2012 Honoree - Roger Brandt

Louis F. Schultz Distinguished Service Award

A person would be hard pressed to find a community improvement project in the Illinois Valley that has not benefited from Roger Brandt’s efforts. The Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Museum was successfully restored in large part due to his efforts, the Illinois River Forks State Park was kept open through his advocacy, and he was part of a community team that developed a new playground for Jubilee Park. Brandt chaired the IV Community Development Organization and served as secretary for the Cultural and Ecological Enhancement Network, the IV Recreation Opportunities Collaborative, and the Kerby Union High School Association.

His skills range from writing articles about local history to conducting geological and botanical tours for college groups to developing websites for non-profits to rolling up his sleeves and working on noxious weed eradication and clearing local trails.

“There is no project or need too large or too small to warrant Roger’s attention,” said past Four Way board member Jann Taylor. “He’s a person who gets things done and makes visions become reality.”

Selected Non-Profits: Illinois Valley Community Development Organization and Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Museum