For more than thirty years, Mr. Fred Rackow was a very trusted and popular presence at Hampshire High School. Beginning his career as a history teacher, he soon assumed his important role as guidance counselor, helping generations of students navigate high school. Students knew his door was always open — whether it was about classes, college plans, or just life. And sometimes his office was simply a hideout to decompress. As guidance counselor, Fred definitely “knew where all the bones were buried,” but he carried that knowledge with discretion, humor, and genuine care for the students.
Fred wore many hats — coaching baseball and softball, announcing football games, sponsoring classes, cheerleading and National Honor Society, and keeping order during his famed lunchroom supervision duty.
Revered by students in the school, he later became just as respected throughout the Hampshire community. Outside of school he gave countless hours to the town he loved, serving as president of the Hampshire Park District, helping establish the Little People Playtime preschool, and volunteering with the Hampshire Lions Club. Beloved in Hampshire, Fred Rackow was someone people trusted and someone the community relied on.
