Know Your Neighbors: Wally Prater, Business Owner

Wally owns Prater Painting and Waterproofing in Sterling. He and his wife, Pam, live in Sterling, and they have seven children, Tim Prater, 45, of Sterling; Jeff Prater, 44, of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.; Mary Brown, of Sterling; Creedence Porter, 33, of Sterling; Corey Prater, 32, of Los Angeles; Destry Prater, 30, of Sterling; and Danielle Prater, 27, of Las Vegas. The Praters also have 11 grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. I graduated from: Rock Falls High School in 1960. My first job was: Working at Bake-Right Bakery in Rock Falls. My philosophy to live by is: Do to other folks what I would like them to do to me. If I could change one thing about my life: I would've gotten more education. My hero is: Jesus Christ. My idea of fun is: Walking. The best thing I've read recently is: The Bible. The movie about my life should star: Anthony Hopkins. The first car I ever owned was: A 1949 Chevrolet. One person, dead or alive, I'd like to meet is: King David. He was not a perfect man, but he faced his faults and became a great king. I am: Studious, hard-working, curious and sincere. My three essential items are: My cell phone, my driver's license, and my truck keys. My guilty pleasure is: Ice cream. Something people don't know about me is: I'm originally from Los Angeles. If I could visit any place in the world, it would be: Israel, just so I could see all the historical places. One thing I learned doing my job is: People are mostly honest, sincere and fair. Do you know someone who ought to be featured in Know Your Neighbors? Call Phil Hartman at (815) 625-3600 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 524, or write to phartman@svnmail.com.