Founder

Frank Schier

BIOGRAPHY: Profession: Editor and Publisher of The Rock River Times weekly newspaper since 1992.

EDUCATION: Political Science and International Relations associate’s degree from Rock Valley College, 1972. Bachelor of Arts in English Degree from Rockford College, 1988. Attended American University, School of International Service, 1974-76. Attended graduate school in American Literature and Creative Writing, Northern Illinois University, 1988-1990.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS: Rockford Writers’ Theater Co-founder and board member of Rockford Writers’ Theater 1982-1988; Rockford Area Music Industry awards (RAMIs) co-founder and board member, 1990-2000 to present; Rockford River District Association co-founder, board member and Marketing Committee chairman, 1998-2002; Angela Rushford Children’s College, board member, 2002 to 2007; Editor of FHCL’s Notatu Dictum newsletter, 2006 to 2007; Illinois Renewable Energy Association board member, 2002 to present; Illinois Press Association member, 2003 to present; Association of Free Community Papers member, 2008 to present; Winnebago County Green Business Awards co-founder and Steering Committee chairman, 2008 to present; Reiki Energy International board member, 2010 to present; Native American Awareness Committee board member, 2010 to present; Rock River Trail founder and chairman, 2010 to present.

HONORS: Rockford River District Association’s Heart of Rockford Award for Outstanding Individual Leadership, 1998. Impact Voters of America Citizen Achievement Award for Excellence in Leadership, 1999. The Rockford Institute’s Good and Faithful Servant Award, 2001. The Rockford Area Music Industry awards (RAMIs) Community Service Award, 2003. Rockford Park District Community Service Award, 2004. Presented Rockford Mayoral Proclamation to Cheap Trick at the “Sgt. Pepper’s at 40 Concert” backstage at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl, Aug. 10, 2007. Presented honorary State of Illinois Ninety-Fifth General Assembly House of Representatives Bill No. 835 to Dr. Peter J. Stanlis (Edmund Burke and Robert Frost scholar) at Chicago’s Caxton Club, April 16, 2008. Nominee for the Rockford Park District, Rockford Park District Foundation and the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District’s Atwood Award, 2008; winner of the Rockford Park District, Rockford Park District Foundation and the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District’s Atwood Award, 2009. Inducted into the National, Illinois and Chicago Environmental Halls of Fame, 2010.

MEDIA APPEARANCES: Host of The Bottom Line talk show on Cablevision, Channel 17, 1998-2003. Advertisements and stories from The Rock River Times featured on The David Letterman Show, AP Wire, CBS Evening News and The Today Show, 1995-2003. Interviewed on FOX News Network, 2003.

PUBLICATIONS AND HOBBIES: Numerous publications of poetry, prose and journalism available on request. Published book of poetry, Splitting Hairs, 1982. Black Belt in Shotokan Karate, 1986. Reiki Master Degree, 2010. Canoeing. Boating. Personal library of more than 3,000 books.