Face Time with Richard Herra

Elburn resident Richard Herra, 45, was at the Elburn Chow Down event, performing martial arts demonstrations with Midtown Martial Arts, when he answered nine questions from the Kane County Chronicle's Al Lagattolla.

Where did you grow up? In Elburn.

Do you have pets? A dog and a cat.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Fireman.

What did you become? Fireman. And I love doing martial arts – tae kwon do and modern arnis.

Which fire department do you work for? I work for the City of Naperville Fire Department, and I did work for 25 years as a volunteer with Elburn.

Is there a book you would recommend? "It's Your Ship." It's a very interesting, management-style book.

What is your favorite restaurant? Rex Italian Foods in Norridge.

What is an interesting factoid about yourself? People are surprised that a guy my size can do the splits.

Would you recommend martial arts? I would. It's so much more than just defending yourself. There's a lot more benefits. A lot of it is focus – you set your mind to doing something, and you can pull through it.