Helped Raise $2 Million for Lane Tech: John H. Schwan Wins Major General John A. Logan Patriot Award
John H. Schwan is the 2017 recipient of the Major General John A. Logan Patriot Award for his leadership, patriotism and selfless devotion to serving veterans and active duty military through Operation Support Our Troops America (OSOTA).
The OSOTA foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of soldiers currently serving and aiding returning veterans in finding employment and other services.
Schwan is active in the Sheridan First Cavalry Chapter, and serves as a board member for Leave No Veteran Behind as well as for the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. He is also the chairman of the Armed Forces Council at the Union League Club of Chicago.
A 1961 graduate of Lane Tech College Prep High School, Schwan is a Vietnam-era veteran, having served 1966-1971 and served in the war zone during parts of 1967 and 1968. He attended Officers Candidate School at Fort Benning with active duty in the First Air Cavalry Division.
Schwan is a service-related disabled veteran. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Air Medal, two Bronze Stars with V for Valor device and a Purple Heart.
Schwan has been an entrepreneur for more than 40 years and is currently the CEO of CTI Industries in Barrington, IL.
For more than a decade, Schwan headed the Lane Tech Century Foundation's charity efforts which generated more than $2 million for restoration of the Lane Tech campus at 2501 W. Addison St. on Chicago's North Side.
"The Lane Tech Century Foundation was established in March of 2004 by Lane Alumni as part of the school's Centennial Celebration to raise money to restore the school's 83-year-old building and campus," noted Schwan, former chairman of the Lane Tech Century Foundation.
The foundation raised funds to support the $50-million renovation of Lane Tech, the first major construction project at the high school in more than 60 years. Work included replacing the entire roof of the historic H-shaped school building, brick tuck pointing and new windows.
Through donations and grants, the Century Foundation's major accomplishments include the restoration Lane Tech's 25,000-square-foot Memorial Garden and two historic fountain statues. The cast-stone statues were designed and erected in 1935 by Charles Umlauf, a renowned WPA artist.
The foundation also supported the $250,000 Hewitt College and Career Center (HCCC) which replaced an old, unused print shop. The center is equipped with a state-of-the-art computer lab, projector, screen and Promethean Board, classroom, small library and a Board Room.
The Century Foundation also supported the "Fields of Dreams" committee proposal that resulted in a $200,000 National Football League grant to install field turf in Lane Stadium.