The First Citizen program was created in 1963 as the Copley First Citizen program by Springfield’s Copley-owned newspapers, the Illinois State Journal and Illinois State Register. The name was changed after Copley sold the merged State Journal-Register in 2007.
The award is intended to honor service that contributes to the betterment of the Springfield area. A citizen board selects a winner annually from among nominations submitted by the public. Those honored have been:
1963: Harriet Knudson; developed Lincoln Memorial Garden
1964: Rev. H.M. Hildebrandt; pastor of Third Presbyterian Church for 56 years, ministered to jail inmates and troubled youths
1965: Charles E. Becker; built Franklin Life Insurance, donor to Springfield College in Illinois/Benedictine University
1966: Otto Kerner; governor from 1961 to 1968, oversaw rehabilitation of Old Capitol, Lincoln Home area
1967: Elizabeth Graham; preserved Vachel Lindsay Home
1968: Dr. James Graham; United Way activist
1969: George Hoffmann; led effort to create Sangamon State University/University of Illinois Springfield
1970: Silver Suarez; as chief, expanded and modernized Springfield Police Department
1971: Dan Bannister; led local charitable and economic development efforts
1972: Dr. Edwin Lee; raised awareness of problems on Springfield’s east side, led efforts to expand St. John’s Hospital, purchase land for SSU/UIS and Lincoln Land Community College
1973: Albert Myers; supporter of youth, charity and business development organizations
1974: Mary Kreider; friend of handicapped, disadvantaged and elderly
1975: Francis Budinger; fundraiser for St. John’s Hospital, Griffin High School, SCI/Benedictine, headed convention center board
1976: Jessie Mae Finley; community and church volunteer, founder of Voices of Love, Joy and Peace
1977: Adele Karlson; advocate for people with mental disabilities
1978: Mitch Shadid; supporter, organizer of youth baseball
1979: Peter Mascari; priest, humanitarian and community activist
1980: Leon Stewart; religious, humanitarian and fraternal volunteer
1981: Clascenna Harvey; official city greeter, musician
1982: Sally Schanbacher; advocate for historic preservation and restoration of Old Capitol and Lincoln Home area
1983: Frances Braun; volunteer with church, Senior Citizens Center, Lincoln Library and more
1984: Mary Loken; educator, counselor, social worker
1985: Cornelia Hodges; volunteer with Mary Bryant Home and Rail Charity Classic, president of Zonta International
1986: Gary and Beverly Reynolds; adopted nine disadvantaged children
1987: Carrol Hall; founder of Horace Mann Insurance, community philanthropist
1988: Marjorie Marr; foster parent, founder of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, advocate for young people
1989: William Schnirring; leader with United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Memorial Medical Center board
1990: Dr. Robert Nachtwey; helped found St. John’s Hospice, volunteer and fundraiser for many groups
1991: Willard “Bunch” Bunn Jr.; supporter of Springfield Art Association, Urban League, many other organizations
1992: Dr. Emmet Pearson; restored Clayville historic site, supported founding of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, created medical museum at SIU
1993: Marty Sumner; leader of Helping Hands and Contact Ministries, among many social service, arts and other groups
1994: Gladys “Granny” Hubbard; foster parent for more than 50 years, community activist
1995: Dr. Ann Pearson; pediatrician who took special interest in caring for poor children
1996: Sister Anne Carlino; developed Clinics for Kids, Holy Family Food Pantry, led other social service efforts
1997: Ann Dondanville; volunteer with St. Monica’s Maternity Center, St. Joseph’s Home
1998: Carolyn Oxtoby; downtown Springfield preservationist
1999: Bernard Quigley; worked on more than 20 Habitat for Humanity homes, volunteer at St. John’s Breadline, Senior Services and more
2000: Guerry Suggs; supporter of Illinois State Museum, Urban League, Chamber of Commerce, YMCA and others
2001: Rudy Davenport; helped found Habitat for Humanity, president of NAACP, plaintiff in lawsuit that changed Springfield city government
2002: Gene Humphreville; in retirement, managed St. Martin de Porres Center, civic volunteer for more than two decades
2003: Ethel Gingold; championed civil rights, women’s issues, education efforts
2004: Dr. John Holland; worked with Catholic Charities, St. John’s Hospice, Kumler Neighborhood Ministries, many more
2005: Shelby Harbison; leadership roles with Springfield School Board, YMCA, Gateway Foundation, American Business Club
2006: Barbara Dickerman; activist with League of Women Voters, YWCA, NAACP and other organizations supporting civil rights and equality
2007: Wes Barr; organizer of Marine Corps League Toys for Tots program and its successors, other community involvement
2008: J. Garth “Butch” Elzea; philanthropist, led effort to create Edwin Watts Southwind Park
2009: Bob Gray; co-founder of Citizens Club of Springfield
2010: Dr. James Dove; founded Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants, led initiatives in heart care
2011: Rabbi Barry Marks; founded Greater Springfield Interfaith Association, much other community involvement
2012: Paul O’Shea; active with Springfield planning, development and sports groups
2013: Wally Henderson; designed Old Capitol renovation, other architectural and historic observance efforts
2014: Dan Cadigan; 50 years of volunteer efforts with youth, education, business and governmental organizations
2015: Julie Cellini; prime mover in creation of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
2016: James Forstall; higher education official, leader with NAACP, Frontiers International, Citizens Club, Memorial Medical Center
2017: Lisa Stone; community volunteer and activist with Springfield Jewish Federation, Sojourn House, Habitat for Humanity, among others
2018: John Eck Sr.; for volunteer efforts that included providing financial guidance to many nonprofit organizations
2019: Teresa Haley; state and local NAACP leader
2020: Kathryn Harris; for decades of involvement in a variety of civil rights and historic preservation initiatives
2021: Richard Hart; lawyer, local historian/researcher/author and historic preservationist. Among many other activities related to Springfield history, Hart was among the group who originally conceived of SangamonLink and contributed to its growth and development.
2022: Evelyn Brandt Thomas: for a range of philanthropic work over decades and her championing of education, particularly women in the field of agriculture.
2023: Patricia Benanti: for volunteer efforts on behalf of the St. Martin de Porres Center.
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