Itasca appoints Hower to vacant trustee spot

After more than 15 years of coaching school sports teams, sitting on school and church committees, and volunteering in the community, Itasca resident Marty Hower will begin serving the village in a different capacity.

The Itasca village board voted this week to appoint Hower to an open trustee seat that became vacant last month, after longtime trustee Ron Putzell died unexpectedly in his home.

Village President Claudia "Gigi" Gruber will swear in Hower on Tuesday for a term that expires in 2011. Of the eight candidates who applied for the post, Gruber said she was impressed not only by Hower's community service record and professional experience, but by his sincerity.

"You can tell right away that he is so heartfelt," Gruber said. "The village deserves the best person and I truly believe Marty is the best person. I've heard nothing but praise for Marty and that makes me extremely confident."

Hower said he applied for the post because it gives him a new format to serve the village now that his three sons are getting older and his coaching duties for their sports will decrease.

"I'm getting to the point where there's a change coming and I could put my time to different uses," Hower said. "And when this opportunity came up, it seemed like a good fit."

When he is not coaching, Hower works as the chief engineer for the engine group at Navistar, Inc., in Melrose Park. His group designs and manufactures diesel engines for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school buses, vans and military vehicles.

Hower said he enjoys living in Itasca and values its small-town character, which he hopes to help maintain as a board member. The current board, he says, has Itasca on the right path and he hopes to use his talent and input to maintain the trend.

"I want to be part of something that works and make sure I bring in the perspective that other people have of the community being a nice, small-town atmosphere in the middle of the Northwest suburbs," Hower said.

FYI

Who: New Itasca village Trustee Marty Hower

Itasca resident: Since August 1996

Career: Chief engineer with Navistar, Inc., formerly International Harvester, in Melrose Park; employed with the company for more than 28 years.

Education: Bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana; Master of business administration from the University of Chicago

Family: Wife, Sharon, and sons Joe, 18, Tim, 15, and John, 13

Church: St. Peter the Apostle in Itasca.

Community: Participated on a committee to reestablish the St. Peter Parish Council, the parish golf outing committee and a technology committee at the school to establish the early computer infrastructure and policies; monthly volunteer at DuPage Public Action to Deliver Shelter; basketball coach at St. Peter School for more than six years; president of the Itasca Dolphins Parents Club for two years; former Itasca Winterfest volunteer; served on St. Peter the Apostle School Board for six years