Recently retired DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott got a standing ovation for sharing his career experiences with the Rotary Club of Sycamore this week. He left office at the end of June following a 52-year career with the department, serving as sheriff since 1985.
Scott said he first had serious interest in a law enforcement career at age 12 because his older brother, Wilbur, became a deputy sheriff (his brother would eventually serve as sheriff prior to Roger). Scott began his career working a combined radio/jailer job after serving in the Air Force. He said there were 22 people in the department at the time; now there are 102. He became the first K-9 police dog handler for the county and made frequent public appearances including the Sycamore Pumpkinfest Parade. When the appointment process opened to fill the sheriff’s vacancy in 1985, Scott said there were two candidates under consideration with neither getting enough support and he became the compromise candidate. He called the sheriff’s job a team effort to make the county a safe place for all residents.
Scott referenced several important milestones during his career. These included creating the sheriff’s Citizen Academy to bring greater department awareness to residents, establishment of the countywide 9-1-1 emergency phone service, and expansion of the county jail (which he credited for helping the county get through the Covid-19 pandemic without any inmates infected). He noted the sobering impact of the 1986 kidnap/murder case of seven-year-old Melissa Ackerman of Somonauk and the 2016 double murder of Patricia Wilson and her son, Robert.
Scott called it “an honor” to have served as sheriff for 36 years and being reelected by the voters. Acknowledging that law enforcement faces some current image challenges, Scott says he expects things to bounce back as officers focus on serving and protecting citizens. Scott will now be spending more time with his wife and their adopted and foster children. During his career, the Scotts have cared for 45 foster children and adopted seven children with the Sheriff saying it was his wife who managed most family responsibilities while he was working.
Thank you, Sheriff Scott, for your dedicated service.
After a couple weeks of digestion, I thought it would be appropriate to update all of you on the Hula-for-Loota fundraiser that many of you supported. While I don't have historical data to compare to, I view this year's event as a huge success. I'd like to start by thanking all of the individuals who helped on the committee to pull off this event. Without their assistance, we wouldn't have gotten anywhere:
Jeff Jacobson, Riley Oncken, Tim Neubert, Jeff Petersen, Jeff Keicher, Brandon Diviak, Julie Sgarlata, Mike DeVito, Bob Brown, and Paulette Berg
I'd also like to thank all of the many sponsors who donated to the cause to help us pull off this event:
DNA Communications, Riley Oncken Law, Sycamore Park District, YMCA, Patel Family Dental, Suter Company, Bruch Financial Advisors, Priority Promotions
Hopefully you all enjoyed our Elvis entertainment, pig roast, and trivia. As we changed up the format a bit this year, I consider it a trial and a successful one at that. I've received plenty of positive and constructive feedback so hopefully we can make it an even more entertaining event next year. But how about some results?
NET PROFIT = $7,000
In total we raised about $13,773 in revenue and had prizes and expenditures totaling about $6773. That included dinner and beverages for about 90 attendees, several raffle drawings, and an odd pig-part-eating challenge hosted by Riley. Our three draw down finalists split their pot three-ways. Those winners were Fred Peltz, Troy Oates, and Mike DeVito, Sr. Refer to the July 17 Spoke for pictures! Obviously these proceeds will go a long way toward supporting our goals for the year so thank you again to everyone who donated or participated. Hopefully we can continue to recruit more outside participation in this event, so be thinking about your 2022 trivia team and get out there and recruit!
As a reminder, the club begins delivering the Sycamore West route for Meals On Wheels starting Monday, August 23.
10:45 AM pick up at Volunteer Action Center complex, 1606 Bethany Road in Sycamore. Masks are appreciated, but not required.
The members delivering August 23-27: Jim Stoddard, Ray Dembinski, Pat Shafer, Eric Jones, Jonelle Bailey, Michelle Jurkovic, Sue Emberson, Curt Lang, and Karen Lang.
Join us as we ride the scenic Fox River and sample local, fresh brew. Ticket price includes the river cruise, 6 different beer sample from three St. Charles breweries (Riverlands, Alter, and Pollyanna). Fundraiser supports local non-profits benefitting children and students.
Below is a list of art fairs in the northern Illinois area that I found for the next few months. There are probably more, but this is a start. If you are looking for a good time, art fairs are usually a lot of fun. If you go, please collect business cards from vendors and any literature about the event. Get them to me and we can create a data base of vendors for our future event. Remember, no database, no event. Let's all get behind this and have some fun. Pick a fair and a couple of other Rotarians and make a fun day of it.
July 26, 1953 – Fidel Castro begins his “26th of July Movement” to topple the dictatorship of Cuba by Fulgencio Batista. He is eventually successful when Batista flees Cuba on New Year’s Day 1959.
July 27, 1953 – The Korean War ends with the signing of an armistice at Panmunjom, Korea.
July 30, 1975 – Former Teamsters Union leader James “Jimmy” Hoffa is last seen outside a restaurant in Detroit, Michigan. He is declared officially dead in 1982.
July 31, 1790 – The U. S. Patent Office opens and issues the first patent to Samuel Hopkins for a new method of making potash (fertilizer). The patent is signed by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
July 26, 1856 – Prolific Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw is born in Dublin, Ireland.
July 28, 1929 – Jacqueline (Jackie) Bouvier Kennedy is born in Southampton, New York.
July 29, 1905 – Dag Hammarskjold, Swedish public servant, second Secretary General of the United Nations (1953-1961), and posthumous Nobel Peace Prize winner, is born in Jonkoping, Sweden.
July 30, 1863 – Automotive pioneer Henry Ford is born in Dearborn Township, Michigan.
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