Des Plaines Recognizes City Attorney Wiltse’s Retirement

Retiring Des Plaines City Attorney David Wiltse wore black to work today, Wednesday, August 29, 2012, in keeping
with his secretary’s tradition of wearing black on Fridays and in recognition of today being the end of his final City Hall workweek. Wiltse, retiring from a post he held with the City of Des Plaines since November, 1993, is looking forward to spending more time with family, church and working on a book concerning the 45^th New York regiment in the U.S. Civil War.

Attorney Wiltse received his license to practice law in Illinois in 1980.  Prior to employment with the City from 1979 to 1981, he worked as an attorney for a law firm representing municipalities and local governments.  He served as a Hearing Referee for the Board of Review of the Illinois Department of Labor’s Division of Employment Security from 1982 to 1984.  Other experience includes serving as an Attorney for the Illinois Department of Revenue’s Sales Tax Division with the designation of “Special Assistant Attorney General” from 1984 to 1986, representing the Illinois Department of Lottery as a Special
Assistant Attorney General from 1985 to 1994, and serving as an Adjunct Professor of Law at John Marshall Law School from 1992 to 1993.

Wiltse’s other affiliations include serving as Vice President and President of the Board of Education for Township High School District 214, Treasurer of the Wheeling Township Rural Fire Protection District, Trustee of Wheeling Township, Vice President and President of the Arlington Heights Historical Society, Co-Chair of the Arlington Heights Festival Committee, Chairman of the  

Northwest Municipal Conference Attorney’s Committee and member the Illinois Municipal League Attorney’s Committee. He has served on several homeowner associations and has been an active member of the Republican Party.

Wiltse’s accomplishments and recognitions include the Illinois State Board of Education’s “Award of Excellence,” the appointment to the Illinois State Chairman of the
International Municipal Lawyers Association, the President’s Award of the International Municipal Lawyers Association as the “Most Outstanding State Chair,” and the appointment to serve as Regional Vice President of the
International Municipal Lawyers Association.

The author of “Last Action of Gettysburg,” an article in the January 2012 issue of Gettysburg Magazine, Wiltse has
always wanted to pursue writing a book depicting life through the eyes of his great-great grandfather, Luis Keck, a Civil War soldier in the 45th New York Infantry. Keck joined Union forces in 1861, fought through several famous battles and re-enlisted two years later. Along with detailed research of the historic battles Keck fought in, Wiltse is using 120 letters Keck wrote to his wife, Caroline, and about 50 letters she penned to him to tie the book
together.

In addition to his writing, Dave Wiltse and his wife Joyce look forward to spending time with their family and
devoting time to their church, the Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows.

Wiltse, who was recently the guest of honor at a retirement reception at City Hall, organized by Secretary Mary Utt, was further recognized at the Monday, August 20, 2012, City Council Meeting when Mayor Martin J. Moylan and City Council gave him a standing ovation.