An organization is only as effective as its members. Over the seventy plus years of existence, the Illinois Jaycees have had many outstanding young people provide an impact on the organization which is worthy of recognition.
In 1985, the Illinois Jaycee Charitable Foundation Founders Club established the Illinois Jaycee Hall of Fame by inducting their first honoree. The Founders Club has continued to honor outstanding Jaycees who have been nominated by their peers for inclusion in the Illinois Jaycee Hall of Fame.
Nomination criteria to be considered for selection into the Hall of Fame includes:
- A nominee must be 44 years of age
- A nominee must have been an Illinois Jaycee
- Criteria for selection is based on:
- Jaycee Achievement
- Character/Citizenship
- Contribution to the Jaycee movement
- Evidence of leadership abilities
- Service to their community during and after Jaycee age
- Only Founders Club members may submit a nomination along with supportive data
- All nominations must be submitted by the announced annual deadline date
- All nominees not selected during a given year will be retained for continuous consideration in subsequent years
- Final endorsement will be the Illinois Jaycee Charitable Foundation Board
The Founders Club has honored the following inductees into the Illinois Jaycee Hall of Fame at the Annual Ten Outstanding Young People of Illinois (TOYP) Honors Program banquet since the program inception in 1985:
- Larry Olsen - Moline - 1985
- Reginald Willis - Peoria - 1986
- Richard Bayer - Palatine - 1986
- Wilbert Stephenson - Moline - 1987
- Thomas Wallisch - Northlake - 1989
- Reid Bradford - Evanston - 1990
- James Kotche - Rockford - 1990
- William Black - Danville - 1991
- William Brunkow - Champaign - 1992
- Norman Hoffman - Belvidere - 1992
- James O'Connell - Joliet - 1993
- Charlie Gouveia - Lemont - 1994
- Lamont McGlothlen - Galesburg - 1995
- H. W. "Tiney" Nix - Herrin - 1996
- Gary L. Pittenger - Morton - 1997
- John A. Davidson - Springfield - 1998
- John D. Olson - Albers - 1998
- Frank C. Watson - Greenville - 1999
- Charles E. Fries - Schaumburg - 2000
- Michael J. Kelley - Peoria - 2001
- William Willett - Dixon - 2001
- Len Schwarz - Highland - 2001
- B.J. Jackson - Rockford - 2002
- Roland W. Burris - Chicago South End - 2003
- Ralph A. Rohweder - Chicago - 2003
- Johnny Anthony East St. Louis 2004
- Wayne Kiefer New Baden 2004
- Fred Fischer Tinley Park 2005
- John Egan - Lombard 2006
- Steve Schomaker Albers 2007
- Gene Honn - 2008
Only members of the Founders Club can make nominations of individuals for consideration
and selection into the Illinois Jaycee Hall of Fame.
Illinois Jaycee Hall of Fame