The six Order of Lincoln award recipients for the year largely hail from Peoria. The Order of Lincoln award is the state’s highest honor for professional achievement and public service. Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner named this year’s winners in celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s
207th birthday.
Nancy Goodman Brinker, Robert Gilmore, Ray LaHood and Kevin Stein are among the list of Order of Lincoln award winners. NPR’s Scott Simon is also named among the winners. The award recognizes those whose work and global influence keeps the spirit of Abraham Lincoln alive. Governor Rauner calls this year’s slate of winners truly remarkable in their work.
The Order of Lincoln award winners will be recognized May 7 at the 52nd Annual Convocation and Investiture of Laureatesgala at the Marriott Pere Marquette. The fund raising gala supports the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Scholarships.
The full list of this year’s Order of Lincoln recipients:
Nancy Goodman Brinker
Born in Peoria and a University of Illinois graduate, regarded as the leader of the global breast cancer movement - Founder of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Named one of Time Magazine's '100 Most Influential People' in '06. Retired U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary, retired U.S. Chief of Protocol, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Robert Gilmore
Described by Doug Oberhelman, CEO of Caterpillar, as one of Illinois' most substantial industrial leaders who has made an impact on manufacturing throughout the world. Active in several organizations including the Youth Farm and Children's Home, the Boy Scouts, and Illinois Central College.
Raymond LaHood
A Peoria native, represented Illinois' 18th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995-2009. Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Strong advocate for preserving the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Serves as Senior Advisor to The Dirksen Congressional Center and co-chairs Building America's Future.
Leo Melamed
Globally recognized as the founder of financial futures. As chairman of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME Group), created the International Monetary Market (IMM), led the CME in the introduction of a diverse number of financial instruments, including Treasury Bills in 1976, Eurodollars in 1981 and stock index futures in 1982. Spearheaded the introduction of the world’s first futures electronic trading system Globex® and became its founding chairman. Led the effort to monetize commodities and made Chicago the hub of futures trading.
Scott Simon
Host of NPR's 'Weekend Edition Saturday'. Recipient of every major broadcasting award, including a Peabody, an Emmy, & the Studs Terkel Award. Host of many special public television programs. He is a master of new media in the Twitter age. He is also an accomplished author.
Kevin Stein
A professor at Bradley University since 1984 and recipient of two of Bradley's most prestigious awards: Caterpillar Professor of English and Samuel Rothberg Professional Excellence Award. Illinois' Poet Laureate since 2003. Author of numerous poetry books, scholarly books, poetry anthologies & published poems. Recipient of several awards and honors. Recognized by peers as one of the best poetry critics in the U.S. Editor of Bread & Steel and Illinois Voices: An Anthology of 20th Century Poetry.
The Order of Lincoln was established by the Governor of Illinois in 1965, and the Lincoln Academy of Illinois -- an independent, non-partisan organization -- was created to administer the award and to choose the annual award recipients.
Money raised at the 52nd Annual Convocation and Investiture of Laureates dinner support Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Scholarships to one student from each of the 56 four-year colleges and universities in Illinois and one student representing the state’s community colleges. College presidents select the students on the basis of academic achievement and community service.
