Dan Gibbons (left) offers his congratulations to Jack Island of Silverado Grill for his induction into the Elmhurst Civic Hall of Fame. Island was honored at the ECCI Awards Gala and 100th Birthday Bash.
Elmhurst restaurateur and long-time Chamber partner Jack Island was honored as the 2017 inductee into the exclusive Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry Civic Hall of Fame.
Island became the Hall of Fame’s 26th member at the induction ceremony at the Chamber’s 99th Annual Awards Gala and 100th Birthday Bash held at The Drake Oak Brook Hotel in Oak Brook on Friday, Jan. 26.
A Chamber member since 1986, Island is the Owner of The Silverado Grill at 447 Spring Road at the north end of the Spring Road Business District.
“Jack Island is one of those regular down-to-earth guys who never hesitates to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty for the good of others,” said John R. Quigley, ECCI President and CEO.
The Silverado Grill is the host venue for the annual Pig Roast held during Chamber of Commerce month in September, serves chili at the City of Elmhurst Department of Public Works’ Annual Holiday Luncheon in December and previously partnered with the Chamber to stage Elmfest’s Entertainment Center and an annual Steak Fry.
Island has been an active member of the Spring Road Business Association for more than 30 years, including organization the Thursday night summer concert series held at the Gazebo on Elmhurst Park District property adjacent to the Illinois Prairie Path.
Not-for-profit organizations regularly are welcomed to stage their fundraising events at The Silverado Grill and Island supports charitable groups such as the Elmhurst Children’s Assistance Foundation (ECAF), Great Lakes Lab Rescue and others.
In partnership with Community Bank of Elmhurst, Island has sponsored Silverado Jr., where fifth grade students at Elmhurst’s Lincoln Elementary School use their match and language art skills in a real-world experience while learning to operate a business.
Prior to Island opening The Silverado Grill (with then-partner Dave Walradt), there were a string of restaurants opening and closing at that location.
The Civic Hall of Fame, which was established in 1992, recognizes women and men who make major contributions to the Elmhurst community. The late Joe Newton, legendary boys’ cross country coach at York Community High School who passed away earlier this month, was the inaugural Hall of Fame inductee.
Current members of Civic Hall of Fame
Preceding Island as Hall of Fame inductees were: Eleanor King Hookam (1993), Elmhurst Art Museum; Dr. Ivan E. Frick (1994), Elmhurst College; Joseph Wagner (1995), York Furrier; Jean Haselhorst (1996), Elmhurst Park District; Robert M. Magnuson (1997), Elmhurst Memorial Hospital; Virginia J. Harmon (1998), Unique Travel Services; Illinois House of Representative Lee A. Daniels (R-46th District) (1999); A.J. “Toche” Terrones (2000), Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry; William C. “Bill” Gooch Jr. (2001), Community Bank of Elmhurst; Willis Johnson (2002), York Theatre; Fred Messerschmidt (2003), Elmhurst Federal Savings & Loan; Jim Van Ewyk (2004), Pfund and Clint Florists; Jacquelyn Haddad (2005), Elmhurst Junior Women’s Club; Thomas O. Myers Jr. (2006), Thomas O. Myers Real Estate; Abner Ganet (2007), Leonard’s Men’s Store and Mayor of Elmhurst; Jan Pauli (2008), Pauli’s Marathon; Bob Schiller (2009), Schiller Real Estate; Thomas D. Marcucci, four-term Mayor of Elmhurst (2010); Rich Grodsky, Elmhurst Park District (2011); Pete Cruger, Elmhurst Independent (2012); Doug Beach, Elmhurst College Jazz Band Director (2013); Betsy Hanisch, Elmhurst businesswomen, civic leader and community volunteer (2014); Ralph Pechanio (2015), retired banker, civic leader and community volunteer; and Darrell Whistler, retired businessman, civic leader and community volunteer who passed away last June.
