Mary J. Truitt

Mary J. Truitt received her education from Vandalia Community Schools, a BS from Southern Illinois University, and an MS from University of Wisconsin – Stout. She was an educator in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for 35 years. Growing up in Vandalia, her family spent much time in viewing, reading, and talking about history. Upon retirement, she returned to Vandalia and was appointed to the Vandalia Tourism Commission. In 1997 Truitt was appointed as the city representative to what became known as, The National Scenic Byway and Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area committees. She continues to serve in these programs today.

Dale Timmerman

Dale Timmerman is a Certified Public Accountant and founder of Timmerman & Co., Ltd., with an office that sits across from the Vandalia State House. While president of the Vandalia Historical Society, a position he held for twenty years, Dale helped to secure for the Society the donation of the Little Brick House, one of three structures in Vandalia on the National Register of Historic Places. Dale also authored ten “Looking for Lincoln” panels throughout Vandalia that tell the story of the Sixteenth President’s connection to the town. Today Dale continues to give tours and interviews to people interested in Vandalia history.

Linda Hanabarger

Linda Hanabarger, of rural Ramsey, IL, is a columnist for the Vandalia Leader-Union newspaper and editor of Fayette Facts, the genealogical magazine for the Fayette Co. Genealogical & Historical Society. She serves as President of that organization. Born and raised in Vandalia, Linda moved to Springfield after graduation from high school, returning five years later where she married and became the mother of three sons. In 1983, her world changed when she met historian Mary Burtschi, and her sister Josephine. A hidden spark was lit that burns brightly still as Linda researches the history of the people of Fayette County and events that molded our history.

Chris Vallillo

Chris Vallillo is a singer/songwriter and folk musician with a natural affinity for American roots music. A master of bottleneck slide guitar, he weaves original, contemporary, and traditional songs into a compelling and entertaining portrait of the history and lifestyle of the Midwest. In the 1980’s he conducted the Schuyler Arts Folk Music Project, documenting the last of the pre radio generation of musicians along the Illinois River. From 1990 through 1998 he served as the performing host and co-producer of the nationally distributed, award-winning public radio performance series Rural Route 3. His one-man show, Abraham Lincoln in Song, received the endorsement of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and the accompanying CD charted at #10 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Album Chart in March of 2008. Chris has twice served as the Illinois Scholar for the Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit on roots music, New Harmonies and his 2016 project, Oh Freedom!, Songs of the Civil Rights Movement was released on Martin Luther King Day of 2017 and charted at # 6 of the National Folk charts. Find more about Chris Vallillo.

Bucky Halker

Bucky Halker, Ph.D., is a singer-songwriter, performer, and scholar with fifteen recordings to his credit, including Welcome to Labor Land, a recording of Illinois labor songs from the past; and the all-originals Wisconsin 2-13-63, vols. 1 & 2; a 2012 personal tribute of original and cover songs “The Ghost of Woody Guthrie”; and Anywhere But Utah, a celebration of the life, legacy and talents of Joe Hill. Bucky is also the author of For Democracy, Workers, and God: Labor Song-Poems and Labor Protest, 1865-1895 (U. of Illinois, 1991) and is the producer-scholar for the Folksongs of Illinois CD series. Find more about Bucky Halker.