Ed Habecker, Jr.

Ed Habecker served as Mayor of Washington from 1973-1977.  He followed in his father's footsteps at the Washington Savings & Loan, taking over the business in the 1960s and remodeling it into the memorable Colonial facade on the square (including the clock!) many of us grew up with.

In the late 1960s, Habecker saw a stagnating town in Washington.  That was when he first decided to run for public office and was elected as an alderman, a position he held until 1973, when he was elected Mayor.  During Habecker's tenure as mayor, the city had its wonderful Sesquicentennial celebration, one of the absolute highlights of its history.  In late 1976,  Habecker decided not to run for re-election in 1977.  He remarked that many of his past concerns in 1968 (which initially led him to public office) had been alleviated.  The community's apathy disappeared, and a sense of pride returned.

Habecker continued at the Savings & Loan until his retirement in 1985.  He spent time on the Tazewell County Board and the City of Washington Planning Commission.  He passed away in 1992 and is buried in Glendale Cemetery.

In 1999, Mayor Don Gronewold proclaimed August 11 "Ed Habecker Jr. Day."  The proclamation urged everyone in the city to "observe this day in remembrance of a person with great integrity and character, and one who did everything he could to make Washington a better place to live and make Washington what it is today."  Ed's wife, Mary, presented the city with a flag flown over the United States Capital; according to Gronewold, the flag will be flown on the square every August 11 after that.