The Jacksonville Rotary Club recently honored nine people for their service and volunteerism by naming them Paul Harris Fellows. Randy Allen, Terri Benz, Dr. James Bohan, Bill Chipman (honored posthumously), Bob Chipman, Ryan Martin, Marcy Patterson, Dr. Susan Weller, and Rotarian Jan Williams received the awards.
The Paul Harris Fellowship, named for the founder of Rotary, is an honor established by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International in 1957 to honor individuals who, though not necessarily members of Rotary, carry out activities that exemplify the humanitarian and educational objectives of the Rotary Foundation. Members of Rotary earn the ability to designate either themselves or others a Paul Harris Fellow upon making a contribution of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation.
The Jacksonville Rotary Club has been in existence for nearly 100 years, has named 281 Paul Harris Fellows, and has contributed more than $347,000 to the Rotary Foundation. The Club’s most recent group of Paul Harris Fellows is comprised of nine people:
Randy Allen served with the Illinois State Police for 27 years. He currently serves as the director of security and safety for the Ball Chatham School District. Allen has shared his knowledge with other school districts in Illinois as a presenter for the Illinois School Board Association.
Terri Benz has been the Music Director at Centenary United Methodist Church for more than 30 years. Benz has been a professor of Music and Music Appreciation at MacMurray College and Lincoln Land Community College, and serves as the Illinois College Choir accompanist. Benz created and directed the Jacksonville Children’s Choir and coordinated the Symphony Youth Concerts, which have served hundreds of children from area schools. She has also been an integral part of the Jacksonville Symphony Society’s Talent Among Us program.
Dr. James Bohan is a family medicine doctor affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Memorial Medical Center and Passavant Area Hospital. In addition to serving the community through his medical practice for more than 30 years, he has served on the District 117 school board, Sherwood Eddy YMCA board, Historic Preservation Commission board, and Morgan County Board of Health.
Bill Chipman was honored posthumously, with the award being accepted by his widow Betty Chipman, and his sons Bob and Jim Chipman. Bill Chipman passed away in March 2017. Chipman, who founded Chipman Realtors and Appraisers more than 60 years ago, had a long record of outstanding community service, including leadership roles on the YMCA Board, United Way, the Kiwanis Club, the Passavant Hospital Board, and the Jacksonville Board of Realtors. He was president of the District 117 Board of Education, founding president of the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation, and served many years as chair of both the city’s Public Building Commission and the city’s Plans Commission. He was a 66-year member of Harmony Lodge #3. Chipman was inducted into the Jacksonville Hall of Fame in 1996.
Bob Chipman has continued his family’s tradition of community service by serving on the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation and Illinois College Board of Trustees. He has served on the Passavant Hospital Board, the YMCA Board, the Jacksonville Association of Realtors, the Kiwanis Club and the United Way Board. Chipman was the United Way campaign co-chair in 1986 and again in 2016 with his wife Janet, son Tim and daughter-in-law Stephanie.
Ryan Martin will begin his teaching career at Jacksonville High School this fall, where he is teaching Algebra I and II. Martin, who is the grandson of Keith and Phyllis Lape of Jacksonville, is a graduate of Chatham High School and Illinois State University. Martin played football in high school and lacrosse in college. While he was doing his student teaching in math at Plainfield South High School, he helped coach a high school community lacrosse team. His goal is to someday coach lacrosse at the high school level. The Jacksonville Rotary Club is happy to welcome Martin to the community.
Marcy Patterson is the Publisher of the Source. She is a retired Paramedic and is presently a deputy Coroner for Morgan County and a City of Jacksonville Alderman. Patterson is a veteran who served our country in the Air National Guard. She has been instrumental in the success of many Jacksonville events and organizations, and was a driving force behind the “A Cent Makes Sense” campaign in support of our schools. Patterson is the President-elect of the Jacksonville Kiwanis Club.
Dr. Susan Weller has served as President of the Jacksonville Symphony Society and is Director Emeritus on the Symphony Board. Illinois College’s McGaw Fine Arts Organization recognized her for “Distinguished Contributions and Service in the Advancement of the Fine Arts.” MacMurray College recognized Weller with its “Community Service Award” and as “Distinguished Alumna.” The Jacksonville Kiwanis Club has recognized Weller with its Exceptional Leadership and Devoted Service Award as well as “Kiwanian of the Year” for 2011-2012. Weller is currently President of the Jacksonville Center for the Arts, which will be constructed to enhance the arts and economic development in the Jacksonville community.
Jan Williams is a Rushville native but has lived in Jacksonville for twenty years. She has taught in area schools, recently at 8 Points Charter and Winchester Junior High. In the past, she worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters as a case manager, and at the Department of Corrections. Teaching is her passion and making a difference for those she teaches drives her. She and her husband Tony are involved in making sure the ideals of Rotary are established with future generations, and enjoy traveling to visit Rotarians in other parts of the world.
Each Fellowship recipient was presented with a certificate, pin, and medallion, with one of the Rotary members responsible for awarding the Fellowship explaining why the individual was selected.