Jack Roeser
Encyclopedia
Jack Roeser is an engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, businessman and more recently a civic leader and candidate for elected office.
Roeser is Chairman and founder of Otto Engineering Inc. in Carpentersville, Illinois
, which manufactures electronic control and communication switches for aerospace, medical and industrial uses since 1961. In 2006, Otto had over 500 employees and annual sales of over $79 million. He has received over 50 patents in Electrical, Mechanical, Machinery and Marine products.
Roeser enlisted in the Army in 1942 and served during World War II
as a Corporal in the 1689th Engineer Battalion Combat Engineers in the Pacific Theater. He served in combat with distinction fighting the Japanese in the Philippines
, most notably in the Battle of Leyte
. He was one of the first U.S. Soldiers to set foot on Japan after their surrender to the Allies in 1945.
In 1948 he received his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois graduating with Pi Tau Sigma
honors. In 1996 Roeser was chosen as an Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Illinois.
After graduating from the University of Illinois and before founding Otto Engineering he worked at the Hawthorne Works
and started a three other successful businesses which are now owned by other corporations.
Roeser is a competitive sailor. Of the many trophies his boat The Jeannine has won the most prestigious is the Chicago-Mackinac Cup awarded in 1988 for winning the Chicago Yacht Club
's 90th Chicago to Mackinac Boat Race
.
Roeser lives in Barrington, Illinois
, with his wife, Jeannine.
He is the publisher of Champion News, an internet news service which also has a Chicago talk radio
program broadcasted on WIND (AM)
560 AM.
He challenged incumbent Governor Jim Edgar
in the Republican
primary in 1994 and lost the election, garnering only 25% of the vote. He also served by appointment on Governor Edgar's Education Transition Team and Lamar Alexander
's Education 2000 in Illinois.
Military Service
Education
complaint by a Washington, DC based group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
, alleged that Mr. Roeser illegally funded a series of attack ads against Barack Obama
who was running for U.S. Senate against Alan Keyes
. Roeser, who pledged to raise $1 million for Keyes' campaign, contributed $40,000 to Empower Illinois and a related group and also met with Keyes to discuss his campaign. According to a settlement issued by the FEC, the Empower Illinois Media Fund violated campaign rules by raising money to defeat Obama without registering with the FEC as a political committee or complying with federal contribution limits and reporting requirements. Empower Illinois agreed to pay a $3,000 penalty and retroactively report its expenses and contributors. But the FEC said Roeser himself wasn’t complicit in the groups' violations.
In December 2009, a radio ad attacking Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk
, Kirk's Republican primary opponent Andy Martin
quoted Roeser as saying there is a "solid rumor that Kirk is a homosexual." In response to the rumor-mongering ad, the "Illinois Republican Party stated that, "Mr. Martin will no longer be recognized as a legitimate Republican candidate by the Illinois Republican Party."
Government Contracts
Roeser has long crusaded against taxes and government spending, yet his company, Otto Engineering has been awarded 223 government defense contracts since the year 2000. These contracts have netted Otto Engineering a total of $3,955,227 acccording to Governmentcontractswon.com.
Roeser is Chairman and founder of Otto Engineering Inc. in Carpentersville, Illinois
Carpentersville, Illinois
Carpentersville is a village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The population was 30,586 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Carpentersville is located at ....
, which manufactures electronic control and communication switches for aerospace, medical and industrial uses since 1961. In 2006, Otto had over 500 employees and annual sales of over $79 million. He has received over 50 patents in Electrical, Mechanical, Machinery and Marine products.
Roeser enlisted in the Army in 1942 and served during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a Corporal in the 1689th Engineer Battalion Combat Engineers in the Pacific Theater. He served in combat with distinction fighting the Japanese in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, most notably in the Battle of Leyte
Battle of Leyte
The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of the island of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Filipino guerrilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by...
. He was one of the first U.S. Soldiers to set foot on Japan after their surrender to the Allies in 1945.
In 1948 he received his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois graduating with Pi Tau Sigma
Pi Tau Sigma
Pi Tau Sigma is an International Mechanical Engineering Honor Society. Pi Tau Sigma's core values are:*Integrity ,*Service , and...
honors. In 1996 Roeser was chosen as an Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Illinois.
After graduating from the University of Illinois and before founding Otto Engineering he worked at the Hawthorne Works
Hawthorne Works
The Hawthorne Works, in Cicero, Illinois, was a large factory complex built by Western Electric starting in 1905 and operating until 1983. It had 45,000 employees at the height of its operations. Besides telephone equipment, the factory produced a wide variety of consumer products, including...
and started a three other successful businesses which are now owned by other corporations.
Roeser is a competitive sailor. Of the many trophies his boat The Jeannine has won the most prestigious is the Chicago-Mackinac Cup awarded in 1988 for winning the Chicago Yacht Club
Chicago Yacht Club
The Chicago Yacht Club is located in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Yacht Club is best known for organizing the Chicago to Mackinac Race each July. It also hosts dozens of other races and regattas throughout the season.- History :...
's 90th Chicago to Mackinac Boat Race
Chicago to Mackinac Boat Race
The Chicago to Mackinac Sailboat Race is run by the Chicago Yacht Club. It is one of the longest fresh-water races in the world, with hundreds of boats entering the race each year. It starts off the mouth of the Chicago River in Chicago, crosses Lake Michigan, barely enters Lake Huron, and finishes...
.
Roeser lives in Barrington, Illinois
Barrington, Illinois
Barrington is a suburban village in Cook County, Illinois and Lake County, Illinois. The population was 10,327 at the 2010 census. Located approximately northwest of Chicago, the area features wetlands, forest preserves, parks and horse trails in a country-suburban setting...
, with his wife, Jeannine.
Civic and Political activities
He is the Founder and President of the Family Taxpayers Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization . The foundation claims as its primary focus the promotion of school choice as a catalyst for improvement in the public school system and as a vehicle for choices in education that will benefit students and empower parents.He is the publisher of Champion News, an internet news service which also has a Chicago talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
program broadcasted on WIND (AM)
WIND (AM)
WIND "AM 560" is a radio station based in Chicago, Illinois, broadcasting its talk radio format on 560 kHz.Its current owner is Salem Media, a company specializing primarily in Christian radio...
560 AM.
He challenged incumbent Governor Jim Edgar
Jim Edgar
James Edgar is an American politician who was the 38th Governor of Illinois from 1991 to 1999 and Illinois Secretary of State from 1981 to 1991. As a moderate Republican in a largely blue-leaning state, Edgar was a popular and successful governor, leaving office with high approval ratings...
in the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
primary in 1994 and lost the election, garnering only 25% of the vote. He also served by appointment on Governor Edgar's Education Transition Team and Lamar Alexander
Lamar Alexander
Andrew Lamar Alexander is the senior United States Senator from Tennessee and Conference Chair of the Republican Party. He was previously the 45th Governor of Tennessee from 1979 to 1987, United States Secretary of Education from 1991 to 1993 under President George H. W...
's Education 2000 in Illinois.
Awards
Business- High Tech Entrepreneur of the Year, 1991
Military Service
- Bronze De Fleury MedalDe Fleury MedalThe De Fleury Medal, an award of the US Army Engineer Association, was named in honor of François de Fleury, a French Engineer in the Continental Army....
, May 13 2008
Education
- Elgin Community College Friend of Education Award
- "Miracle on 41st Street" Award by St. Elizabeth School
Controversy
In 2004, a Federal Election CommissionFederal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
complaint by a Washington, DC based group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is a nonprofit 501 organization that describes itself as "dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials – regardless of party affiliation – who sacrifice the common good to...
, alleged that Mr. Roeser illegally funded a series of attack ads against Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
who was running for U.S. Senate against Alan Keyes
Alan Keyes
Alan Lee Keyes is an American conservative political activist, author, former diplomat, and perennial candidate for public office. A doctoral graduate of Harvard University, Keyes began his diplomatic career in the U.S...
. Roeser, who pledged to raise $1 million for Keyes' campaign, contributed $40,000 to Empower Illinois and a related group and also met with Keyes to discuss his campaign. According to a settlement issued by the FEC, the Empower Illinois Media Fund violated campaign rules by raising money to defeat Obama without registering with the FEC as a political committee or complying with federal contribution limits and reporting requirements. Empower Illinois agreed to pay a $3,000 penalty and retroactively report its expenses and contributors. But the FEC said Roeser himself wasn’t complicit in the groups' violations.
In December 2009, a radio ad attacking Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk
Mark Kirk
Mark Steven Kirk is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, Kirk was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Illinois's 10th congressional district....
, Kirk's Republican primary opponent Andy Martin
Andy Martin (U.S. politician)
Anthony Robert Martin-Trigona, usually known as Andy Martin is an American perennial candidate for political office and recurrent litigant....
quoted Roeser as saying there is a "solid rumor that Kirk is a homosexual." In response to the rumor-mongering ad, the "Illinois Republican Party stated that, "Mr. Martin will no longer be recognized as a legitimate Republican candidate by the Illinois Republican Party."
Government Contracts
Roeser has long crusaded against taxes and government spending, yet his company, Otto Engineering has been awarded 223 government defense contracts since the year 2000. These contracts have netted Otto Engineering a total of $3,955,227 acccording to Governmentcontractswon.com.
External links
- Otto Engineering website
- Family Taxpayers Foundation website
- Champion News, an internet news site published by Jack Roeser
- Champion News Talk Radio archives
- http://www.governmentcontractswon.com/department/defense/otto_engineering_inc_005434170.asp?yr=09