Oswego Executive Honored with Aurora University Award

AURORA, Ill. November 1, 2006 - James Garbe of Oswego received Aurora University's Spirit Award at an Oct. 20 dinner meeting of the AU Board of Trustees at the Big Foot Country Club in Fontana, Wis. Ellen Goldberg, AU registrar and president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, presented Garbe's award.

AU President Rebecca L. Sherrick said, "Jim Garbe has been a loyal supporter of Aurora University for many years. He was instrumental in helping us establish the Aurora Foundation Center for Community Enrichment, which included the renovation of Perry Theatre."

The Spirit Award, a brass lantern, was created in 1985 by the AU Alumni Association to recognize persons for unselfish contributions and steadfast loyalty to the Alumni Association and all its constituents. The lantern symbolizes the recipient's love of and devotion to the ideals and people of the institution and the nurturing of the Spartan
spirit.

Garbe is corporate secretary for Garbe Iron Works, Inc. of Aurora and a board member of the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, formerly the Aurora Foundation.

He joined Garbe Iron Works, his family's business, in 1950 and served in all executive positions before retiring as chairman of the board in 2000.

Garbe attended Aurora College as a student and served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1980 to 2003 before being named an emeritus board
member. He also chaired the Aurora College Citizens Advisory Board for a year.

During his tenure at Garbe Iron Works, he served on many local boards of directors. They included the Aurora Exchange Club (past president), Mercy Center Hospital Advisor Board (past chair), Aurora Foundation (past president), Valley Industrial Association and Aurora Chamber of Commerce (past president).

Garbe and his wife, Marty, reside in Oswego.

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