State Historical Society hosts 2005 Centennial Awards Banquet

ISHS board member Elaine Egdorf presents a Cenntennial Awards plaque to Rick Thiernau, District Governor for Rotary International.         photos by William Furry

Twenty-one Illinois corporations and not-for-profit organizations celebrated a century or more of service at the 21st annual Centennial Awards Banquet, held September 30 at the Palmer House Hilton hotel in Chicago. This year's banquet, hosted by the Illinois State Historical Society, included three special awards, and featured a performance by Sones de Mexico, a Chicago-based sextet performing traditional songs and dances from Mexico. The 2005 Centennial Award recipients join more than 1,100 businesses who have been likewise honored since 1984.

Centennial Award recipients receive a complimentary dinner to the banquet, a commemorative plaque inscribed by Governor Rod Blagojevich and Illinois State Historical Society President Marvin Ehlers, a year's membership in the Society, and use of the Society's Centennial Award logo on their business stationery as long as they hold membership in the Society.

Pat Brickhouse presents the Jack Brickhouse Award for Excellence in Broadcast Media to Johnny "Red" Kerr, the "Voice of the Chicago Bulls." Dr. Margaret Burroughs, co-founder of the DuSable Museum of African-American History in Chicago, receives the Society's "Lifetime Achievement" Award from Centennial Awards Banquet Chair Leah Axelrod. In addition to this year's Centennial Award winners, the Society presented special awards to: Dr. Margaret Burroughs, Founder of the DuSable Museum of African-American History, Chicago: Lifetime Achievement Johnny "Red" Kerr, the "Voice of the Chicago Bulls": Jack Brickhouse Award for Excellence in Broadcast Media The Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago; David Roche, Executive Director: Artistic Achievement Award

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Centennial Awards Banquet MC Alfred Klairmont and Society President Marvin W. Ehlers (right) present Centennial Awards plaques to:

The Very Reverend David Jones, President Archbishop Quigley Preparatory School, and students.

Jeffrey Semler Sr. and Loren Semler, Semler Industries, Inc., Franklin Park

Thomas Picou, Chairman of the Board, Chicago Defender.

This year's Centennial inductees are:

Archbishop Quigley Preparatory School, Chicago (1905)
Ball Horticultural Company, West Chicago (1905)
Brethren Home of Girard/Pleasant Hill Village, Girard (1905)
Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes, Decatur (1883)
Chicago Defender Publishing Company, Chicago (1905)
Dominy Memorial Library, Fairbury (1904)
Dr. John Warner Hospital, Clinton (1905)
Faber Floral Company, Kankakee (1870)
Farmer's Elevator Company of Lowder, Waverly (1905)
First National Bank of Sullivan (1905)
Gietl Brothers, Inc., Springfield (1904)
Grayslake Times, Grayslake (1905)
Greenville Public Library, Greenville (1905)
Illinois College, Jacksonville (1829)
Illinois Veterans Home Library, Quincy (1893)
Jacksonville Journal Courier, Jacksonville (1830)
Naper Central Food Inc., Naperville (1893)
Produce Reporter Company, Carol Stream (1905)
Ridgemoor Country Club, Chicago (1905)
Rock Island Arsenal Museum, Rock Island (1905)
The Rotary Club of Chicago (1905)
Rotary International, Evanston (1905)
St. Francis Hospital and Health Center, Blue Island (1905)
St. Mary's School, Pontiac (1902)
St. Rita School, Chicago (1905)
Semler Industries, Inc., Franklin Park (1905)
Shields Memorial Home, Greenfield (1898)

Susan Faber and Angela Faber Beeson, Faber Floral Company, Kankakee.

Loreli Steuer, Illinois College, Jacksonville.

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