/02/2021 | Press release | Archived content

Gütersloh Now Has A Reinhard-Mohn-Strasse

News | Gütersloh, 07/02/2021

Gütersloh Now Has A Reinhard-Mohn-Strasse

To mark what would have been the 100th birthday of its honorary citizen Reinhard Mohn, the city of Gütersloh has renamed the street 'An der Autobahn' 'Reinhard-Mohn-Strasse.' Many employees from the Gütersloh area work on this street at the Bertelsmann subsidiary Arvato. Mayor Norbert Morkes confirmed the new street name yesterday with the symbolic presentation of a street sign to Liz Mohn.

Since July 1st, Gütersloh has a Reinhard-Mohn-Strasse. To mark the centenary of the entrepreneur, benefactor, and honorary citizen of the city of Gütersloh, the street 'An der Autobahn' was renamed to commemorate Reinhard Mohn. The city's Committee for Culture had endorsed a proposal by the Heimatverein Gütersloh (Gütersloh Heritage Society) to rename the street. The location has a direct link to Mohn's life's work: many employees from the Gütersloh area work on this street at the Bertelsmann subsidiary Arvato.

Gütersloh Mayor Norbert Morkes affirmed the new street name yesterday with the symbolic presentation of a street sign to Liz Mohn. This was also his first visit to her in his capacity as Mayor. In a relaxed conversation with Liz Mohn, the Mayor, who completed his training at Bertelsmann and spent the first years of his career there, was able to share his very personal memories of Reinhard Mohn. As a youth representative at the company at the time he often met Reinhard Mohn in person: 'That was the really great thing about him: You could always talk to him directly, and he listened attentively when we had a suggestion or concern,' said Morkes, adding that he had a great deal of respect for Reinhard Mohn, and this period had a great influence on him.

Liz Mohn was delighted with the initiative to rename the street and the associated commemoration of her husband: 'I am grateful that the city of Gütersloh is now providing another visible sign of recognition for my husband's life's work, in addition to awarding him honorary citizenship during his lifetime. The street itself could not have been better chosen - after all, a large proportion of our 11,000 employees in the greater Gütersloh area work on the new Reinhard-Mohn-Strasse.'

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