JOSEPH SINKIAWIC PRESIDENT OF THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE

Joseph F. Sinkiawic, a lifelong resident of the Loves Park area, has been unanimously elected President of the Illinois Municipal League at their 78th annual meet ing at the Chicago Hilton. Mayor Sinkiawic is well known in the Loves Park-Rockford area as an educator and as a political and civic leader.

He attended the local schools of the Harlem School District #122, graduating from Harlem High School. He then attended Southern Illinois University graduating in l947 with a B.S.E. Degree and from the University of Illinois in 1951 with a Masters Degree in Educational Administration and as a geographer. He has also completed additional post-graduate work there. Mayor Sinkiawic was a classroom teacher for 8 years and a school administrator for 24 years before retiring from this profession in 1979 after serving 32 years in the Harlem School District.

Mayor Sinkiawic was first elected Alderman in 1951 remaining in this office until he was elected Mayor in 1977. He is now serving his fourth term as Mayor, a total record of nearly 41 continuous years in public office. As an Alderman he served on every committee and chaired the Finance Committee for 23 years.

Sinkiawic has served as secretary, vice-president, and president of the Northern Illinois Mayors Association comprising the 15 northwestern counties of our state. He has served as Chairman of the Rockford Urban Transportation Policy Committee during the past 12 years. He is currently a member of the National Small Cities Council (Board of Directors) for cities 50,000 population and under, and also a member of the Transportation Policy Committee of the National League of Cities.

Over the years, Mayor Sinkiawic has received a number of special awards including special recognition as a teacher-principal, community leader, and elected official during the Harlem School District's 80th Anniversary celebration in June, 1990, and an Outstanding Citizens Committee Award from the Rockford Park District for his involvement in establishing an all-year recreational program for all citizens.

In 1987 Loves Park bought and renovated a vacant school building as a municipal building and civic center. The Council voted unanimously to name the facility the Joseph F. Sinkiawic City Hall and Civic Center in recognition of Sinkiawic's many years of service to the community.

Sinkiawic is an army veteran of World War II, serving in Europe and the Asiatic-Pacific theater. He is a member of several organizations including Rotary, Lions, Moose, VFW, and American Legion. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Park Food Pantry and Rockford-Loves Park Phantom Regiment and in the past on the Winnebago County Council on Aging and others.

Mayor Sinkiawic is married to Mabel (Cockrum), formerly of Sesser and Marion, Illinois, where she graduated from high school. She attended Southern Illinois University and later graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor's Degree in history and library science.

They have three sons and two daughters: Steven, a vice-president at the First Bank of Loves Park; Stanley, employed at Rockford Power Train; James, attending Northern Illinois University for a second degree as a secondary science teacher; Cynthia, home maker at the present time with two small children; and Vicki, office manager for radio station WROK-WZOK. All live in the Loves Park area except Cynthia who lives at Valparaiso, Indiana.

Additional information: Since Sinkiawic became the Mayor the City of Loves Park has grown in area from 3.7 square miles to 15 square miles. Over 120 annexations have occurred during this time.

November 1991 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 5