CHICAGO – The Illinois Humanities Council, in conjunction with Illinois mayors, is proud to announce the recipients of the 2004 Studs Terkel Humanities Service Awards. These local “humanities heroes” were selected by their mayors for their outstanding efforts to champion the humanities in their communities — from Christopher to Chicago and from Springfield to Skokie. Through these awards, the IHC was able to recognize the exemplary efforts of 72 individuals from all over the state who furthered the understanding of the humanities in their communities.
“The IHC could not have identified the 72 Studs Terkel medallists without the help of Illinois mayors,” said IHC Executive Director Kristina Valaitis. “These champions of the humanities make their communities and our whole state more vibrant.”
The majority of these recipients was involved in creating awareness about local and/or regional history in their communities through the establishment of historical societies or museums. Others were noted for their outstanding dedication to education, formal and informal; to literacy and library programs; and to creating awareness for cultural heritage, music, literature, and the arts.
By recognizing their efforts, the IHC also encouraged others, notably local government, to pay more attention to the humanities. The awardees of the Studs
Terkel Humanities Service Award will receive an engraved medal of recognition at ceremonies held in their communities this fall. Please contact the Mayor or Village President’s office for ceremony dates and times.
Named after the prize-winning oral historian and author, Studs Terkel, the awards reflect the spirit of this prominent son of Illinois. Terkel, a modern-day renaissance man who has been an actor, playwright, jazz columnist, film narrator and disc jockey, is most admired for documenting 20th-century America through the words and voices of ordinary people. Ordinary people who, like the recipients of the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Awards, have done exceptional things in their communities.Below is a list of the awardees, the towns in which they live, and the mayors who nominated them.
For additional information about the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Awards, contact the IHC at 312-422-5580 or email ihc@prairie.org. You can also visit our website at www.prairie.org.
D A R E T O K N O W
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Nominee | Mayor/Village | Town |
Ms. Adele Larsen | The Honorable Lorenz “Larry” Hartwig | Addison |
Mr. Tom Weathers | The Honorable Donald E. Sandidge | Alton |
Ms. Stephanie FitzSimons | The Honorable Catherine J. Melchert | Bartlett |
Mr. Robert Johnessee | The Honorable Raymond Chapman | Bunker Hill |
Ms. Gail Koveski | The Honorable Jo V. Irem | Burr Ridge |
Mr. Paul “Cooper” Cooper | The Honorable Elden Dubuque | Chebanse |
Mr. Tim Samuelson | The Honorable Richard M. Daley | Chicago |
Mr. Robert Hoey | The Honorable Gary Bartolotti | Christopher |
Ms. Joann Terry | The Honorable Danny McDaniel | Colona |
Mr. Harold “Sparky” Songer | The Honorable Scott Eisenhauer | Danville |
Ms. Margaret Ritchie | The Honorable James L. Willey | Elburn |
Ms. Donna Geneva Roehri | The Honorable Peter N. Silvestri | Elmwood Park |
Mr. James Lytle | The Honorable Lorraine H. Morton | Evanston |
Ms. Penny Libert | The Honorable Stephen J. Tasch | Fox River Grove |
Mr. Jack M. Kelley | The Honorable Robert E. Logan | Franklin Grove |
Mr. Robert J. Lamm | The Honorable James Gitz | Freeport |
Ms. Mona Tourlentes | The Honorable Bob Sheehan | Galesburg |
Mr. John Sloan | The Honorable Don Hagaman | Galva |
Mr. Mark Miller | The Honorable Gregory S. Mathews | Glen Ellyn |
Mr. Scott F. Turow | The Honorable Anthony J. Ruzicka | Glencoe |
Ms. Donna Becerra | The Honorable Linda Jackson | Glendale Heights |
Mr. James “Jim” Price | The Honorable Michael J. Campion | Godfrey |
Mr. Walter D. Boyle | The Honorable Kevin Coleman | Hennepin |
Mr. George Gentes | The Honorable William D. McLeod | Hoffman Estates |
Mr. James Wright | The Honorable Richard A. Hofeld | Homewood |
Mr. John A. Clark | The Honorable Harold Jurgena | Irving |
Mr. Louis Fortmeyer | The Honorable Gary Garrison | Irvington |
Mr. Ken Bradbury | The Honorable Ron Tendick | Jacksonville |
Mr. Robert “Bob” E. Rashkin | The Honorable Donald Green | Kankakee |
Mr. Robert “Bob” Ingram | The Honorable Elwyn Cheatum | Kinmundy |
Mr. Art Ladenburger | The Honorable James S. Krischke | Lake Zurich |
Mr. Lee Anderson | The Honorable John Piazza | Lemont |
Mr. John E. Hallwas | The Honorable Mick Wisslead | Macomb |
Mr. Charles R. Gamm | The Honorable John Trefz | Marshall |
Mr. Clyde “Red” Lemke | The Honorable Jerry Daugherty | Mascoutah |
Mr. Adolph “Al” Schaffenberger | The Honorable Thomas J. Murawski | Midlothian |
Mr. Joel Ryser | The Honorable Stanley Leach | Moline |
Mr. Ken Sereno | The Honorable Richard Kopczick | Morris |
Mr. Harold Johnson “John” Howard II | The Honorable Milton Sees | Mount Vernon |
Mr. Michael Flynn | The Honorable Marilyn Sindles | Mundelein |
Mr. Steven A. Hilsabeck | The Honorable Mark W. Damisch | Northbrook |
Mrs. Judith Hughes | The Honorable Mark W. Damisch | Northbrook |
Mr. James Buschbach | The Honorable Ronald M. Stancik | Oak Lawn |
Ms. Jacquie Weirich | The Honorable Craig Weber | Oswego |
Ms. Barbara Kerlin | The Honorable Rita L. Mullins | Palatine |
Ms. Gail Rice | The Honorable Robert Straz | Palos Heights |
Ms. Jeanette Wood | The Honorable Carolyn A. Baca | Palos Park |
Edgar and Nancy Muenzer | The Honorable Michael R. MaRous | Park Ridge |
Mr. David Edwards | The Honorable Diane Kube | Petersburg |
Mr. Timothy Mathis, Ph.D. | The Honorable Joseph R. Shirk | Pinckneyville |
Ms. Pat Stewart | The Honorable Howard “Bud” Thompson | Prophetstown |
Ms. Pam Potter | The Honorable Charles W. Scholz | Quincy |
Ms. Heather Shore | The Honorable Edward M. Mulvaney | Rock Falls |
Ms. Ruth Evelyn Katz | The Honorable Mark W. Schwiebert | Rock Island |
Mrs. Mary B. Caskey | The Honorable Doug Scott | Rockford |
Ms. Barbara McNamara | The Honorable Doug Scott | Rockford |
Ms. Marie Wallace | The Honorable Ronald T. Shepherd | Rushville |
Mr. Felton Jose | The Honorable Leonard E. Ferguson | Salem |
Ms. Elizabeth H. Armistead | The Honorable Al Larson | Schaumburg |
Ms. Leona Hoelting | The Honorable George Van Dusen | Skokie |
Ms. Karen Lynne Deal | The Honorable Timothy J. Davlin | Springfield |
Mr. Carl Volkmann | The Honorable Timothy J. Davlin | Springfield |
Mr. Dale Svela | The Honorable Dawn Andermann | Steward |
Mrs. Virginia Bernard | The Honorable Donald J. Tabor | Stickney |
Ms. Margaret “Pehg” Zeller | The Honorable Margaret Conley | Trenton |
Reverend Willard Murrie | The Honorable Chesley Williams | Vienna |
Ms. Enid Weiser | The Honorable Vivian M. Lund | Warrenville |
Ms. Jean Keely | The Honorable Gary Manier | Washington |
Mr. John P. DeLap | The Honorable Michael Fortner | West Chicago |
Ms. Nancy Pegram | The Honorable John Kravcik | Western Springs |
Mr. James Langlas, Ph.D. | The Honorable C. James Carr | Wheaton |
Ms. Adele Benck | The Honorable Edward Guzdziol | Worth |