The McHenry County Retired Teachers Association was established at 2:30 P.M. on April 26, 1960, at Clarence Olson School, Woodstock.  In addition to two persons from IRTA and two from the Lake County RTA, McHenry County retired teachers present were Vida Austin, Helen Brewer, Mary Gannon, Frances Garland, Margaret Gillies, Mary Gillies, Catherine Renich, and Cora White.

MCRTA is an affiliate of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, founded in 1955; and the National Retired Teachers Association, founded in 1947 and the parent of the American Association of Retired Persons.  MCRTA works closely with IRTA to enhance the welfare of all retired teachers in the State of Illinois.

Over the years, our MCRTA leadership has been in the hands of loyal, dedicated retired teachers.  Those who have served as presidents for our organization are listed below.  The Association appreciates their outstanding guidance.

1960          * Frances Garland, Woodstock
1961-62     *Suzanne Reed, Elected President and *Katherine Renich, "Presiding President", Woodstock
1963-64     *Iola Shepard, Harvard
1965-66     *Frances Brand, Crystal Lake
1967-70     *Julia Feffer, Crystal Lake
1971-72     *Jennette Burbank, Woodstock
1973-76       Lucille Thurow, Huntley
1977-78     *Leila Coons, Woodstock
1979          *John Richards, Woodstock
1980-81     *Olive Nolan, Woodstock
1982-83     *Carrie Hage, Harvard
1984-87     *Herb Mroch, Harvard
1988-89     *Vernon Hajeck, Woodstock
1989            Eleanor Wilkens, Woodstock
1990-93    * DuWayne Sheldon, Crystal Lake
1994-97       Ken Swanson, Ringwood
1998           *Bill Courtright, Harvard
1998-01       Steve Polep, Oakwood Hills
2002-05       Marti Swanson, Ringwood
2006-07       Al Boeldt, McHenry
2008-            Mike DeWolfe, Johnsburg

McHenry County
Retired Teacher of the Year

    
In 1988, a gubernatorial proclamation asked that we honor outstanding retired teachers.  Each unit submits the names of local honorees to the IRTA.  Those honored by McHenry County Unit 13 include the following (* = deceased):

     1988          Vera Perry* -  Woodstock
     1989          Carrie Hage* - Harvard
     1990          Verda Dierzen* -  Woodstock
     1992          Eleanor Wilkens - Woodstock
     1993          DuWayne Sheldon* - Crystal Lake
     1994          Edith Newcomer* - Crystal Lake
     1995          Marie Husmann - McHenry
     1996          Edith Brandt - Crystal Lake
     1997          Ken Swanson - Ringwood
     1998          Marti Swanson - Ringwood
     1999          Betty Anderson - Huntley
     2000          Don Seaton - McHenry
     2001          Steve Polep - Cary
     2002          Beulah Allyaud - Woodstock
     2003          Mary Stompanato - Woodstock
     2004          Herb Rangl - Marengo
     2005           Venus Nienow - Woodstock
     2006          Velma Dysart - Crystal Lake
     2007          Greg Johnson - McHenry
     2008          Henry Kenyon - McHenry