Bill Montgomery

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Biography

Born at St. Mary Hospital, De Kalb, Illinois, USA. Brought home to 116 Oak Street, De Kalb, IL. Friends from that time are Mark Abbott (West Locust Street) and Brent "Gus" Gustafson (North 2nd Street). Grandparents John and Martha McMenamin lived around the corner and down about 5 houses on the south side at 216 West Locust Street nearly across the street from the Mark Abbott's.

Mom & Dad purchased the house at 640 North 5th Street, De Kalb, Summer of 1953. (See PPT for history of that house and property)

Attended pre-kindergarten at various neighborhood homes on North 5th St and Kendall Lane. Childhood/neighborhood friends; Ron Baietto, Bob Shriver, Chuck Long, John Gresh, Susan Courtney. Long and Gresh beat me up until 1962 when I was instructed by older brother Richard as to how to throw a punch, and it only took one punch.

Attended Kindergarten at Littlejohn School, De Kalb, IL, 1952, 7 blocks away on 12th Street north of Davy Street. Walked to school in a snow storm a few times, at the age of 4/5.

Attended grade school, grades 1-8, at St. Mary Parochial School, De Kalb, IL, 1953-1962, corner of Fisk and 4th Streets. Teachers: 1-Sister Mary St. James, 2-Sister Mary Josephinus, 3-Sister Mary Gwendolyn, 4-Mrs. Higgins (had case of nerves because of her), 5-Sister Mary Xavierita, 6-Sister Mary Gwendolyn, 7-Sister Mary Petronella (Black Veiled Monster, liked corporal punishment), 8-Sister Mary Eucebia. In St. Mary First Grade: Innocent but accused and found guilty of whistling during class. Forced to stand in the back of the classroom and whistle after school as punishment, causing throughout life recoil from unjust accusations. I know who really whistled.

Struck by a car in 1st Grade while crossing N to S between 2 cars across Fisk Street at 4th Street. "Guardian Angel" lifted me to the boulevard softly - no damage. Had ingrown toenails removed in 1st Grade. Wore arch supports in both shoes in 1st Grade. Graduated from 8th Grade in June of 1962.

First boy in the 5th Grade Class to learn Latin for Catholic Mass, as preparation to be an Altar Boy that school year. This accomplishment gave me the honor to be the first in boy the Class to serve at early morning weekday Mass. When told of this honor, I told the Pastor I couldn't be the first because I helped my brother Richard deliver his Chicago Tribune paper route in the early mornings. Howie Newquist did the honor for one day until my parents got it all straightened out.

Summer of 1958 to Summer of 1959 (5th Grade), delivered the DeKalb Daily Chronicle afternoon newspaper to the 600-800 blocks of South 4th Street. The Chronicle staff thought my application said I lived at 640 South 5th Street. My Great Aunt Kate Buehler's was the first house on the Paper Route - lots of good cookies and help with subscription drives (she was the President of the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary - lots of contacts), and warm-ups on cold, snowy winter afternoons.

Our Dad belonged to the De Kalb Rotary Club for 23 years. Summers of our little league baseball years, Rotary Club would bring Chicago White Sox players out for an evening dinner with us little leaguers. Q&A with Sherm Lawler, Nellie Fox, and others. Awesome events. Played Little League 3rd and 4th Grade summers - quit when the ball was coming at me a little too fast.

The Rotary Club and Promoters brought the Harlem Globetrotters to De Kalb one year (1958?). Dad got 2 tickets, and brother Richard and I went and sat at the court's edge. Awesome event. Parking was so full, Dad let us out of the car quite a distance away (by Neptune Hall) and we walked in the snow to reach the NIU Fieldhouse, site of the game.

Delivered the morning Chicago Tribune (75 papers, 6 days a week) for the DeKalb News Service, 1960 thru 1962 (3-1/2 years), 5th Grade through 8th Grade. Had a great Boss, "Cy" Cyrus Miller. Stopped the route when I had to walk to school on the other side of town. Got as many free comic books as I wanted every Saturday morning when I "paid my Bill" at the News Service building at South First Street and Garden Street, behind the Glidden School. Attended first Pro Baseball Game, Chicago Cubs, courtesy of the News Agency.

Attended "Junior" High School, 9th Grade/Freshman Year of High School at Taylor & 7th Streets, De Kalb, IL, 1962-1963. Walked to school 13 blocks from 640 North 5th Street to 800 South 7th Street. 9th Grade: First PE Class, first dance with a girl in PE, first date, first dance, first friends that were girls, first girlfriend dated regularly, first dance decoration committee, started singing in the Chorus (and Chorus all through High School).

Attended High School at De Kalb Senior High School, 4th Street & Sycamore Road, De Kalb, IL, 1963-1966. The Class of 1966 was the last Class to graduate from the original De Kalb Township High School building, built 1906, a new building having been built on South 4th Street, De Kalb. Built a scale model of the new high school building for the Board of Education as a Junior/Senior.

Attended Northern Illinois University, 1966-1968. Majored in Art. Loved design classes. Hated Art History classes and Biology and Psychology - nap time.

Began a career in advertising in August of 1968, at Skorberg's Stores Corporation, headquarters for a retail furniture store group of 15 stores in northern Illinois - Skorberg's Furniture. Promoted to duties of Advertising Manager, October 1968, when Ad Mgr Art Phillips could not return to work after a heart attack and subsequently retired.

Married April, 1969. Rented upstairs apartment in house on SE corner of South 7th and Grove Streets, and duplex at 15 Cliffe Court, August to October 31, 1969. Watched the first Moon Landing on a little black and white TV in the upstairs apartment on South 7th Street.

Drafted into the US Army (Viet Nam era), November 3, 1969, at Chicago, IL. Reported to the DeKalb Eagles Club at 6 a.m. in the rain, took the CNW train to Chicago. Inducted that day, flew in a snowstorm Chicago to Milwaukee, picked up more draftees there, continued to Nashville, TN. Taken by bus to Fort Campbell, KY, for beginning of 8 weeks of Basic Training.

At Fort Campbell for 8 weeks, plus 10 days for Christmas leave, 11 hours by bus to Decatur, IL. Platoon Trainee of the Cycle, candidate for Company Trainee of the Cycle. Promoted out of Basic Training to Private E2. Learned I was to be a Dad on a pay phone near the barracks, two weeks after training started when we were allowed our first call home. Bused to next training 2nd week of January 1970.

AIT - Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, 8 weeks, mid-January until early April, 1970. Assigned to duty other than Viet Nam due to brother Richard being in Viet Nam. Promoted to rank of PFC - Private First Class - E3, out of AIT. 11B MOS (mortars).

Sent to Republic of Korea - US Army Tour of Duty, April 1970 to April 1971. Extended Tour of Duty until 3 June 1971 so as to be processed out of the Army with less than 6 months duty time remaining at the time of separation (as was the case in Viet Nam). Promoted twice by Promotion Review Boards to E4 and E5. Battalion Radio Operator, Battalion Draftsman, Battalion S-3 (Operations) Clerk during tour. Guard Duty along 2nd Infantry Division "Sector" of Imjin River (Freedom Bridge) multiple times.

First child was born 18 Jun 1970, daughter Stephanie Lynn, while I was in Korea. Got a call from the Red Cross the morning of the 19th. Born at Monticello, IL. Heard of her "coming" 2 weeks after start of Basic Training at Fort Campbell, on a pay phone. Saw Stephanie for first time January of 1971, home on leave for 10 days, which took 3 days to get home in snow storm delays in Tokyo and Chicago. While home on leave, Stephanie had a cast put on her leg (curvature correction), her first tooth, and measles.

ETS'd out of the Army in Korea and subsequently at Fort Lewis, WA, 3 June 1971. Returned to De Kalb, IL, June 1971. Lived at 915 Franklin Street. Bought a new 1971 Olds Cutlass, blue & white, traded in green 1968 Javelin.

Became Skorberg's Assistant Advertising Manager upon return from military service in 1971. John Manning was Manager. Promoted to Advertising Manager, 1974, when Manning's replacement, Joe Squires, left to return to St. Louis, MO, after 1 year. Confidentially accepted position with Moss Graphics, Inc., 31 Oct 1975, but did not leave Skorberg's to begin that employment until the following year.

Moved to 3212 Somonauk Road, De Kalb, a farm house, 30 Dec 1972.

Son Scott William came home, 31 Jan 1973, born De Kalb Municipal Hospital, De Kalb IL. Grandpa Bob Montgomery babysat for Stephanie while Daddy visited the hospital.

Attended the Name Brands Foundation Retailer Of The Year Awards Presentation in New York City, March of 1973: Skorberg's won Retailer Of The Year, Furniture.

Moved to 2320 Laurel Lane, Sycamore, IL, to a brand new double-wide mobile home, August of 1973, $13.200.00. Traded 1971 blue & white Cutlass (with bad transmission) for a new 1973 yellow Cutlass Supreme. Got a crazy dog named Toby from Margaret Foster, a fellow Skorberg's employee. Painted a large tractor tire red, white, and blue on the driveway, as a sandbox for Stephanie. Sold the double-wide to the Bob Christiansons, at a profit, for $14,500.00.

Bought first house at 535 North 6th Street, De Kalb, IL, 15 March 1975, for $33,500.00. Bill Kessler was realtor. Paul Chuzi insurance agent. Halloween 1975, Grandpa and Grandma Montgomery trick-or-treated in full costumes. Got a dog we named Trixie, a Shepherd/Airdale. Took off back porch, added a wide deck - a trade of services for doing house plan drawings for Bill Kessler. Sand-blasted house and stained it barn red. Our great next-door neighbor Joe Hart said the house color was a surprise in that "pre-dominantly white" (house color) neighborhood. Sold house to Ray Callahan for $44,500.00 in 1977.

Changed jobs to Moss Graphics, Inc., Des Plaines, IL, 31 Oct 1976. A 64-mile one way commute. Offices were inside Des Plaines Publishing Company, just off Oakton Street and Lee Street. Moss Graphics moved 2 times in 8 years to Oakton Street and then 2320 River Road, Des Plaines.

May 30, 1977 - Bought 2nd house at 3209 Hunter Path, McHenry Shores, IL, for $45,500.00, to be closer to Des Plaines - a 38 mile commute one way. This house was brand new construction. No carpet on closing/move-in day, Memorial Day weekend, 95 degree temps. No sidewalks, gravel streets, hilly. Scott was pushed off his bike first day by bullies, 2 black eyes. Appointed Village Planning Commission Chairman, 1977-1981. Sold house in 1981 for $55,500.00.

Second daughter, Carolyn Martha Montgomery, born 22 Nov 1977, at Woodstock Memorial Hospital, Woodstock, IL. When Carie came home, Scott asked if "she could be a girl if she wanted to."

Bought 3rd house at 995 Sheffield Drive, Crystal Lake, IL, for $77,900.00, moved early in June 1981. Better house, much better neighborhood, much better schools, etc. Shortened commute to 34 miles. Tri-level house, finished 4th level in 1988. Added above-ground swimming pool in 1987.

Began free lance jobs/graphics business, 27 July 1982, with weekend turnaround job for Seaboard Seed Company for their National Hardware Show booth. Larry Weber was the contact (former Planning Commission co-member from McHenry Shores), then Kathy XXX, Gail Murphy, and Alan Hirsch.

Changed full-time advertising jobs to Louis Zahn Drug Company, 31 Oct 1984. A commute of 44 miles one way. Advertising Director at age 36. Left Zahn Drug Company to devote full time to graphics business / company, early 1987, and remain in same capacity working 60% for Zahn. Zahn was sold to FoxMeyer Drugs in 1990.

Stephanie graduated from South High School 1988, went on to graduate from Eastern Illinois University in 1992.

Bought 4th house at 7116 Braemar Circle, Village of Lakewood, IL, for $255,500.00, moved in early June of 1989. Four fireplaces. Four bedrooms. Had full basement used as my office space, art studio and photo studio for Montgomery & Associates.

Scott graduated from South High School in 1991. Went to Kansas State University for one semester.

Stephanie married February 1992 to Michael O'Connell. Stephanie Graduated from EIU, June 1992.

Carie graduated 8th grade, June 1992. Attended South High School and Marion Catholic High School in Woodstock, IL, and was home schooled.

First grandchild, Alexander Michael O'Connell, born August 12, 1992.

Operated graphic design firm as Montgomery & Associates, full time until January 1997. Took job with Horizon Displays, Inc., De Kalb, Il, on 2 Jan 1997. Left Horizon July 1997. Continually operated Montgomery & Associates part time. Started as General Manager of Kwik Kopy Printing Co., Crystal Lake, IL, July 1997. Left Kwik Kopy June 1998. Started as Communications Consultant with RADICOM/XENCOM, Inc., McHenry, IL, July of 1998. Cellular telephone and internet product direct sales. Left XENCOM, 1 Feb 2001.

Sold Braemar Circle house and moved to DeKalb, IL, May of 1999. Moved into apartment at 216 Maple Street, Sycamore, IL, October 1999. Divorced 1 Sep 2000. Moved to 1104 Townsend Street, Sycamore, IL, July of 2000.

Started work at Trans Pro Transmissions, Cortland, IL, 23 August 2001.

Married Mollie Kay Mathisen Keller, 24 Jun 2006.

Left Trans Pro in February 2008. Started at NIU in the Material Distribution Center (MDC) in January of 2009 as Extra Help. Went permanent in the MDC at NIU in February of 2010. Moved to the Career Services Department in NIU as its Business Manager and Assistant to the Executive Director, Cindy Henderson, on July 1, 2013.

Left NIU on June 30, 2018, and retired.

First G-Grandson born on September 29, 2020, to granddaughter Katherine Montgomery (Joseph) Cubert: Joseph Louis Cubert. First Great-granddaughter born on November 8, 2022, to granddaughter Katherine Montgomery (Joseph) Cubert: Kaelyn Deneen Cubert.

Sources

• First-hand information. Entered by William Montgomery at registration.