Rock Island Today

Lois Frels, PhD. has always prided herself on being a go-getter, so she wasn’t about to let a little thing like age get in her way.

“I sensed that there was a need for a group of Republican women 70 years and older to be able to come together and find ways to still share and contribute to the political process,” the soon-to-be 88-year-old Frels told the Rock Island Today. “This is all about filling a void and still having a voice. Right now, we have a membership of about 20, and we’re looking to add to that.”

Frels officially started the Old Glories organization five years ago. The seniors meet several times a year to discuss the issues of the day and support the political candidates of their choice, with the next scheduled gathering slated to take place at Frels' Moline home in early October, when Rock Island County board member Drue Mielke (R-Coal Valley) will be the featured speaker.

Lois Frels, PhD.

“We talk about things like high property taxes and what we can do to get them lowered,” Frels said. “We have speakers from all levels of local state government come in and talk about all the issues of the day.”

Frels' political activism goes back to her days as the director of nursing at Bradley University, where she is now professor emeritus. She has also served as the president of the Illinois Federation of Republican Women. She counts herself as one of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s biggest supporters and wishes more Republican lawmakers would rally around him.

“He’s doing his best,” she said. “I think Republicans just need to work harder at getting their side out on the issues people care about.”

As for her own endless spunk, Frels, who is also working on a study to determine how all the tax dollars collected in Moline are spent, said she isn’t sure where the energy comes from.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “I just think the work we’re doing is important.”