December 23, 2024
Local News

Gary Lang honored by McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce

By Katie Finlon
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Gary Lang, pictured with wife, Pat Lang, left, visits with guests of the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Dance Jan. 27, 2018, in Crystal Lake.

Gary Lang, pictured with wife, Pat Lang, left, visits with guests of the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Dance Jan. 27, 2018, in Crystal Lake. (Whitney Rupp)

CRYSTAL LAKE – After 35 years in business and being involved within the community, Gary Lang of Gary Lang Auto Group in McHenry accepted the highest award the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce has to give during the organization’s awards dinner Saturday night at D’Andrea Banquets, 4419 U.S. Route 14.

More than 200 local business leaders and guests gave a standing ovation after Lang gave a speech when he accepted the Frank E. Low Award, which has been awarded to outstanding business members of the community since 1989. The award celebrates Low, a former insurance company owner who was a community legend and inspired others to give back, according to Chamber members.

Lang said it was an honor to accept the award. He thanked his friends, customers, city government officials, his staff and his family – specifically his wife, Pat.

“When you’re buying dealerships and signing bank loans and signing your life away and gambling the whole farm at times, she never complained,” Lang said in his acceptance speech. “If it wasn’t for Pat, we wouldn’t be here.”

Kay Bates, president of the Chamber, said Lang is well-known in the community as a businessman and that his generosity has benefited McHenry. She said those who win the award, including Lang, all share the same love of their community.

Bates said Lang has been in business in the McHenry area since 1983 and has sponsored several big events in McHenry, including Fiesta Days and Blues, Brews and BBQs. She said Lang also donates cars to area driver’s education programs and has helped veterans organizations within the community.

Bates said this is the first time Lang won this award.

“To be honest with you, it was about time,” Bates said.

McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett said he doesn’t think anyone was more deserving of the award this year than Lang. Jett said he has known Lang since he was seven years old and always knew Lang routinely gave back to the city, but he had no idea just how much of a role Lang played in the community until Jett became mayor.

Jett said Lang had a large part in giving McHenry a dog park and renovating the McHenry Indoor Theater. He said he also knows that Lang has flown under the radar with some community outreach, including donating a car to a family whose house burned down in the last year or so.

“Those are the things that sometimes people don’t see that makes that person deserving of this type of award,” Jett said.

Bates said Lang leads by example when it comes to enabling organizations to give essential community services.

“Just because Gary Lang Auto Group is in McHenry, the community is just plain stronger,” Bates said.