Date: March 7, 2007
About: Glen F. Hultz - Class of 1956

Ex-Adams County Circuit Clerk Remembered As A Gentleman

Source: Quincy Herald-Whig
Author: Rodney Hart

Ex-Adams County circuit clerk remembered as 'a gentleman'


Wednesday, March 7, 2007
By Rodney Hart

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Former longtime Adams County Circuit Clerk Glen Hultz died Tuesday afternoon at Blessing Hospital.

Friends and family members said the 69-year-old Hultz, who served as circuit clerk from 1979 to 2004, battled heart problems and diabetes in recent years. Mr. Hultz was appointed to complete the term of the retiring Carl Mast in 1979, was elected to the clerk's position in 1980 and served six full terms.

"From a personal standpoint, he was very much a people person," Adams County Judge Mark Schuering said this morning. "He had a great way of working with the public and he was very sensitive to their needs. He was very service-minded and an outstanding public servant."

Former Adams County State's Attorney Barney Bier said Mr. Hultz was "like a father figure to me." Bier served as state's attorney from 1995 to 2004.

"He was always a gentleman. He told horrendous jokes, but he always made you laugh," Bier said. "I recall taking the office at a young age and he was certainly a father figure to me. He gave me advice on how to deal with the public and the (Adams) County Board that I didn't forget."

Mr. Hultz was active in the Illinois Association of Court Clerks, serving as president in 1995 and 1996. During his time as president, he was a board member with the Office of the Illinois Courts and served as liaison to the Illinois Supreme Court. He chaired a special committee that drafted a "fine and fees manual" used by circuit clerks across Illinois for the past 17 years.

He served on numerous committees and groups throughout the state. Mr. Hultz was president of Quincy University's Mart Heinen Club and a member of Rotary for many years.

Randy Frese succeeded Mr. Hultz and said his predecessor was "an outstanding and true gentleman." Frese said a few months after he took over the job, he called Mr. Hultz with a list of questions.

"He said the best thing to do was come in on a weekend, so he came in on a Saturday morning," Frese said. "He even took me downstairs to find old records and show me the layout."

Deputy Circuit Clerk Lori Geschwandner worked for many years with Mr. Hultz and said she'll always remember his laugh. Geschwandner met her old boss for lunch a few months ago and said Mr. Hultz was enjoying retirement.

"He talked about his grandkids. He enjoyed them very much," Geschwandner said.

During a 2003 interview, Mr. Hultz said keeping up with new technology was one of the biggest challenges of the office. The 14-person circuit clerk's office is in charge of keeping records for the local court system — a task involving about 18,000 cases a year back then, from traffic tickets to murders.

"From a technological standpoint, all of that stuff was really popping over 25 years," Schuering said. "You had to have somebody at the front dealing with the issues. Back then it was a lot more difficult because you had new hardware and software, and you had to make things work together."

When he announced he was retiring, Mr. Hultz told The Herald-Whig he would miss coming to the office each day, but he was ready to step down.

"Each and every day I've always had a goal for myself," he said during the interview. "If I went home that day feeling like I accomplished that goal, then I always looked forward to the next day for something new and another challenge."

Hansen-Spear Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Hultz is survived by his wife, Linda, son Scott, daughter-in-law Nichole and two grandchildren.


Contact Staff Writer Rodney Hart at rhart@whig.com
or (217) 221-3370