An Elgin Name Since the 1920s

The early years
My paternal grandfather immigrated here in the late 1920s and was offically sponsored by Henry and Adelia Dauel, a fellow German family on Park St. in Elgin. Shortly after my grandfather’s arrival he became a U.S. citizen and married one of the daughters of the sponsoring family, Laura, in 1933. They made Stewart Ave. their home until retiring in 1978.

I have lived in Elgin most of my life. Even while living in Streamwood as a child for nine years, I always had an interest in Elgin, where my father made his living as a service manager for Wrona Bros, Inc., and later, his own business, working downtown for years and years. With the exception of groceries, gas and an occasional pizza, all of our buying was done in Elgin. My affection for Elgin, which began because of my parents and grandparents, continues today. Growing up, we lived in Blackhawk Manor, then Lords Park Manor. After Larsen Junior High, I graduated from Elgin High School in 1976. I am a proud EHS alumnus and am a part of our reunion committee. 

Professional
My first part-time job was as a phone solicitor in ninth grade. I sold tickets to the annual Policeman’s Ball for the Policeman’s Benevolent & Protective Association headquartered in the Tower Building. I also put in a brief stint at Mr. Burger (now Roll-n-Donut on Dundee Ave.) During my senior year at Elgin High School, I covered high school sports for a local newspaper. In 1978, I began a career as a customer service representative for Illinois Bell where I served my fellow employees as their union steward through three consolidations during divestiture from AT&T. I was, in addition, still doing freelance writing.

In 1990, I graduated from the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa and began my current career as an auctioneer. In 1995, I became a certified appraiser with the Certified Appraisers Guild of America. In 2002, I became Elgin’s only Certified Estate Specialist with the National Auctioneers Association. In 1993, I graduated from the Second City Training Center and the Improv Olympics in Chicago, studying improvisational comedy. Later, I began doing voiceovers and on-screen acting in Chicagoland television commercials. 

From 1996 to 2004, my affection for radio turned into doing sports color commentary and hosting a sports show with Jeff Myers on television and radio. I currently co-host Elgin’s Fourth of July parade with Jeff and have done so since 1997. In 2000, Jeff and I launched “Remembering Elgin” on local radio every Saturday morning. The show won an Elgin Image Award in 2002.

Beginning in 1996, my love for Elgin’s history blossomed into publishing the Remembering Elgin calendars, which feature the photos of my friend and longtime Elgin window washer, the late Robert E. Will. In 2006, I wrote the Remembering Elgin Trivia Book (currently sold out).

I am currently in my seventh year as the public address announcer for the Elgin Community College Spartans men’s and women’s basketball team, and just completed my second year as their volleyball announcer. 

Personal
After living in Blackhawk Manor and Lords Park Manor, my subsequent Elgin addresses have included the near-west side and now the east side. I am the proud father of my daughter Roxanne, age 13, a state-qualifying swimmer and Honor Roll student. All of this while playing the clarinet and violin in her school band and orchestra.