[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18060]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           MAYOR JOHN REDNOUR

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I wish to take a moment to wish Mayor John 
Rednour of Du Quoin, IL, a happy 78th birthday and to thank him as he 
prepares to retire after so many great years of public service to his 
town and Illinois.
  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 
started work as an ironworker, a member of the United Ironworkers. He 
worked on projects in St. Louis and in Chicago and served as site 
superintendent during construction of the U.S. Federal penitentiary in 
Marion.
  In 1970 John moved to Du Quoin with his wife Wanda and three kids. In 
the early 1980s John began his second career when he and some local 
shareholders took control of the Du Quoin State Bank, converting it 
into a community bank that served downstate Illinois. Today the bank 
stands as one of the strongest in our State, and John remains the 
bank's chairman.
  But it was John Rednour's work as mayor of Du Quoin that really 
distinguished 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 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 a member of the five-person Illinois State Police Merit Board 
and a proud Democrat, I might add, but he knows there are some things 
that need to be done on a bipartisan basis. He has made it his habit to 
meet with the Du Quoin city council members and offered to take advice 
from each and every one 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 State fair 
parties at the Rednour home during our trips to the Du Quoin State 
Fair. Loretta and I have been regular visitors to Rednour's home and 
have warm memories of staying overnight after the fair party and having 
Wanda greet us at breakfast with her so-called Texas pancakes--and they 
could fit in the State of Texas.
  As a labor leader, businessman, mayor, husband, and father, John 
Rednour has contributed enormously to Du Quoin, downstate Illinois, and 
to our entire State and Nation. While his day-to-day presence in city 
hall is going to be missed, residents of Du Quoin can take comfort in 
knowing that John Rednour's leadership is still in 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 are going to 
be glad to have more time with John and Wanda now.
  I thank John for his many years of distinguished public service. 
Loretta and I wish him and his family all the best in retirement. We 
look forward to many more stories and more pancakes in the years to 
come.

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