Names

Toolen indicted; Uhlig named acting head of DAS

Vincent A. Toolen, director of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), resigned February 18, the day he was indicted by a Jackson County grand jury on charges of perjury, official miscon duct and obstruction of justice. Arraignment was scheduled for April 19 in Mod physboro. Toolen, who served as DAS director since 1978, was charged with falsely telling the grand jury he delivered campaign funds to House Speaker George Ryan (R., Kankakee). Ryan himself was noil target of investigations.

The charges against Toolen stem from a complicated chain of events beginning with allegations of theft and job selling in 1919 by state employees at a DAS garage in Carbondale. Investigations carried on by stale and Jackson county procesutors resulted in indictments in January of the assistant superintendent of the garage, three other garage employees and a Carbondale auto supply dealer. Charges included bribery, forgery and official misconduct. Toolen's name became involved when the alleged kickback money was traced along the chain of command to his office.

Gov. James R. Thompson named Fred H. Uhlig, Springfield, to serve as acting director of DAS. Uhlig had been deputy director of the Department of Public Health.

Vrdolyak beats Dunne in Cook

Chicago's 10th Ward Alderman Kdwud Vrdolyak was voted chairman of the Cook I County Democratic party by a majority of Chicago's ward committeemen and the county township party leaders on March 30. He succeeds George Dunne, who has been chairman since the death of Mayor Richard J. Daley.

Rehabilitative Services

Robert W. Granzeier, Springfield, was named director of the Department of Rehabilitative Services March 5 by Gov. Junes R. Thompson. Granzeier had been wing director of the department since the resignation of James S. Jeffers last June. Cranzeier has been with the department since W67, and before being named acting director was rehabilitative services executive.

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The governor also named Sue Suter, Springfield, as executive associate director jf the department. Previously, Suter was Illinois coordinator for the International ear of Disabled Persons. Prior to that she us director of community services for the Illinois Developmental Disabilities Advocacy Authority.

Financial Institutions

Michael E. Fryzel, director of the Department of Financial Institutions, has made the following appointments: Andy V. Midonia, Springfield, as head of the unclaimed property division; Michael A. Goldman, Palatine, as supervisor of the consumer credit division; and D. Ray Johnson, Springfield, as head of the credit union division. The appointments of Madonia

and Goldman were effective January 22; Johnson's appointment was effective February 19. Madonia previously was assistant supervisor in the consumer credit division; Goldman had been chief examiner in the unclaimed property division; and Johnson had been assistant supervisor in the credit union division.

Secretary of State's Office

Secy, of State Jim Edgar announced the following appointments recently: Carol Dew, Springfield, as deputy director of the department of accounting and revenue, effective March 1. Dew is running against Democratic incumbent Gary Tumulty for the post of Sangamon County clerk. Most recently, she worked in the office of information and communication in the Department of Administrative Services.

Larry Bullock, Springfield, and Jim Eslinger, Springfield, were appointed to newly created administrative IV positions relating to the leasing and management of driver services facilicites. Bullock has a realtor's license, and Eslinger has also been in the real estate business.

Errol "Mack" Hansen, Springfield, as an administrative assistant in data processing, effective March 1. Hansen previously worked in computer sales in private industry.

Ellen Feldhausen, Springfield, as assistant press secretary, another new position. Previously, Feldhausen covered state government politics as managing editor of the Illinois News Network.

Other appointments

Warren W. Wilson, Springfield, as acting commissioner of the state Savings and Loan Commission, by the governor effective February 26. Wilson replaces William J. Schilling, who resigned. Wilson has been with the commission since 1971, as most recently was its deputy commissioner.

James Skilbeck, Springfield, as special assistant to the governor for coordination and planning of scheduling and advance work, by the governor effective March 2. Previously, Skilbeck had been assistant press secretary in the governor's office. He joined Thompson's administration in 1977 after working on his campaign staff.

Ronald M. Shansky, Chicago, as medical director for the Department of Corrections (DOC), by department director Michael P. Lane effective February 10. In the newly created position Shansky will oversee delivery of health services in all DOC facilities. Previously, Shansky was director of clinical services for the department of internal medicine at Cook County Hospital.

Acquittals

State Sen. Gene Johns (D., Marion), was acquitted January 9 of 17 counts of alleged campaign-finance violations brought against him by a Williamson County grand jury after an investigation by the State Board of Elections. Ten additional misdemeanor counts were dropped after a Williamson County trial jury was unable to reach a verdict on them.

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Deaths

Harry Marshall, U.S. marshal for the central district of Illinois, on February 19. Marshall, who had been with the marshal's office for 20 years, had been due to retire in March. He had served as U.S. marshal since 1977. Last year he received the NAACP's 1981 President's Award for his work in law enforcement. James L. Fyke, Peoria, was chosen acting U.S. marshal. Fyke, who had taught police science at Illinois Central College and Bradley University since 1973, had been one of three persons recommended to succeed Marshall by U.S. Sen. Charles H. Percy. The appointment of a permanent U.S. marshal will be made by President Reagan.

Benjamin Linsky, veteran state employee and management administrator for the Dangerous Drugs Commission, in Chicago on March 2. Linsky's many years of service to the state began in 1965. A certified public accountant, he had worked for the Dangerous Durgs Commission since 1974. Previously, he was employed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Commission and the auditor general.

Honors

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has been selected as the site for the 1984 Paralympic Games, the governor's office announced December 11. Wheelchair athletes from more than 75 nations are expected to compete in the games, which are the first to be held in the U.S. The University of Illinois established the first comprehensive program of higher education for those with severe physical disabilities in 1947, and is the home of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association.

At its annual meeting in October the Illinois State Historical Society gave eight "Awards of Merit" for contributions to Illinois state and local history. Virginia Sparr Brown, Morris, was honored for editing "Grundy County Illinois Landmarks Volume 1," a paperback guide to places of historical interest in northern Grundy County; Dorothy L. Mavrich, Joliet, won for her work in the restoration of the Rubens Rialto Square Theatre in downtown Joliet; Don Munson, Bloomington, for his production of the "McLean County Ses-quicentennial Series" on Bloomington radio stations WJBC/WBNQ; and Park Forest residents Glenda Bailey-Mershon and Elizabeth Ohm, Park Forest, for their oral history of Park Forest. Victor Hicken of Macomb, George Wilburn May, of Metropolis and Robert C. Richards of Kewanee were honored as "friends of history" for their many books and their work in behalf of Illinois history.

May 1982/Illinois Issues/backcover