John Novak

Class Year: 1964
Outstanding Alumni Award Winner 2009

John Novak’s ’64 reputation for integrity and fiscal responsibility was endorsed seven times by voters during his extraordinary three-decade tenure as DuPage County Treasurer. He retired as the “dean of Illinois treasurers” in November 2006. A past president of the Illinois County Treasurers Association who was honored in 1995 as the County Official of the Year, John majored in business administration at North Central and was an All-American in wrestling. After graduation, he worked as an admission counselor and head wrestling coach at his alma mater until leaving to work for IBM. He was appointed Treasurer of DuPage County in 1977 following the indictment, conviction and removal of his predecessor. John  restored public confidence to the office and dramatically improved the processing, collection, payment and investment of tax funds.
John has served in a variety of other public service roles, including past chairman of the treasurers affiliate group of the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers; as a member of the State of Illinois Pension Laws Commission; and as sub-chair of the State of Illinois Department of Revenue Recodification committee. In addition, John was a board member on his local community’s Police Pension Board from 1990-1999 and, in 1998, was elected to the Illinois Municipal Retirement board of trustees and served as chairman of its investment committee until his retirement.
John has remained active with his alma mater and in 2006 became a member of the Board of Trustees. John and his wife Marcy reside in Lombard, Ill.