William Hackett:
CLASS OF 1953
Central Elementary SchoolClass of 1953
Rochelle, IL
Cornell CollegeClass of 1961
Mt. vernon, IA
Rochelle Township High SchoolClass of 1957
Rochelle, IL
William's Story
Life
I graduated from Central Grade School and Junior High School and then Rochelle Township High School, and in 1961 graduated from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa with a major in both Economics and Business Administration. I worked for Northwest Bancorporation in Owatonna, MN, and then received a direct commission into the US Army Medical Service Corps. After several assignments, ended my Army career in Germany as a commander of a MASH, recognized as the best in 7th Army. Returned to the states and shortly - after other assignments - became a buyer for Sears in Minneapolis. After many varied positions with Sears, and being transferred from Minnesota back to my home state of Illinois, retired in 1993 as National Distribution Manager for Hardlines and Catalog Region Stores. Since I was only 53, wanted something to do, so took classes and then prepared tax returns for several years. I still have a few die hard clients, but trying to get out of the practice since it's been several years since I've taken update classes, and am afair that my memory and my knowledge of current tax law isn't what it once was. I've been married to Joanne, a sister of one of my college classmates, Jim Raddatz, since 1970, and we have a married daughter, Carol (Darin Henneike), and three grandsons - Justin, Jared, and Joshua who current live in Bourbonnais, IL. I've been extremely active in service organizations .... especially Kiwanis, in Masonic bodies, in church, in civic activities, and politically in Wheaton, IL, and before that in St. Louis Park, MN. I've been lucky enough to receive several awards - including the Kiwanis International Hixson Fellowship - for my service and civic efforts. My wife and I love dogs - especially Boston Terriers and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and travel to Wisconsin, especially Eagle River, where Joanne's brother and wife live in the summer, and Door County, which has special memories for us. We continue to look forward to a long retirement, to enjoying new experiences, to meeting new friends, and to connecting with old friends and classmates.
Workplace
My first job after graduation from Cornell College was as a management trainee for Northwest Bancorporation in Owatonna,MN. After a year, I recieved a direct commission into the Medical Service Corps in the US Army, and after training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas was assigned to Germany, where I was an Executive Officer for an Ambulance Company, a Clearing Comapany, a Batallion S-4 (Supply) Officer, and finally a commander of a MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hosp...Expand for more
ital). I then returned to Northwest Bancorporation in Minneapolis, and shortly switched to Sears, Roebuck. After a time in quality control, I was promoted to buyer, and bought home funishings, outdoor leisure products, and men's clothing. I was then transferred to Chicago where I bought men's clothing, tires, and became a senior buyer in both men's clothing and then in home funishings. I was then promoted to marketing and after that became the full time chair of a committee examining catalog and it's connection to Sears. Then I was promoted to National Logistics Manager of the group that provided tools, bath accessories, health care products, and - get this - chickens and bees (plus other products)! My last asignment prior to retiring was as National Distribtion Manager for Hardlines and Catalog Region Stores. When leaving Sears after 28 years with credit for 33 years of service, I took tax classes and prepared taxes for HR Block for about 7 years. Then, except for a few die hard clients, I retired for good!
Military
After receiving a direct commission into the Medical Service Corps and taking training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, I was assigned to the 52nd Medical Battalion headquartered at Murphy Barracks in Ludwigsburg, Germany. While there, I served as an executive officer to an ambulance company, was trasferred to become an executive officer of a clearing company, and then made battalion S-4 (supply officer). When all but two of the officers were relieved for failing an annual AGI-CMMI inspection at the 32nd Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Wurzburg, Germany, I was transferred there to command the unit - doctors were only assigned part time, and otherwise spent their time at fixed hospital insallations. The unit under went three AGI-CMMI inspections during the next year, and after the final one, was declared the best unit of its kind in the 7th Corps of the 7th Army. The secret was - find out where the NCO's best fit, even if it wasn't really where they were "supposed" to be, put them there, and then, "get out of the way" - and also, demand discipline, punish infractions rapidly and quietly (if possible), but also reward excellence - and support the men assigned to the unit to all outside the unit! I might have made the military a career, except when I requested three more years in Germany, I was told that I could have only one, and then would have to accept an assignment back to the states - or elsewhere. It's a good thing that I left the service - I would not have met my wife, Joanne, if I hadn't!
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