Jack Shales, longtime Elgin community fundraiser, dies
The Elgin community is mourning the death of Jack Shales, a longtime leader who believed we are brought in to this world to aid other people.
"You always have time to help other people," Shales said in 2013 as he prepared to celebrate his 60th year of volunteering for the I started with my employees and got them to contribute. Being in construction, I'd hit the other contractors and get them to make contributions," Shales told the Daily Herald in a 2013 interview. "It made it more convenient for everyone to give that way." ">United Way of Elgin.
Shales, who had recently been hospitalized after a heart attack, died Saturday morning.
"He's an icon in our community," Elgin Mayor David Kaptain said. Shales and his wife, Marlene, were devoted to the town.
"I think that all of us can use them as role models," Kaptain said.
Shales' longest-running gig was with the United Way, which began when he was assigned to collect donations from fellow employees at Illinois Hydraulic Construction Co. in 1954.
He never stopped, even while founding the construction company Seagren/Shales in 1983 (it is now Shales McNutt Construction.)
"I started with my employees and got them to contribute. Being in construction, I'd hit the other contractors and get them to make contributions," Shales told the Daily Herald in a 2013 interview.
"It made it more convenient for everyone to give that way."
The United Way made him a lifetime director of the group, and named the "Spirit of Community" award for him in 2004.
In 2013, the city of Elgin gave him its "Extra Mile Hero" award.
Shales was also tasked with getting other people to volunteer, Kaptain said, particularly because of his good sense of humor.
"He liked to find volunteers," Kaptain said.
Shales served on the boards of the Salvation Army, and the Gail Borden Public Library Foundation, and emceed Easter Seals telethons.
"Everybody, when they see me coming, they put their hands in their pockets. They're afraid I'm going to pick their pockets," he joked.
Shales, who served in the Marine Corps, is survived by Marlene, a former Elgin City Council member. The city honored the duo, who were 1949 graduates of Elgin High School, with an Image Award in 2011 for their community service, which that year included sponsoring the Community Thanksgiving Luncheon and posing as the king and queen of the library's Royal Feast to raise money for a teen center.
No funeral arrangements have been announced.