Board of Directors
Board of Directors
President: Patrick Bell
Pat is a lifelong resident of Paris, Illinois, graduating from Paris High School and Indiana State University. He is a CPA with Larsson, Woodyard & Henson, LLP, and serves the firm as Administrative Partner and Partner in Charge of the Paris office.
Serving various not-for-profit entities in the Paris area, Pat was a founding board member of the Central Illiana Estate Planning Council, Past President of the Indiana State University Alumni Board, and currently serves as a board member for the Indiana State University Foundation, Bicentennial Art Center and Edgar County Community Foundation.
Treasurer: William C. Minnis
Bill was born in Terre Haute, IN, and resides on a fifth generation family farm in Edgar County where he raises Angus cattle. He has experience as a health care administrator, professor, entrepreneur, and consultant. In 2008, Bill assumed the position of the president of Citizens National Bank. He completed a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Business Administration degree at Indiana State University and his PhD in management at Saint Louis University. he is married to Jennifer and has six children, Matthew, Michael, Mark, Sarah, Abigail, and Nathan, and two grandchildren.
Secretary: E. Robert Anderson
E. Robert Anderson. "Rob" grew up in Paris and is a graduate of Paris High School, Eastern Illinois University and the University of Illinois College of Law. He has been an attorney in Paris since 1985, when he joined the firm where his father had practiced law. In 2006 his firm, Anderson Law Offices, moved to a newly remodeled office building at 1204 N. Main St. in Paris. He has been a member of the Edgar County Community Foundation since 1995. He currently a director of the Paris Area Chamber of Commerce.
Development Manager: Warren Sperry
Warren Sperry is a school educator and administrator for the Paris School System. Born and raised in Illinois, Warren has served the Paris community as a board member of the YMCA, American Red Cross, Paris Kiwanis Club, CAMA, Paris Area Youth Services, First Christian Church, and The Friends of the Paris Community Hospital. Now actively serving as Project Manager for the foundation, Warren continues to support those causes that will continue to enrich the Edgar County Area.
Board Members:
Chris Eldredge
Chris Eldredge is a native of Paris, and a graduate of Paris High School and Illinois Wesleyan University. After graduating from IWU, Eldredge worked for two years at FS Services, Inc. (now Growmark) before returning to Paris to work for Illinois Cereal Mills, Inc. He continued to work for Cargill, Inc. as Vice President of Sales after they purchased ICM in the mid 90's. Eldredge changed career paths in 2002 when he became President of Citizens National Bank. He has been quite active throughout the community over the years, involved as a coach and director in youth sports and as a board member with the Human Resource Center. Presently he serves on numerous church boards at Grace Lutheran Church, is a director and past president of Paris Economic Development Corporate (PEDCO), a director with the Coalition Against Methamphetamines (CAMA), a director of the Werner Foundation and presently the President of the Edgar County Community Foundation.
Harry Frost
Harry Frost, native of Robinson, Illinois, is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a degree in Chemistry. Past community service includes involvement with all ages being active as the President of Paris Youth Baseball Board of Directors and President of the Edgar County Housing Authority Board for senior citizens.
Jason A. Graham
Dr. Jason Graham was born and raised in Paris, Illinois. Upon graduating from Paris High School in 1990, he attended Eastern Illinois University. He graduated from Southern Illinois University-School of Dental Medicine in 1997 and entered private practice. He and his family moved back to Paris in 2000. He is currently a Paris YMCA board member, Paris Rotary Club member and served in the past on the Paris Area Chamber of Commerce.
Joe Hasler
Mr. Joe Hasler, retired CEO of the Illinois Cereal Mill, is one of the original founders of the foundation. Joe is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Citizens National Bank. He is deeply motivated and involved in preserving the quality of life for all the residents of Edgar County.
Tom Herbermehl
Tom Hebermehl is a registered pharmacist raised and educated in Indiana. He married a local girl upon graduation from Butler University and bought Pearman Pharmacy, making Paris his home. The business has grown because it serves the needs of people. His community interests have grown because of his desire to serve the needs of the people. Tom sits on the boards of Paris Community Hospital, Art Center, Main Street Paris, United Way, Community Nurse, and Edgar County Community Foundation.
Carolyn Brown Hodge
In April of 2003, Carolyn Brown Hodge was hired by Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn to serve as the Director of the Rural Affairs. According to the Lieutenant Governor, Carolyn's rural roots was one of the reasons that she was hired, but her organizational skills and ability to work on the many issues that face rural Illinois, were just as important.
Carolyn was raised in rural Carmi where her family continues to farm. Following graduation from Eastern Illinois University in 1968, she moved to her husband's hometown of Paris where they have raised two children.
For almost nine years, Carolyn worked as a Field Director for the American Heart Association. In that capacity, she coordinated community awareness programs and fundraising events for the association's battle against Joe Camel and big tobacco companies' efforts at marketing their products to teenagers. Following that, she served as a Community Liaison for Secretary of State Jesse White in 15 east central Illinois counties before joining Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn's staff as the Director of Rural Affairs.
Ned Jenison
E. H. "Ned" Jenison, a native of Paris, is a graduate of Paris High School and the University of Illinois. After military service during the Korean War and two years as agricultural editor for the Champaign-Urbana Courier, he returned to the family newspaper, the Paris Beacon-News, with which he remained until retiring as publisher in 2006. He remains active in several other community organizations including the Hospital and Medical Foundation of Paris, Paris Development Corp. (PEDCO), Paris Planning Commission, Edgar County Mental Health Board, Paris Chamber of Commerce, and Main Street Paris.
Robert Morgan
Bob Morgan has been a Paris supporter for several years. As an entrepreneur, business man, banker, and developer, Mr. Morgan continues to advocate those positive aspects of community growth. One of the original founders of the Community Foundation, Mr. Morgan, in word and deed, champions those needs of the people in our county.
Mary Ann Pearman
A life long resident of Edgar County Mary continues to participate and support many worthwhile activities. A graduate of Saint Mary's of the Woods in the field of music, Mary Ann is actively engaged in the support and development of the humanities in the county. Threaded through her many years, her activities have included 4-H, church Choir Director, director of Paris Community Choir, and various women's organizations. She continues to serve on many organizational boards such as the Paris Community Hospital, Edgar County children's home, Community Concert Board, Homemakers Extension, Paris Junior Women's Club, Positive Development of Edgar County, and Friends of the Family Association of CIA TV. Mary Ann is currently serving and associated with the Lumpkin Family Foundation.
David Sullivan
David F. Sullivan is a 1970 graduate of Paris High School and received a B.S. in Agriculture Economics from the University of Illinois in 1974. Dave has spent the past 28 years of his professional career in banking, primarily in the Paris community and serves as President of First Bank, Paris. Sullivan is also a past president of the Paris Development Corp. (PEDCO) and currently serves as chairman of the Revolving Loan Fund for the City of Paris. He is also a director for Region VI of the Illinois Bankers Association. Other activities include the Paris Noon Kiwanis Club, active affiliation with St. Mary's Church, and the Knights of Columbus Council #860.
T. Bradley Tucker
T. Bradley "Brad" Tucker is a fifth generation farmer and lifelong resident of Edgar County. Born to lifelong Edgar County residents Bill and Mary Ann Morris Tucker, Brad lives on the home farm begun in 1848 in Edgar Township, near Horace. He is married to the former Lisa Tinley of Danville, and they are the parents of Samantha and Robby. Brad is a graduate of Paris High School and the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Ag Economics. He has worked in commodity brokerage as well as farming. Other past activities include participation in the Kiwanis Early Risers, Farm Bureau, Edgar County Soil and Water Conservation Board, Edgar Township Trustee, Edgar County Fair, Edgar County Chapter of Pheasants Forever, the First Baptist Church of Paris, Edgar County Young Republicans, Hunter Safety Instruction, and East Central Illinois Illini Club.
David E. Wegner
Optometrist, Dr. David E. Wegner, and his family moved to Paris from Wisconsin in 1986. After graduating from Indiana University School of Optometry in 1973, he practiced for 13 years in Racine, Wisconsin. He has been associated and now owner of both Chitick Family Vision Center of Paris, and the Marshall Vision Center in Marshall, Illinois. Dr. Wegner has been active in the Paris community organizations including Noon Kiwanis, Paris Main Street, The Paris Chamber of Commerce, Paris Park Board, Paris High School Drama Parents, Paris High School Football, and Paris Junior League Basketball. Dr. Wegner also participates in vision screenings and health fairs throughout the area.
Mary Liz Wright
Mary Liz Wright is a graduate of Paris High School and Loyola University of Chicago. She is currently employed by the University of Illinois Extension as the Family Nutrition Program coordinator. Mary Liz currently serves on the Edgar County Fair board, the Compassionate Food Ministries board, and the Unit 4 School Board. Recently, Mary Liz has served as a member of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs MAPPING project. She is also involved, as a parent, in 4-H, PHS Drama Parents and PHS Band Parents. A life long resident of Edgar County, Mary Liz looks forward to giving back to the community the she cares deeply about.
Charles Willis
Charles Willis had been an industrialist in Paris for nearly 40 years until recent retirement. His interests have since turned toward developing the future of Paris particularly in the area of educational opportunity. As a founding member of the Edgar County Community Foundation, his focus has continuously been on benefiting those who struggle or are in need of assistance to attain their goals.
Edgar County Community Foundation, Inc.
110 W. Court Street
Paris, IL 61944
inquiry@eccfdn.org
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