Also Serving Naperville for 50 Years

We're celebrating fifty years of community theatre this season and loooking back at some of the other remarkable things that happened in 1966. For instance, did you know that Naperville's long-time mayor, George Pradel, started his career with the police department that year?

Already a family man, George was working in the city and volunteering with the Oak Park Terrace police department at night. To eliminate all of the traveling, his wife, Pat, said "If you love this so much, why don't you apply here in Naperville?" So he did.

Unfortunately, George was a bit too short for the height requirement, but he had an angel on the police board. Member Harold Moser said "If he was tall enough for the Marines, he's tall enough for us" and the veteran was given the job.

George Pradel started in June of 1966 and went on to become the city's beloved Officer Friendly and then Naperville's longest-serving mayor. He has also performed with Summer Place Theatre in 1998's melodram "Love Rides the Rails." George was cast as -- you guessed it! -- the mayor!