12.20.12

Durbin Honors Retiring Du Quoin Mayor John Rednour on Senate Floor

Thanks Mayor Rednour for His Many Years of Service and Wishes Him a Very Happy 78th Birthday

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) yesterday paid tribute to Du Quoin Mayor John Rednour, who will soon be retiring after more than two decades in City Hall.

 

“I would like to take a moment to wish Mayor John Rednour of Du Quoin, Illinois, a very happy 78th birthday and to thank him, as he prepares to retire, for his many years of public service to his town and our state,” Durbin said.

 

“As a labor leader, businessman, mayor, husband and father, John Rednour has contributed enormously to his community and our state.  While his day-to-day presence in city hall will be greatly missed, residents of Du Quoin can take comfort in knowing that John Rednour’s leadership leaves their community with a strong foundation and a bright future.”

 

In his 23-year career as Mayor of Du Quoin, John Rednour focused on balancing the city’s budget and investing in its infrastructure. Before being elected mayor, John Rednour worked as an iron worker in St. Louis and Chicago, and served as served as site superintendent during construction of the United States Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois. After moving to Du Quoin with his family, he joined local shareholders to convert Du Quoin State Bank into a community bank to serve downstate Illinois. He remains its chairman today.

The text of Durbin’s remarks is below:

 

Remarks by Senator Richard Durbin

Honoring Du Quoin Mayor John Rednour

December 20, 2012

 

Mr. DURBIN.  I would like to take a moment to wish Mayor John Rednour of Du Quoin, Illinois, a very happy 78th birthday and to thank him, as he prepares to retire, for his many years of public service to his town and our state.

 

John Rednour, known to most people as simply Rednour, has served as mayor of Du Quoin since 1989.

 

Public service was his third career.  He began his working life as an iron worker – a member of the United Ironworkers.  He worked on projects in the St. Louis area and in Chicago and served as site superintendent during construction of the United States Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois.

 

In 1970, John moved to Du Quoin with his wife Wanda and their three children.

 

In the early 1980s, John began his second career when he and some local shareholders took control of the Du Quoin State Bank and converted it into a community bank serving downstate Illinois.  Today, the bank stands as one of the strongest banks in southern Illinois, and John remains the bank’s chairman.

 

But it was John Rednour’s work as mayor of Du Quoin that really distinguishes his public service.  In his 23 years as mayor, he focused on balancing the city’s budget and investing in its infrastructure.  His legacy to Du Quoin includes construction of the Poplar Street overpass, a major thoroughfare for travel on Highway 51 through Southern Illinois, improved water and service service and the development of an industrial park.  He managed to do all of this with a balanced budget, creating new opportunities for his community even in tough times.

 

He is also a member of the five-person Illinois State Police Merit Board.

 

John Rednour is a proud Democrat but he also knows that there are things that are more important than party.  He has made it a habit to meet with new Du Quoin City Council Members and he offers the same advice to each of them.  He told them to always vote for what is good for Du Quoin.

 

Loretta and I consider ourselves lucky to count John and Wanda Rednour among our friends.  We have many happy memories of “fair parties” at the Rednour home during our trips to the Du Quoin State Fair.  Loretta and I have been regular visitors to the Rednour’s home and have warm memories of the fair party that John and Wanda hold every year.  We always appreciate John’s entertaining stories – almost as much as we love Wanda’s famous pancakes.

 

As a labor leader, businessman, mayor, husband and father, John Rednour has contributed enormously to his community and our state.  While his day-to-day presence in city hall will be greatly missed, residents of Du Quoin can take comfort in knowing that John Rednour’s leadership leaves their community with a strong foundation and a bright future. 

 

In addition to three children, John and Wanda are blessed with five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren who I am sure will help keep him busy in his retirement.

 

I thank John for his many years of distinguished public service.  Loretta and I wish him and his family all the best in his retirement.  We look forward to more stories and more pancakes in the years to come.