Robert W. Georgantas, Sr. died Tuesday, January, 21, 2014.
Bob served in the U. S. Army Air Force during World War II. He entered the Illinois State Police Academy in March of 1949 and after his training, he was assigned to State Police District 5, Joliet as a trooper and was promoted to Sergeant in 1952. He was then assigned to District 4 in Blue Island as District Commander and promoted to Lieutenant in 1959.
He attended and graduated from the F.B.I. National Academy at Quantico in 1961. He then transferred back to District 5 as Acting District Commander and was promoted to Captain in 1963. He was District 5 Commander until promotion to Major in 1975. Bob was Area I Commander until he retired in 1978.
He then went into Shell gasoline business with his son Bob, Jr. and ran Bob's Shell in Bolingbrook, Joliet and Lockport, retiring in 1995.
Since his retirement from the Shell stations, he lived in his home on the Kankakee River in Wilmington, hosting annual picnics for the Will County Police Chiefs and Illinois State retirees.
Bob was Past-President of the Will County Police Chief's Association, Cook County Council of Police Chiefs and Lockport Boy's Baseball for 20 years in the 1960s and 1970s. He also managed 18 year olds baseball teams for 20 years.
He was a member of Illinois Association Chief's of Police, International Association Chief's of Police, F.B.I. National Academy Association, FOP Trooper's Lodge #41, Will County Sheriff's Merit Commission since 1987 and Chairman of the Commission since 1989, Lockport V.F.W. Post #5788, Lockport American Legion - John Olson Post #18, 50 year member of the Lockport Moose Lodge #1557 and life member of Joliet Rival's Club.
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Local law enforcement legend dies
Georgantas pioneered anti-drug program
By BRIAN STANLEY January 22, 2014
Robert Georgantas, a pioneer of modern law enforcement in Will County during a 30-year-career with the state police, died Tuesday.
JOLIET – Robert Georgantas, a pioneer of modern law enforcement in Will County during a 30-year-career with the state police, died Tuesday. He was 91.
Georgantas grew up on Wheeler Avenue as the oldest of eight children and left high school to work full time, his daughter, Cindy, recalled. After serving in the Pacific during World War II, Georgantas returned to Joliet and married Gloria Fracaro. The couple opened Cindy's Sweet Shop downtown shortly before Georgantas joined the state police in 1949.
While much of his career focused on investigations, Georgantas also pioneered an anti-drug program with entertainer Art Linkletter. He served as a bodyguard when Japanese Emperor Hirohito visited Will County in October 1973 and was given a silver cigarette case from the emperor.
In 1965, Georgantas established the Police Chief's Association of Will County to formalize networking between police departments and served as the organization's first president. He retired with the rank of major in 1978.
"He was a giant in the arena of public safety here," Elwood Chief Fred Hayes said. Georgantas was a regular guest at Hayes' house to visit his late father, Fred, a Romeoville police chief.
"He was always sharp [and] showed young officers how to carry yourself," Hayes said.
Georgantas was appointed to the Will County Merit Commission in 1987 and served for 25 years authorizing hiring, firing and promotion of sheriff's deputies.
"He was well-aware of what it takes to be a policeman when there weren't many members on the commission with a law enforcement background," Sheriff Paul Kaupas said.
Kaupas said Georgantas established college degree requirements for supervising officers during his time as commission chairman.
Georgantas is survived by his two children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 1 at St. Joseph Church in Lockport with a mass to
Bob served in the U. S. Army Air Force during World War II. He entered the Illinois State Police Academy in March of 1949 and after his training, he was assigned to State Police District 5, Joliet as a trooper and was promoted to Sergeant in 1952. He was then assigned to District 4 in Blue Island as District Commander and promoted to Lieutenant in 1959.
He attended and graduated from the F.B.I. National Academy at Quantico in 1961. He then transferred back to District 5 as Acting District Commander and was promoted to Captain in 1963. He was District 5 Commander until promotion to Major in 1975. Bob was Area I Commander until he retired in 1978.
He then went into Shell gasoline business with his son Bob, Jr. and ran Bob's Shell in Bolingbrook, Joliet and Lockport, retiring in 1995.
Since his retirement from the Shell stations, he lived in his home on the Kankakee River in Wilmington, hosting annual picnics for the Will County Police Chiefs and Illinois State retirees.
Bob was Past-President of the Will County Police Chief's Association, Cook County Council of Police Chiefs and Lockport Boy's Baseball for 20 years in the 1960s and 1970s. He also managed 18 year olds baseball teams for 20 years.
He was a member of Illinois Association Chief's of Police, International Association Chief's of Police, F.B.I. National Academy Association, FOP Trooper's Lodge #41, Will County Sheriff's Merit Commission since 1987 and Chairman of the Commission since 1989, Lockport V.F.W. Post #5788, Lockport American Legion - John Olson Post #18, 50 year member of the Lockport Moose Lodge #1557 and life member of Joliet Rival's Club.
********************
Local law enforcement legend dies
Georgantas pioneered anti-drug program
By BRIAN STANLEY January 22, 2014
Robert Georgantas, a pioneer of modern law enforcement in Will County during a 30-year-career with the state police, died Tuesday.
JOLIET – Robert Georgantas, a pioneer of modern law enforcement in Will County during a 30-year-career with the state police, died Tuesday. He was 91.
Georgantas grew up on Wheeler Avenue as the oldest of eight children and left high school to work full time, his daughter, Cindy, recalled. After serving in the Pacific during World War II, Georgantas returned to Joliet and married Gloria Fracaro. The couple opened Cindy's Sweet Shop downtown shortly before Georgantas joined the state police in 1949.
While much of his career focused on investigations, Georgantas also pioneered an anti-drug program with entertainer Art Linkletter. He served as a bodyguard when Japanese Emperor Hirohito visited Will County in October 1973 and was given a silver cigarette case from the emperor.
In 1965, Georgantas established the Police Chief's Association of Will County to formalize networking between police departments and served as the organization's first president. He retired with the rank of major in 1978.
"He was a giant in the arena of public safety here," Elwood Chief Fred Hayes said. Georgantas was a regular guest at Hayes' house to visit his late father, Fred, a Romeoville police chief.
"He was always sharp [and] showed young officers how to carry yourself," Hayes said.
Georgantas was appointed to the Will County Merit Commission in 1987 and served for 25 years authorizing hiring, firing and promotion of sheriff's deputies.
"He was well-aware of what it takes to be a policeman when there weren't many members on the commission with a law enforcement background," Sheriff Paul Kaupas said.
Kaupas said Georgantas established college degree requirements for supervising officers during his time as commission chairman.
Georgantas is survived by his two children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 1 at St. Joseph Church in Lockport with a mass to
Robert W. Georgantas, Sr. died Tuesday, January, 21, 2014.
Bob served in the U. S. Army Air Force during World War II. He entered the Illinois State Police Academy in March of 1949 and after his training, he was assigned to State Police District 5, Joliet as a trooper and was promoted to Sergeant in 1952. He was then assigned to District 4 in Blue Island as District Commander and promoted to Lieutenant in 1959.
He attended and graduated from the F.B.I. National Academy at Quantico in 1961. He then transferred back to District 5 as Acting District Commander and was promoted to Captain in 1963. He was District 5 Commander until promotion to Major in 1975. Bob was Area I Commander until he retired in 1978.
He then went into Shell gasoline business with his son Bob, Jr. and ran Bob's Shell in Bolingbrook, Joliet and Lockport, retiring in 1995.
Since his retirement from the Shell stations, he lived in his home on the Kankakee River in Wilmington, hosting annual picnics for the Will County Police Chiefs and Illinois State retirees.
Bob was Past-President of the Will County Police Chief's Association, Cook County Council of Police Chiefs and Lockport Boy's Baseball for 20 years in the 1960s and 1970s. He also managed 18 year olds baseball teams for 20 years.
He was a member of Illinois Association Chief's of Police, International Association Chief's of Police, F.B.I. National Academy Association, FOP Trooper's Lodge #41, Will County Sheriff's Merit Commission since 1987 and Chairman of the Commission since 1989, Lockport V.F.W. Post #5788, Lockport American Legion - John Olson Post #18, 50 year member of the Lockport Moose Lodge #1557 and life member of Joliet Rival's Club.
********************
Local law enforcement legend dies
Georgantas pioneered anti-drug program
By BRIAN STANLEY January 22, 2014
Robert Georgantas, a pioneer of modern law enforcement in Will County during a 30-year-career with the state police, died Tuesday.
JOLIET – Robert Georgantas, a pioneer of modern law enforcement in Will County during a 30-year-career with the state police, died Tuesday. He was 91.
Georgantas grew up on Wheeler Avenue as the oldest of eight children and left high school to work full time, his daughter, Cindy, recalled. After serving in the Pacific during World War II, Georgantas returned to Joliet and married Gloria Fracaro. The couple opened Cindy's Sweet Shop downtown shortly before Georgantas joined the state police in 1949.
While much of his career focused on investigations, Georgantas also pioneered an anti-drug program with entertainer Art Linkletter. He served as a bodyguard when Japanese Emperor Hirohito visited Will County in October 1973 and was given a silver cigarette case from the emperor.
In 1965, Georgantas established the Police Chief's Association of Will County to formalize networking between police departments and served as the organization's first president. He retired with the rank of major in 1978.
"He was a giant in the arena of public safety here," Elwood Chief Fred Hayes said. Georgantas was a regular guest at Hayes' house to visit his late father, Fred, a Romeoville police chief.
"He was always sharp [and] showed young officers how to carry yourself," Hayes said.
Georgantas was appointed to the Will County Merit Commission in 1987 and served for 25 years authorizing hiring, firing and promotion of sheriff's deputies.
"He was well-aware of what it takes to be a policeman when there weren't many members on the commission with a law enforcement background," Sheriff Paul Kaupas said.
Kaupas said Georgantas established college degree requirements for supervising officers during his time as commission chairman.
Georgantas is survived by his two children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 1 at St. Joseph Church in Lockport with a mass to
Bob served in the U. S. Army Air Force during World War II. He entered the Illinois State Police Academy in March of 1949 and after his training, he was assigned to State Police District 5, Joliet as a trooper and was promoted to Sergeant in 1952. He was then assigned to District 4 in Blue Island as District Commander and promoted to Lieutenant in 1959.
He attended and graduated from the F.B.I. National Academy at Quantico in 1961. He then transferred back to District 5 as Acting District Commander and was promoted to Captain in 1963. He was District 5 Commander until promotion to Major in 1975. Bob was Area I Commander until he retired in 1978.
He then went into Shell gasoline business with his son Bob, Jr. and ran Bob's Shell in Bolingbrook, Joliet and Lockport, retiring in 1995.
Since his retirement from the Shell stations, he lived in his home on the Kankakee River in Wilmington, hosting annual picnics for the Will County Police Chiefs and Illinois State retirees.
Bob was Past-President of the Will County Police Chief's Association, Cook County Council of Police Chiefs and Lockport Boy's Baseball for 20 years in the 1960s and 1970s. He also managed 18 year olds baseball teams for 20 years.
He was a member of Illinois Association Chief's of Police, International Association Chief's of Police, F.B.I. National Academy Association, FOP Trooper's Lodge #41, Will County Sheriff's Merit Commission since 1987 and Chairman of the Commission since 1989, Lockport V.F.W. Post #5788, Lockport American Legion - John Olson Post #18, 50 year member of the Lockport Moose Lodge #1557 and life member of Joliet Rival's Club.
********************
Local law enforcement legend dies
Georgantas pioneered anti-drug program
By BRIAN STANLEY January 22, 2014
Robert Georgantas, a pioneer of modern law enforcement in Will County during a 30-year-career with the state police, died Tuesday.
JOLIET – Robert Georgantas, a pioneer of modern law enforcement in Will County during a 30-year-career with the state police, died Tuesday. He was 91.
Georgantas grew up on Wheeler Avenue as the oldest of eight children and left high school to work full time, his daughter, Cindy, recalled. After serving in the Pacific during World War II, Georgantas returned to Joliet and married Gloria Fracaro. The couple opened Cindy's Sweet Shop downtown shortly before Georgantas joined the state police in 1949.
While much of his career focused on investigations, Georgantas also pioneered an anti-drug program with entertainer Art Linkletter. He served as a bodyguard when Japanese Emperor Hirohito visited Will County in October 1973 and was given a silver cigarette case from the emperor.
In 1965, Georgantas established the Police Chief's Association of Will County to formalize networking between police departments and served as the organization's first president. He retired with the rank of major in 1978.
"He was a giant in the arena of public safety here," Elwood Chief Fred Hayes said. Georgantas was a regular guest at Hayes' house to visit his late father, Fred, a Romeoville police chief.
"He was always sharp [and] showed young officers how to carry yourself," Hayes said.
Georgantas was appointed to the Will County Merit Commission in 1987 and served for 25 years authorizing hiring, firing and promotion of sheriff's deputies.
"He was well-aware of what it takes to be a policeman when there weren't many members on the commission with a law enforcement background," Sheriff Paul Kaupas said.
Kaupas said Georgantas established college degree requirements for supervising officers during his time as commission chairman.
Georgantas is survived by his two children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 1 at St. Joseph Church in Lockport with a mass to
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