George P. Freund "Aren't you going to ask my age?" he inquired after suc ceeding in stopping . the reporter's car before it was backed out of the driveway. The reporter had been amazed with the ac complishments of the man, but neglected to ask the age of the city's former mayor, guessing from his looks that he was about 50. "On Dec. 1, I'll be eighty years old," he said proudly. It's hard to believe. But, in reality, it would take any other man at least twice that many years to accomplish the things George P. Freund has done for the community. The man who served as mayor of McHenry for twelve years, and served another twelve years as an alderman, is still going strong as he nears becoming an octogenarian. Age, of course, is a matter of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. For George Freund, age doesn't matter. He is still a very active member of the McHenry Library board, the McHenry Hospital board, and keeps in touch daily with his implement business, which he now runs with his three sons. "My life has been as a public servant," he said, "but I couldn't have done it without the support of my wife." They say that behind every successful man is a strong woman. In the case of George Freund, Mary has been the strong woman for fifty-four years. Staff photos by Wayne Gaylord Story series by Jeff Bonato The city even literally ex ploded in celebration of the Freunds' fiftieth anniversary, it falling on the day the fireworks building blew up in McCullom Lake. (Note: It has never been proven that the building exploded in honor of George & Mary's fiftieth an niversary.) For longtime residents of the community, the efforts of Mr. Freund are well known. But, for the countless new faces, here is just a short list of a very few ways in which Mr. Freund has aided the community. He served as an alderman for fourteen years, starting in 1934. "I would be a third ward alderman now, but there were precincts back then. I didn't feel qualified to become an alderman because I didn't have the education. But a motor cycle policeman, Phil Ginto, told me that if I ever got stuck and didn't know what to do, that I should let my conscience be my guide. I guess it proved that education isn't everything." He served as mayor of McHenry for twelve years, from 1948-60, when he retired, choosing not to run for reelection. "One of the things while mayor that touched me more than anything else happened at the city park where I was supposed to crown Miss McHenry. I was standing and an elderly lady of about 90 came over, and asked if she could touch my hand. She said i I she lived in Chicago, and she couldn't get that close to her mayor". He has been a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters since 1917, and was finance secretary for thirty years. He joined the hospital board in 1956, and is still an Emeritus member. "They have a rule that you can only serve on the board three terms. When my third term was over, I was named an Emeritus member." LeRoy Olsen, president of the Hospital board, noted that the board still relies on Mr. Freund extensively. He has served on the Library board since Its inception, and helped with the redesigning of the home which the city pur chased to make into a func tional library building. "We bought the Tesch building (the same site where the library now stands), and it was old. We tore out the plaster, petitions, and lowered the basement. We dug out the basement with buckets, and lowered it eighteen inches so we could get the necessary piping and wiring in it. Fred Bienapfl got a carpenters union to construct the shelves, etc," and with the donatiohs from many fine citizens, the library became a reality. He formed the Married Mien's club ' during the depression years, which was an organized softball league. "The club went on for many years. I always felt it was a helluva good thing for the community." If a person can be totally satisfied with his life, it is George Freund. "I've been very fortunate. I've had a pleasant life and I am very happy." Some of the things that are a great source of satisfaction are his fourteen grandchildren and one great grandchild. "I just love children, and I'm proud that I have my three sons working with me. Not many fathers can say that." The Marine Festival days were organized while Mr. Freund was a city official, though he acknowledges that it never would have gotten going SECTION 2 - PAGE 1 - PLAIN UK ALEK - WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 16. 1977 without intense efforts by numerous individuals. ' He also organized a bowling league in 1923, and remained secretary of the league until he retired from the lanes in 1973. His average at retirement: a nifty 134. All this and much, much more from a man with prac- Separate checks, please - All you have to do is ask. Because you're welcome to a variety of wide-awake check ing accounts, in a variety of check books that are bound to please. Interested? Then come in for a full explanation of all we have to offer. We will take care of you individually. Regular Checking Student Checking iCommercial Checking iSenior Citizen Checking THE FIRST 3S14W. ELM, McHENRY, ILL PHONE 315-5400 tically no formal education. It goes to show what a person can do with determination, desire, a will to contribute, and the support of his family and friends. That's George P. Freund-- eighty years old, and proud of it. When McHenry's final chapter is written, the com munity can be proud of hiih also. . Vote On Beef Program Fails Preliminary results of a nationwide referendum in dicate that cattle producers have turned down a National Beef Research and Information program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture' announced recently. The Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation service (ASCS), which ^ con ducted the referendum, reports that 322,175 beef producers registered to vote in the referendum, 231,046 or 72 percent voted and, of those, 130,464, or 56.5 percent voted affirmatively. The Beef Research and In formation act was signed into law in May 1976, but before provisions of the act could become effective, (1) eligible beef producers had to register to vote, (2) at least 50 percenrbf those registered had to vote, and (3) two-thirds needed to vote affirmatively. * • * • Publicity, like fire, can be friend or foe. Extension Comments (By G«org* J. Young. Extension Adviser, McHenry County, University of Illinois >* I nry j / ' • OF McHENRY Hog Carcasses Michael Hallisy of Hebron and Dick Walters of Woodstock exhibited the top barrow and gilt carcasses at the recent contest co-sponsored by the local livestock , and pork producers' associations. Carcass evaluation factors include dressing percentage, length, backfat, loin-eye area, pounds of lean-meat cuts in the hog and color, firmness, and marbling of the meat. There were twenty-two entries in this event and the quality of the hogs was excellent. Tom Weber and Phil Brown, Harvard, and Les Finder, Marengo, agricultural instructors^ assisted the committee in the evaluation done near Harvard. There are detailed carcass results at the office. Soybean Diseases There is quite a bit of Sep- toria brown spot, Cercospora leaf blight anthracnose, pod and stem blight and stem canker in soybean fields this summer. Warm, wet weather during bloom and pod set is ideal for disease. Use of fimgicide spray could increase yields 10 to 15 percent, especially in potentially high- yield fields. Two applications are used, the first at early ,pod set and the second fourteen to twenty-one days later. » Caution Do not apply 2,4-D on corn from tasseling to the dough stage. Research shows that application of the weed killer during this time of the plant's development will inhibit ear shoots and fill. Grasshoppers Hie hot weather may drive grasshoppers from dried-out grassy areas into hay, corn, and soybean fields. Now is the time to check for them. Dairy Rations Dairymen should consider substituting wheat pound-for- pound for up to half the ground shelled corn in milking-cow rations when prices favor wheat. The feed value of a bushel of wheat is about 1.2 times the selling price of a bushel of shelled corn in dairy- grain mixtures at current price levels. This is because wheat contains more crude protein than corn-wheat at 13 percent compared to corn's 9 percent- and wheat weighs four pounds more than corn per bushel. Pseudorabies A vaccine capable of com bating the spread of pseudorabies in swine has recently been approved for use in Illinois. The modified live- virus vaccine, called PR-Vac, is the onlyjfaine pseudorabies vaccine approved for use in the state. The vaccine is available now through a licensed veterinarian for certain infected herds under close supervision of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. In The Garden Blossom-end rot is now showing up on tomatoes. This is a non-infectious disease of tomato fruits. It first shows as a somewhat water-soaked spot at or near the blossom end of the fruit. Later the area enlarges and becomes dry, sunken, and dark brown to black. As much as one-half to two-thirds of the fruit may be affected. Infected fruits should be removed and discarded. The disease is caused by a deficiency of calcium. A deficiency can occur when the roots are under stress and can't take up the calcium. A deficiency and, therefore, the disease is likely to occur during periods of prolonged dry weather and when frequent heavy rains are followed by an extended dry period. Also, for some reason, the disease is more Severe on stalked and heavily pruned plants. Transportation Committee To Examine RTA * *, '* Quick Tip Cheese Scrambled Eggs: Com bine and beat 6 eggs, one-half teaspoon salt, dash of pepper and one-third cup of milk; stir in one- half cup Swiss cheese, cut in small cubes. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large skillet. Pour in egg mixture and cook over low heat, stirring very gently until eggs are just set and cheese is melted. Makes 4 servings. At a recent meeting of thp McHenry County Senior Citizens, a Transportation committee was formed. The group had expressed its con cern regarding the lack olf transportation in the entire area and decided to do something about it. C.W. Cooni will serve as chairman, a Helen Homall as co-chairman. At the first meeting of the new committee, Louise Kreutzer was selected as secretary-correspondent. Other members are Bob Ash- craft and Marvin Browning. AD senior groups in the county are asked to have a representative at future meetings. «.. "Public transportation, when and Where we need it throughout the regin" is the goal of senior citizens. The objective is to get the money applied within the county, with or without the RTA. Many want out of the RTA, however, if the. county cannot get out, the members want what the RTA has promised. % In view of statements mad4 recently by Governor James Thompson, it was decided, biy the committee,, to ask every citizen in McHenry county to write the Governor a short letter expressing their thoughts on the RTA. We Reserve The Right To Limit Quantities On Sale Items WINES AND LIQUOR} AUG. 10 to AUG. 16 4610 W. RTE. 120, McHENRY, ILLINOIS Sale Beer , Not Iced j********** No Sales To Minors ROOT BlER REGULAR OR DIET CANADA DRY GINGER ALE 8-16 0Z. BOTTLES Plus Deposit 4-QUART BOTTLES Plus Deposit J . BAVET BRANDY 86 PROOF SCOTCH WALKER'S VODKA HIRAM WALKER'S PEPPERMINT SCHNAPPS FULL QUART HOLLAND HOUSE SMOOTH N'SPICY BLOODY MARY MIX FULL QUART OUR PRICES ARE McHENRY S LOWEST! MILLER BEER 6-12 0Z. CANS GOLD 12 PK. -12 0Z. CANS 24-12 0Z. BOTTLES v v >£• vy..5 , ^ 'v Plus Dep. iM PAUL MASSON SANGRIA MAGNUM 2 COO FOR SUPER FRANZIA WINE SALE I --VIM ROSE -- GOLD CHABLiS -- PINK CHABUS - CHIANTI -RHINEFEST ^ RUBY CHABLIS IMPORTED ITALIAN 1975 TORRE CHIANTI IN THE WICKER BASKET 7W. MAGNUM lllSK 500 ssJj 79 ' <&«! mam FULL QUART V ' *> -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- . -- mm , •• > • k?v.• - '• VISIT OUR CHEESE SHOP f, a-k• •• n-MBmsr.-jpswfAw•.*_ sjprr * - *•?*; : • * C v < v ; :