First Citizen: Mount Angel’s Bill Predeek eager to assist where needed

By Don Murtha

Bill Predeek is a humble man.

He will tell you that although he is president of the Mount Angel Historical Society and one of its founders, many others have made it what it is and he could not have done it alone. He will name others who deserve the credit.

He will say that, although he has put in many hours volunteering at St. Mary’s Public Elementary School, he does it for the enjoyment, not for recognition.

But recognition is what he has earned.

Predeek, 59, has been named to receive Mount Angel’s First Citizen Award for 2011. Predeek and his wife, Janet, have three grown children.

Even when he was first told of the honor, Predeek was modest.

“I didn’t believe what they were saying when it was announced. I thought it was just an award for volunteering in the school,” he said. “They kept telling me but I guess I wasn’t listening. I didn’t believe it until Maureen Ernst (Mount Angel Chamber of Commerce Board secretary) called to congratulate me.”

This is Predeek’s tenth year volunteering at the elementary school, where he starts at 7:30 a.m. and leaves at 1:30 p.m. unless there is a field trip or something else going on, like helping students with state testing.

“I’m with my third teacher and still in the first grade,” he said. He has always enjoyed working with children. “They seem to relate to me and I get enjoyment from them.”

Predeek said he does what ever the teacher asks him to do, but there are a lot of tasks and 22 students to help with school assignments.

The teacher, Jasmine Winslow, said Predeek’s contribution is equal to a half-time employee for the school. He helps students struggling with reading, math, spelling and computers.

“He treats every student with dignity and respect and makes sure they feel welcome and cared for,” she said.  “His quiet, encouraging demeanor helps struggling students feel confident and eager to try.”

One of Predeek’s favorite projects is helping students compose calendars. The students are taught to fill in days, weeks and mouths on calendar form.

“It helps them learn to work with numbers and reading and, of course the calendar. It is an excellent learning experience. I love working with the kids on it,” Predeek said.

But again, Predeek directs the praise away from himself.

“What is most amazing is watching the teachers. They are the ones who deserve recognition,” Predeek said. “It’s rewarding to see how the teachers and staff go beyond their duties.”

An example of the extra service Predeek gave was an event at Christmas break, when the school’s Christmas tree was donated to a family that could not afford one. Predeek delivered it with decorations and set it up. He also delivered a turkey to the family.

“It was a joy to see how those kids lit up when that tree was brought to the family,” he said. “I just happened to have my truck that day.”

He pointed out that the teachers know what is going on with each student at all times.

“If a kid comes in without his glasses on, she will ask him where are they,” he said. “The teachers seem to know all and they don’t get the credit they deserve.”

“You get to know the kids and it’s nice to stay in one room where you learn to build relationships,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun working in the schools with the kids and as long as they don’t promote me to second grade I’m stuck in first grade.”

Predeek is also a driving force in the Mount Angel Historical Society.

“I always want to make it clear it is not mine alone. If it were not for the  encouragement of other people there would not be a historical society,” he said. “We have a fantastic board.”

The historical society has been in existence for two years and Predeek said there has been a lot of support from the community.

“We have been really kind of overwhelmed. When you have a meeting most of the people leave at the end of the meeting. When we have meeting almost no one leaves afterward,” he said.

The society now has 90 members.

“We didn’t think it would get this far this fast,” he said.

He chose to volunteer for the historical society because he has always had an interest in history from grade school through college.

“It has always been something I enjoyed,” he said.

Board member Nancy Bochsler said Predeek has dedicated countless hours to the collecting, cataloging and preserving of pictures and other memorabilia of “our great town.”

“I believe the historical society would not be in existence without Bill Predeek,” she said.

Born in Mount Angel, Predeek was educated in Mount Angel schools and went to work for his father, Paul Predeek at Paul’s Saw Shop. He bought into the business with his father and subsequently bought his father’s share in the business. Predeek sold the saw shop 15 years ago.

When he’s not volunteering at the school or the historical society, he is working as a part-time forester at his timber holding near Scotts Mills. “I call it my playground,” he said.