St. Charles resident John Hoscheit receives Charlemagne Award

ST. CHARLES – City resident John Hoscheit – who in the last year received statewide recognition and had a forest preserve named after him – received another honor Friday, this time from the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce.

The organization bestowed him with a lifetime achievement award during its 94th annual Charlemagne Awards Dinner at the Q Center.

Hoscheit, who moved to St. Charles as an eighth-grader, said he was lucky both to grow up and to raise his family there with his wife of 30 years.

“We’ve taken more from the community than we’ve given back,” he said.

The Charlemagne Award honors individuals with a history of service to the community.

Hoscheit is its 58th recipient since its creation in the 1960s, according to a list of past winners.

He noted he was looking at the list earlier.

“To be recognized in that group is just unbelievable,” he said.

Hoscheit, a Kane County Board member since 1996, also has the distinction of being the county's longest-serving president of the Kane County Forest Preserve Commission. His 12-year tenure ended in December 2014.

His accomplishments include acquiring and developing more than 1,400 acres, including River Bend Community Park and Creek Bend Nature Center, both of which are at forest preserves in St. Charles Township.

In 2015, the forest preserve commission renamed the Little Woods Forest Preserve to Hoscheit Woods Forest Preserve, and the Illinois Association of Park Districts awarded him its highest honor.

The chamber also presented other awards Friday:

• Civic Image Award – City of St. Charles, Downtown St. Charles Partnership, Kane County Forest Preserve District, Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau, RowAmerica, St. Charles School District 303 and St. Charles Park District.

• Community Image Award – Abby’s Breakfast and Lunch, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Carriage Oaks, Giant Fox Valley, Isacco Kitchen, My Recess Therapy, Rocket Fizz, St. Charles T-Mobile and The Finery and Blacksmith Bar.

• Community Development Award – Brighton Gardens of St. Charles, Buona, Dunkin’ Donuts, PNC Bank, Prairie Pointe, Ryland Homes at Remington Glen, Shakou, Standard Wash, Strohschein Law Group, Timberbuilt Rooms and XSport Fitness.