Neighbors in the News
• Maryville Academy announced that the honoree for its 2010 Guardian Medallion Award is The Honorable Joseph M. Lyons, Illinois State Representative.
Rep. Lyons has focused on the needs of children and families throughout his legislative career, and has been a loyal advocate for Maryville's Crisis Nursery, which is located in his 19th district on Chicago's Northwest side.
The Maryville Guardian Medallion was established in 2007 in recognition of "Selfless Service on Behalf of Children as Protector, Mentor and Guardian".
• Schaumburg native Joe Kusek was selected the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) writer of the year for 2009. The PRCA is the governing body of professional rodeo.
He is a graduate of Schaumburg High School, Harper College and Northern Illinois University. Kusek, who was a part-time sports writer for the Daily Herald 1978-1983, is currently a sports writer/columnist for the Billings Gazette in Montana. He also writes for numerous rodeo publications concerning women's rodeo and the Professional Bull Riders.
• Longtime criminal defense attorney Ed Downs of Mount Prospect received the Northwest Suburban Bar Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.
The presentation was made in December. Joining Downs at the event were his wife Debra; son Matt, an attorney whose practice is in Batavia, and daughter-in-law Christine, a Kane County assistant state's attorney. He also has two daughters and six grandchildren.
Downs, who earned degrees from Wright Junior College, Loyola University School of Business and Loyola University Graduate School of Industrial Relations, earned his law degree from DePaul University. He worked as a Cook County assistant state's attorney, as well as a Cook County assistant public defender, and as chief public defender in McHenry County. He also attended National-Louis University's National College of Education and taught at Harper College in Palatine. For a time he was coordinator of the college's Criminal Justice program.
• Send Neighbors in the News items to ntwohey@dailyherald.com