Bill Shanklin to receive Jaycees’ DSA
The Elmhurst Jaycees has announced that the recipient of the 65th annual Elmhurst Jaycees Distinguished Service Award (“DSA”) is William “Bill” Shanklin. First given in 1950, this annual award is the Jaycees’ way of recognizing a citizen for his/her long-term dedication to making Elmhurst a better community.
Bill Shanklin is best known throughout Elmhurst for his active involvement in various community organizations. For more than 15 years he has been a prominent member of the Elmhurst business community. Bill is an Elmhurst resident, and Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Champion Container Corporation located in Wood Dale, formally of Elmhurst. He is the current chair of the Elmhurst Economic Development Commission, member of the Elmhurst Public Library board, board member of the Elmhurst American Legion, and current member of the Veterans Military Commission in Elmhurst.
Through his work with the Elmhurst Economic Development Commission, Bill has worked to energize the Commission to make a difference in the economic success of the Elmhurst community. He consistently asks the tough questions of City staff to make sure the EEDC is doing all it can to make Elmhurst the best place to do business. He makes an effort to reach out to the businesses located in the North Business Park, while providing assurance that the City cares about them and their ability to grow stronger and succeed in Elmhurst.
Bill is one of the most active Life Members of the Elmhurst American Legion THB Post 187, and was most recently the chair of their inaugural Military Ball fundraiser. Hosting a Military Ball at the Legion was a vision Bill came up with several years ago, and with the help of a team of volunteers from the Post and the community, he was able to bring his vision to fruition. The event was a great success and helped to raise funds while bringing awareness of the Post to the Elmhurst community. Bill also represents the Post on the City of Elmhurst’s Memorial Day and Veterans Day remembrances, while serving as Master of Ceremonies for the Post-Parade and Veterans Day Military ceremonies in Wilder Park.
Richard W. Reichert sums it up best by saying, “Bill is truly one of a kind. He is the person who cares about his family, his friends and his community. He is kind, but not afraid to be direct when he feels strongly about something. Bill Shanklin epitomizes what the Elmhurst Jaycees Distinguished Service Award represents.”
Bill was nominated by 2007 DSA recipient, Ken Bartels, Senior Vice President & Director of Community Bank of Elmhurst with supporting letters received from John R. Quigley (2012 DSA recipient), Richard W. Reichert and Mike Kopp.
The Elmhurst Jaycees are proud to welcome Bill into the prominent group of DSA recipients. The Jaycees invite the public to join them in honoring Bill with a dinner banquet on Tuesday, April 25th, 2017, at the Normandy Banquet Room of the Elmhurst American Legion where the DSA award will be presented to Bill. The reception will begin at 6:00 p.m. with dinner at 7:00 p.m., followed by the program. The cost per person is $60.00.
If you would like to attend, registration and payment can be completed online through the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry‘s website at www.elmhurstchamber.org. Click on Elmhurst Events and locate the DSAs date of April 25th, 2017. Please note that you do not need to be a Chamber member to attend or to register. The registration deadline is Friday, April 21st, 2017. For an alternative registration procedure, or for more information regarding the DSA, contact Chairperson Katie Cullen at 630-926-0277.
