Elgin honors former high school principal
A posthumous award given Thursday night during Elgin's 18th annual Image Awards ceremony brought everyone to their feet.
Ron O'Neal, the first black principal in Elgin Area School District U-46 and a man known for his dedication to students during a career that lasted more than 30 years, received the award for his long service, which included a spot on the board of Public Action to Deliver Shelter of Elgin.
O'Neal was principal at three different Elgin schools - Sheridan Elementary School, Larsen Middle School and Elgin High School - and helped pave the way for other black administrators.
His wife, Carolyn, accepted the award on his behalf. O'Neal, 68, a father of three children, died in late December.
"I'm finally beginning to realize that all those times he said 'I have this committee meeting to go to, this board meeting to attend' ... I guess he really was doing that," she quipped. "I think you got a bigger part of him than we did and I can't think of a better way to share him than to share him with the community of Elgin."
O'Neal's award marked the fourth posthumous honor that the image commission has doled out, said Sue Moylan, chairwoman of the image advisory commission. The ceremony, held at the Centre of Elgin, attracted nearly 200 people.
The awards are meant to honor Elgin residents and institutions that contribute to the city's positive image.
"Keep your eyes open in 2010 for people who are doing special things in the community," Moylan said.
The other winners are:
• The United Way of Elgin's Dolly Parton Imagination Library sees that children start kindergarten with the educational skills they need to succeed by sending a book a month to every Elgin child from birth to the age of five.
• The Elgin Community College mock trial team, which beat Yale and Villanova during a competition at Harvard University, which the ECC squad ended up winning. The team is now gearing up for a national competition this weekend.
• Fran Cella, a member of the Gifford Park Association, who organizes the historic house tours and wrote Elgin's winning application for This Old House Magazine's "Best Place to Buy an Old House" competition.
• Steve Thoren, a local volunteer for seniors who highlights them on "The Senior Spotlight" on WRMN 1410-AM radio.
• Sarah Evans, who used her social media skills to raise more than $161,000 for the Community Crisis Center.
• Sherman Hospital for its new environmentally friendly hospital.
• Jeff Turner of In the Neighborhood Deli for planning a Thanksgiving dinner in 2009 for the needy.
• Morning Wakeup Call, a radio show on WRMN hosted by Mike Hunziker and Mike Green that offers airtime to community groups and civic organizations.
• Elgin Symphony Orchestra for winning four awards from the Illinois Council of Orchestras in 2009.
• The Reverends Rock and Blues Band, comprised of local teens who play benefit concerts to support the community. They are the youngest Image Award winners.
• Ruth Munson, coordinator of the Frock Swap Committee, which helps the Community Crisis Center by allowing women to exchange gently used clothes, shoes and accessories for something new.
• Sandra Parsons of the Ecker Center for Mental Health and Dave Smiley, principal of Elgin High School. The pair arranged a benefit concert at the school to offset state funding cuts.