In a lengthy introduction, Bauer was credited for helping to establish
Coles
Together, for his involvement in economic development of the county, his
work as a former Lake Land College board member, and for his longtime service in
the Mattoon Rotary Club, among other things.
"The business park between Mattoon and Charleston is only there because
of Gene Bauer. He negotiated the exchange of properties that was
significant", said Don Yost, one of the presenters.
Yost also credited Bauer's
leadership for bringing Mattoon and Charleston together through
co-operation of both cities' mayors. Bauer said he was appreciative of the award and
joked that 85 years was a long time to wait. He applauded ECIDC for taking
economic development to the regional level. "We have been very
successful in Pulling east and west together in Coles County and having a
good viable economic area to grow"' said Bauer.
Bill Rowland of Mattoon,
chief executive officer and president of First
Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, accepted the award on behalf of the,
community banks. First Mid has about 14 branches in six area cities,
Rowland said their bank's mission and that of ECIDC are parallel. "No
organization is any better than its people," he said. Several
representatives of First Mid also were on hand to help accept the award.
Frank Kabbes of
Effingham also was presented the BESI award from Norma Lansing of the Effingham
Chamber of Commerce. It
was Kabbes commitment that helped pass a $14 million school construction
and renovation referendum last Through his leadership, the Effingham YMCA
conducted a debt reduction program. He recently was named Effingham's Citizen of
the year.
ECIDC is an economic
development group representing nine counties: Christian, Clark,
Cumberland, Coles, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Moultrie and Shelby.
The BESI award was established in 1992 by
the Lumpkin College of
Business at Eastern, Illinois University. It recognizes outstanding business
firms and leaders in the East Central Illinois area who, among other things,
display moral courage and leadership in the face of challenges.
ECIDC officers for next year also were elected: President Robert Webb of
Shelbyville, Vice President Ron Harshman of Sullivan, Secretary Gary Kuhns of
Neoga and Treasurer Richard West of Mattoon.
Used with permission from Mid-Illinois
Newspapers
Publishers of the Mattoon Journal Gazette and the Charleston
Times-Courier
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Coles Together
400 Airport Road
Mattoon, Illinois 61938
(217) 258-5627 FAX (217) 235-9492
