HUNTLEY – A criminal past haunts the vice president of the executive board of the Huntley High School Athletic Boosters Club.

George Lycos, 51, is a convicted felon who stole more than $77,000 while he was the head of a youth baseball league in Elk Grove Village in 2002.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison and served two years, eight months.

“I’m open about it. I’m not proud of it,” Lycos said.

For people who feel his position on the Boosters Club is an issue, including those who contacted the Northwest Herald, “I can’t blame them a bit,” he said.

Huntley High School Principal Dave Johnson confirmed that Lycos’ past is no secret.

“The Boosters Club officers are well aware of it,” Johnson said. “He has never been secretive about it.”

Johnson said the Boosters Club is Lycos’ “mission, his passion.”

“I have known George for a number of years,” Johnson said. “He’s been a great leader, and one of the hardest workers. He’s an integral part of the organization. He’s really stepped up, working behind the scenes He’s been a great supporter and a frequent face of the organization.”

The conviction is part of Lycos’ past, not his present, Johnson said.

“George has paid his debt to society and moved on with his life,” he said. “One would never guess that was part of his past.”

Lycos said he’s grateful for his acceptance by the Boosters when he started volunteering in 2005. “The community embraced me,” he said.

“I didn’t think I had a right anymore to be part of anything,” Lycos said. “When you go through something like this, you get a life sentence.”

Still, when Lycos’ conviction was brought up in the community, he was ready to quit.

“I offered a few times to walk away,” Lycos said, noting that from time to time someone would bring up his past. “The Boosters knew if it became an issue, I would leave.

“I’ve offered my resignation, but they refuse to take it. The reason I stay around is there’s work to be done.”

Lycos, of Algonquin, said he will leave the Boosters after his youngest child graduates from Huntley High this spring.

Until then, Lycos spends 15 to 20 hours a week doing volunteer work at the high school. He spent his summer two years ago refurbishing the concessions stand.

Huntley High Athletic Director Bruce Blummer said Lycos has been “a good Booster member.”

“He did so much work around here. He provided a lot of manpower,” Blummer said.

He said Lycos got the concessions stand ready for games and put up the flags for football games.

“He did a lot of fixing up things,” Blummer said. “He’ll be a hard man to replace.”

Lycos said he is looking forward to moving on.

“I was wrong. I just want to go away now, finish my three months and live my life – although that’s impossible,” he said. “I paid for my crime.”