The following is a list of those to whom the Illinois JCI Senate has bestowed special recognition.
HONORARY MEMBERS
Throughout the years the Illinois JCI Senate has bestowed Honorary membership upon individuals who have demonstrated outstanding fellowship with our organization. Below is a list of those individuals to date.
HM #1 Doug Hincker #22200 (Michigan) 1984 (deceased)
HM #2 Gerry Moore #26604 (Missouri) 1985 (deceased)
HM #3 Mike Moritz #28428 (Missouri) 1988
HM #4 Cheryl Knoche #57394 (Illinois) 1991 *
HM #5 Joe Eller #32962 (Tennessee) 1995
HM #6 Jerry Wendelken #23161 (Michigan) 1995
HM #7 Tom Hendrix #37317 (Missouri) 2018
*Cheryl was the executive secretary of the Illinois Jaycees and did immense amount of work for the Senate as well. She was presented an Honorary membership prior to being awarded a senatorship from the Springfield Jaycees and becoming a regular member.
USJCI SENATE FRIENDSHIP RECIPIENTS
The USJCI Friendship recognition was begun and administered by the Nebraska JCI Senate. Nebraska had long been in awe of spouses of senators who had helped significantly over the years to the benefit of the U.S. J.C.I. Senate organization. Because there was no award for non-senators,these individuals had gone un-recognized. Therefore the Friendship Award was established for individuals who are not able to become Senators due to never having been a Jaycee but have long been the supporter of their spouse in their Senate career. Below are the Illinois recipients and the Senator for whom they were the “wind beneath their wings.”
Nancy Fletcher FR #21
Gary Hongsermeier #39708
Cindy Mammen FR #26
Jim Mammen #37122
Margie Kiefer FR #29
Wayne Kiefer #36498
Sherrie Schroeder FR #52
Monty Schroeder #62203
SANDRA K. “SAM” BARKER MEMORIAL AWARD
Sandra “Sam” Barker was an individual who would often be seen running about ensuring that the little things that made an event successful was done. Sam was never one to need or even desire any of the limelight, she simply wanted an event done right. Nominees may not be past presidents nor current members of the Board of Directors and are to demonstrate an unselfish giving “of their time to further the Senate movement in a positive manner and has done so with no need of recognition or expectations of gratitude.” Below is a list of recipients to date.
2009 Don Falls #40510
2010 Digger McGraugh #36156
2011 Donna Ward #53588
2012 Melodie Ainslie #69200
2013 Maureen Niedenthal #67669
2014 Mary Ann Hilleary #64615
2015 Tom Greathouse #60003
2016 Kathy Crick #71017
2017 Susie Colbert-Curtis #73137
2018 Robbie Johnston #51099
2019 Kay DeGroot #73333
2020 Cindy Ogden #73418
2021 Vanessa Birchler #74430
2022 Tony Symoniak #66367
2023 Rod Hollenstine #46073
LARRY WAYNE FERGUSON MEMORIAL AWARD
This recognition is named for Past President Larry Ferguson. When Larry passed away he was not only serving in multiple capacities for the Illinois Senate but served as an integral part of the Region V and USJCI Senate where he was the Membership Information Director. For a period of time after Larry’s passing it was noted that when something was not being done, the answer to the question of why was “Larry used to do that.” Because of that quiet, behind the scene leadership this recognition was established to recognize any Illinois Senator who would give “of their time to further the Senate movement leading behind the scenes in a positive manner and done so with no need of recognition or expectation of gratitude.” Below is a list of recipients to date.
2013 Mark Niedenthal #39701
2014 Wayne Huelsmann #30592
2015 Denny Birt #37116
2016 Charlie Gouveia #18294
2017 Kate Patterson #52517
2018 Monty Schroeder #62203
2019 Chris Curtis #35540
2020 Lynne McGill #70364
2021 Donna Baker #67041
2022 Kathy Crick #71017
2023 Ray Ainslie #44136