Meet TLC Board Member Terry Willcockson

How do you spend your days?

Retirement has been an interesting motivational experiment, following decades of intense daily work and family demands.  Zen time is spent with books, movies, music and theatre, along with nurturing my backyard bird buddies–what we call Terry’s Aviary.

What are your ties to McHenry County?

I grew up in rural Belvidere, went to school in southern Illinois, lived in Chicago and Minneapolis, and found my “forever home” when we moved to Woodstock 32 years ago.  Almost three decades of employment with the City of Woodstock connected me with TLC as well as with community leaders throughout McHenry County.  Years spent in public service offered extensive insights into the complexities of preservation versus growth.

Why did you decide to join the TLC board?

Being asked to work with Lisa and Ders Anderson, TLC Board member, and the rest of the TLC Board has offered me a wonderfully positive focus for sharing any new creative ideas and abilities that are felt useful.  My grandfather owned one of the largest nurseries in the area when I was growing up, and my dad was regional sales manager for PAG seed corn, so there’s a family tradition of respecting the land and its critical importance to our quality of life.

Anything else you’d like to add? 

I was married for 31 years and raised two fabulous kids here; Katie is a videographer in LA and Nathan lives with his dad–an accomplished mapmaker and historic illustrator–in central Missouri.  My peripatetic partner Stu Gaines divides his time (somewhat successfully) between our life in Woodstock, business ownership in Rockford, and board chair positions in Florida. To keep things interesting, I’ve just launched my own personal venture: Terry Willcockson, Writer LLC.  Onward!