Archived Articles
Written by Dr. William Carroll
Harold and Margaret Moser
By William J. Carroll
April 2005
A guardian angel is traditionally defined as a celestial being
sent by God to be our guide. In serving as Benedictine University's
president for almost ten years, I have learned that "guardian
angels" come in many shapes and guises and are often ordinary
people who do extraordinary things for others (obviously, I never
rule out the celestial presence). In preparing this column, I
thought it most appropriate to use the space allotted to me to
celebrate some guardian angels. Their lives have impacted us all
in the Naperville Community and recently, have greatly impacted
the future of Benedictine University.
Harold and Margaret Moser are the angels to which I refer. The
Mosers have been supporters of the University (and numerous other
not for profit institutions) throughout their lives. In their
final and most gracious philanthropic effort for Benedictine,
their estate left to the University approximately seven million
dollars. But who were the Mosers?
It is difficult to truly describe a giant of a man - one who
dropped out of school after his second year of college and became
an entrepreneur the likes of which Du Page County had not seen
before his lifespan, nor since his death. He was a visionary who
dearly loved his "neighborhood." He changed the landscape
of an independent small town in 1950 to a big city suburb.
Through his extraordinary vision, Moser helped develop more than
thirty-three neighborhoods and subdivisions in the community.
Besides land developing, he built Cress Creek and White Eagle
Golf Clubs, served as Naperville City Police Magistrate for 16
years, was president of the Northern Illinois Home Builders Association
and the Naperville Chamber of Commerce.
Perhaps most noteworthy are the Moser's philanthropic efforts
for the Catholic Church. They donated acres of land for each of
four Catholic Churches in Naperville: St. Thomas the Apostle Church
and Rectory; St. Elizabeth Seton; St. Margaret Mary; and St. Raphael
Church and School. They also donated land for St. Patrick Residence,
a retirement home operated by Carmelite Sisters when they moved
the residence from Joliet to Brookdale Road in Naperville.
The Mosers donated the land and building for St. John Vianney,
a retirement home for Joliet Diocesan priests on Green Trails
Drive. An addition to the building is now in process.
Harold Moser served as a trustee of Sts. Peter and Paul Church
for 35 years, and he was a member of the Joliet Diocese Bishop
Consulters for 30 years. It would be difficult to find any place
in this area that was not touched by Harold Moser.
He once remarked that some of his most rewarding experiences
had been helping couples acquire their own homes at the end of
World War II. Often they had little or nothing for a down payment,
but he took the notes of over 200 couples - and never lost a cent.
Moser always found time to meet with friends at church gatherings.
In 1942, he met Margaret Donovan, a graduate of St. Francis College
(University) in Joliet, and they were married in 1949. He later
gave Margaret credit for better homes - for it was her idea to
make each sub-division a little better than the last.
For over thirty years, the Moser's supported Illinois Benedictine
College (University), becoming a trustee in 1959. His financial
support and business acumen directly influenced the development
and construction of both the Dan and Ida Rice Center and the Krasa
Student Center. The Fireside Lounge in the Krasa Center was named
in honor of Harold and Margaret Moser.
Moser was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters
from Illinois Benedictine (University) in 1966, and the distinguished
honorary alumnus medal in 1977. Margaret was similarly honored
with the Doctor of Humane Letters in 1988. She was an active trustee
of the College of St. Francis (University), and St. Francis named
the Moser Performing Arts Center in their honor.
The Mosers were also generous with churches of other faiths.
When the Lutheran churches came into the area, Harold dealt with
them the same way. He often said that he was brought up a good
Catholic, and part of that is sharing with the church. He was
generous with his time, serving on several boards affiliated with
churches.
Migrating with his parents in 1916 from Fort Wayne, Indiana,
his physician father relocated to Naperville because he wanted
to raise his family in a rural environment. A 1933 graduate of
Naperville High School, Harold Moser quickly discovered that college
life was not for him. With the financial backing of his father,
he founded the Naperville Sun in 1935. In 1941, he began operating
a coal yard, which he converted into a lumberyard. And that change
led him into the development and home-building business.
Around 1960, he and a partner organized a group of investors
and founded the West Suburban Bank in Lombard. A few years later,
they formed the West Suburban Bank of Darien and the West Suburban
Bank of Carol Stream/Stratford Square. Moser was chairman of the
board of all those banks. In 1970 he became chairman of the board
of Naperville National Bank. He was interested in maintaining
a bank as a community institution. Because he was concerned about
giving employees fair compensation, he established an Employee
Stock Option Plan at Naperville National. The bank prospered beyond
expectations. Moser stepped down as Chairman in 1991.
When he retired in 1993, at the age of 79, from the land development
business, he had developed one-third of the Naperville community,
erecting 10,000 home sites. A real estate expert estimated that
he had donated in excess of 200 acres to municipal authorities
for school sites, public parks, recreational areas and other facilities.
Where there was a need, he was there.
Is there any better characterization of the Mosers than "guardian
angels"? Many institutions are better because the Mosers
passed their way. Through the Moser's generous gift to Benedictine
University, students will be able to complete college, the campus
will continue to be enhanced, and lives for countless generations
will continue to be impacted.
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March 13, 2008
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