Fred Dick posthumously honored with the Golden Citizen’s Medal – a Straubing original!

Fred Dick posthumously honored with the Golden Citizen’s Medal – a Straubing original!

On November 7, 2025, a moving ceremony took place in the city of Straubing at which Fred Dick was posthumously awarded the Golden Citizen Medal. The city council voted unanimously to honor a man who left a lasting impression through his artistic work and commitment to the community. Mayor Markus Pannermayr called Dick a “real Straubing original” whose work has significantly shaped both the culture and the social structures of the city.

Fred Dick was not only an artist, but also a social educator and cultural economist. His room “Raven” on Rosengasse was transformed into a lively meeting place for music, encounters and cultural exchange. He preferred to stand behind the mixing desk and pull the strings rather than being in the spotlight himself. His contribution to connecting generations and cultures is unforgettable and will continue to be felt in the city.

Honor and exhibition

The award of the Golden Citizen Medal stands for thanks, recognition, appreciation and respect, as was also expressed at the celebration. The exhibition “Fred's Finissage” is also running in the Halle II Gallery, which shows works by the late artist until December 7th. Here visitors can immerse themselves in the creative world of Fred Dick and gain an impression of his work.

“He inspired us all, and his legacy will live on,” Pannermayr added in his speech, recalling Dick’s special ability to bring people together and enliven cultural life in Straubing.

A look at the data landscape

While the memories of Fred Dick and his achievements are coming to the fore in Straubing, there are also major changes in the area of ​​economic data. The Federal Reserve and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis have introduced new features in the Data Download Program (DDP) in FRED. On November 4, 2025, the new API version 2 was released, allowing users to query comprehensive data in bulk, facilitating historical data usage.

In the future, users will even be able to access their data in user-friendly formats such as JSON or XML. From December 18, 2025, the “View chart” function on the DDP pages will be switched off, which represents a further step in adapting the user experience. These developments help researchers and interested parties better access and visualize economic data, which is of great importance in our data-driven world.

Amid this data revolution, Fred Dick's legacy remains present as a link between people and cultures. As the world changes, the importance of art and social engagement remains important.