Our History

The Henry/Stark Unit for the
Illinois Retired Teachers Association Unit 24 Mission
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History:

  • The State IRTA organization was founded in 1955.
  • Our Local was established 6 years later in 1961.

  • The history of HSCRTA from 1961-1990 was collected during Jean Gilbornes Presidency.
  • Gladys Vincent was given credit for helping.
  • Reseach was down by Crystal Stall between 1990-1999.

  • On May 3, 1961 several former teachers of Henry County met at Davidson’s Restaurant in Kewanee for the purpose of organizing a unit to help the teachers with the problems which retirement brings. The acting chairperson was Minnie Elmberg of Kewanee. The following committee was appointed to draft a constitution:
    • Mrs. Alta McFate
    • Ms. Mrtyle Nelson
    • Ms. Marjorie Brown
      •
  • The group met twice more in 1961: July 28 and October 20.
  • It was determined that the group would meet five times a year with a noon meal and meeting to follow.

  • Membership
    • May 3, 1961 - 34 Members
    • 1978 - 100+ Members
    • 1984 - 150+ Members
    • May, 1986(Silver Anniversary) - 183 Members
    • July 1, 1990 - 141 Local Members
    • 2008 - 100 Local Members
    • 2009 - 140 Local Members
    • 2009 - Half of the 509 Retired Teachers in Henry/Stark county are members of the state IRTA

  • 1990 - The following chairs were added:
    • Membership
    • Legislation
    • Retirement Education
    • Foundation Service
    • Health
    • Community Participation
    • Information and Protection Insurance
    • Public Relations
The followering were the original charter members:
Bailey, Elta B - Orion Baird, Mrs. Honor - Kewanee Botorff, Julia - Kewanee
Brown, Marjorie - Kewanee Burnett, Ida - Geneseo Carpenter, Ida - Kewanee
Costenson, Ruth - Kewanee Durey, Mabel Y. - Kewanee Elliott, Nellie - Kewanee
Elmberg, Minnie - Kewanee Everson, Jane F. - Kewanee Fowler, Jennie - Kewanee
Hoefler, Hazel A. - Hooppole Houle, Nellie Cole - Kewanee House, Ethel B. - Kewanee
Johnson, Cora L. - Kewanee Keating, Elizabeth - Kewanee Lamb, Mrs. Opal - Kewanee
Lapan, Mildred - Galva Lyle, Mabel A - Kewanee Magee, Elsie - Geneseo
McFate, Alta - Kewanee McNeely, Harriet - Kewanee Monier, Emily - Galva
Nelson, Myrtle E. - Kewanee Ott, Mary Whitney - Hooppole Peterson, Mollie - Kewanee
Reed, Ruby - Kewanee Robbins, Ada B. - Kewanee Schinleber, Bernice - Kewanee
Snyder, Minnie G. - Kewanee Stewart, Irma - Kewanee Tittle, Lois A. - Castleton
Vincent, Gladys - Cambridge    
The first officers were as follows:
 President: Miss Mildred Lapan, Galva
Vice President: Mrs. Frank Reed, Kewanee
Secretary: Mrs. Jane Everson, Kewanee
Treasurer: Mrs A. M. Durey, Kewanee
Presidents:

Mildred Lapan (1961,1962) Myrtle Nelson (1963,1964) H. M. Robertson (1965-1967)
Edith I. Johnson (1968-1971) Mary Dunlap (1972, 1973) Gladys Vincent (1974, 1975)
C. C. Pryor (1976, 1977) Fred Peter (1978,1979) Maggie Sullivan (1980,1981)
Donald Hansen (1982 - 1984) Lilah Peterson (1985) Margaret L. Riggins (1986 - 1989)
Jean E. Gilborn (1990, 1991) Alvinah O’Boyle (1992, 1993) Byrdena Schuneman (1994, 1995)
Crystal Stoll (1996, 1997) Evelyn Roark (1998,1999) Glen Branson (2000-2003)
David Cole (2004, 2005) Roger Hawk (2006, 2007) Roger Hawk and Sue Busenbark (2008)
Sue Busenbark and Phyllis Dotson (2009) Jocelyn Saline 2009-2011 Gary DeMoss 2011-2013