2002 Centennial Awards

David Kupcinet, grandson of legendary Chicago Sun Times columnist Irv Kupcinet,
receives the Society's "Lifetime Achievement Award" for his grandfather at the 2002 Centennial Awards Banquet.

Story and Photos by William Furry

The 2002 Illinois State Historical Society's Centennial Awards Banquet was held Friday, October 11, at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. Approximately 160 invited guests gathered at 7 p.m. in the elegant Empire Room for a double entree dinner of petite filet mignon and grilled boneless breast of chicken, served over corn hash with mango chutney sauce and asparagus risotto on the side. Crowning the meal was a "Symphony of Chocolate" dessert—cappuccino and cocoa orange cakes accompanied by a key lime tart served with exotic fruit sauces. Following dinner, Centennial Awards Program Chair Norm Berger welcomed the new Centennial winners and introduced Budd Eichner, who acknowledged the contributions of the late Joseph and Lucille Block, donors of more than $130,000 in rare Lincoln and other presidential documents to the Society earlier this year. Mr. Berger then introduced, Pat Brickhouse who presented the ISHS Lifetime Achievement Award to Chicago Sun Times columnist and newspaper legend Irv Kupcinet. Accepting the award for his grandfather, who was unable to attend the banquet, was David Kupcinet. Ms. Brickhouse was then joined onstage by WCIU-Channel 26's Chica go radio announcer Jack Taylor to present the Centennial Awards "Class of 2002." This year's 44 winners join more than 1,000 previous businesses and not-for-profit organizations that have been recognized in the program's 18-year history. Following the presentation of the Centennial Awards, Alfred Klairmont, Distinguished Services Award Chair, presented the ISHS Artistic Achievement Award to The Lyric Opera of Chicago, three members of which then performed a selection of songs to the Centennial Awards audience.

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John LaMarra (center) receives a Centennial Award plaque for The Baby Fold from Norman Berger (left) and ISHS President Rand Burnette.

Special Contributors to this year's Centennial Awards program included:

Performers from the Lyric Opera of Chicago sang a delightful duet from "Don Giovanni."

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Budd Eichner presents an honorary ISHS award to Susan Rubnitz, whose parents, the late Joseph and Lucille Block, donated more than $130,000 in Lincoln and other American Presidential documents to the Society this year.

For more photos from the Centennial Awards Banquet, visit our website at imvw.historyillinois.org.

This year's award recipients are:

*   AAA-Chicago Motor Club, Aurora, 1902

*   Ameren CIPS, Springfield, 1902

*   Alvord, Burdick & Howson LLC, Chicago, 1886

*   Anderson-Shumaker Company, Chicago, 1902

*   The Baby Fold, Normal, 1902

*   Brian Allendorfer Roofing Company, Chicago, 1885

*   Burnside, Johnston, Choisser, & Sheafor, Vandalia, 1883

*   Carstens, Inc. Chicago, 1886

*   Champaign News-Gazette, Champaign, 1852

*   Chicago Mailing Tube Company, 1902

*   Citizens National Bank of Paris, 1902

*   The Clover Club, Danville, 1894

*   Dewey State Bank, Dewey, 1902

*   Dixon Telegraph, Dixon, 1852

*   Edward Fox Photography, Chicago, 1902

*   First National Bank of Steelcville, 1902

*   Garfield Cemetery Association, St. Charles, 1852

*   Greenville College, 1892

*   Harold O'Shea Builders, Springfield, 1902

*   Highland Park Woman's Club, 1899

*   Hillsboro Hotel Corporation, Red Rooster Inn, Hillsboro, 1902

*   Hooper and Niebur Insurance, Pittsfield, 1902

*   Illinois State Museum, Springfield, 1877

*   Ipava State Bank, 1902

*   Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, 1857

*   Macomb Public Library District, Macomb, 1886

*   Meeker-Magner Company, Des Plaines, 1902

*   Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, 1852

*   Montrose Cemetery Company, Chicago, 1902

*   Northwestern Business College, Chicago, 1902

*   Prairieland Mutual Insurance Company, Decatur, 1880

*   Pullman Bank and Trust, Chicago, 1883

*   Resource Bank, NA, DeKalb, 1901

*   Ross & Hardies, Attorneys at Law, Chicago, 1902

*   St. Francis Hospital of Evanston, 1901

*   State Bank of Herscher, Herscher, 1902

*   Trenton Cemetery Association, Trenton, 1902

*   Valley Industrial Association, Aurora, 1902

*   Volunteers of America in Illinois, Chicago, 1896

*   Walnut Leader, Walnut, 1892

*   Walton and Company, Jacksonville, 1902

*   Worden Lumber Company, Worden, 1902

*   Yorkville National Bank, Yorkville, 1902

*   YWCA of Elgin, Elgin, 1901

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