The Park Forest Historical Society was founded in 1985 to promote and preserve the history of Park Forest. It is an independent not-for-profit organization, which presents programs to share various perspectives of the village's unique past. The main criterion for election to the Park Forest Hall of Fame is consistent, substantial and beneficial contributions to the life and citizens of Park Forest over a considerable span of time. Hall of Fame nominations take place each year from October 1 through December 31.
Inducted members of the Park Forest Historical Society Hall of Fame
*Indicates that Oral History Transcripts are available. Click on the year to view brief bios of the year's inductees.
1989
Philip M. Klutznick
1994
Lois Coxworth
Bernard G. Cunningham
Henry X. Dietch *
Robert A. Dinerstein
Gerson Engelmann
Dewey Helmick
Art Hodes
Nathan Manilow
Leona Ringering
Carroll F. Sweet, Jr.
Earl M. Wade
1995
Elaine Sigrid Garretson *
James Lusk Garretson *
Gertrude L. Gold
Tom McDade *
Lester B. Vande Berg
1996
James Marzuki *
Mary Lou Marzuki
J. Ron McLeod
Alice B. Racher
Emanuel M. Racher
Marge Friedman Scherr
Charles Waldmann
1997
Rhoda Adler
Ronald Bean
Harold Brown
Rose Carol Brown
Ross De Lue
Leona B. De Lue
E.C. (Eddie) & Margaret Edwards
1998
John Goodrich
Therese Goodrich
Beverly Myrow
Gerald (Jerry) Myrow
Leo E. Orsi
Anthony Scariano
Lester S. Skaggs
Ruth Skaggs
Edward Waterman
1999
Lynn Brenne
Wilma Brenne
Raymond W. Janota
George & Josephine Maeyama
John C. North
Leonard Carl Robinson
Sam Walker
2000
Etel Bilig
Harriet Marcus Gross
Jerry Knight
Stan & Jan Moore
Irwin "Pappy" Schechter
Robert Smart
Warren Utes
2001
F. Patrick Kelly
Hugo Leinberger
John "Jack" Morrissey
Mayer & Peggy Singerman
Harry Teshima
Rita Walker
2002
Dorothy M. Colson
John & Doris Hill
Bo & Helen Lawrence
C. Shanti Thayil
2003
Ralph Gordon Johnson
Rudy Lachmann
Georgia C. O'Neill
Blaine "Bud" & Hope Osterling
Frederick W. Peterman
George Taradash
2004
Richard Marsh Bennett
Gretchen Falk
William I. Hamby
A. Oscar Johnson
Betty L. McDonnell
Florence Oliver
Jack & Dorothy Rabin Star
2005
Robert E. Brooks, Sr.
Norma Jean Crute Collins
Judy Lohr
Robert G. Maeyama
Jerry Mathews
Patricia M. Moore
2006
Keith Hauge
Janet R. Muchnik
Dr. Mel Muchnik
Jon D. Steinmetz
Jane Steinmetz
Alfred "Al" Van Horn III
2007
Mary McCall
Jane Nicoll
Rev. Daniel O'Sullivan
Anna T. Saul
James D. Saul
George C. Townsend
Theresa (Terry) Townsend
2008
Jean Bernstein
Suzanne Brown
Kenneth W. Kramer
Barbara J. Moore
Valerie L. Nicholson
Elmer L. Washington, Sr., PhD
Michael Wheeler
2009
Gary Kopycinski
Myrtle C. Martin
Marty O'Neill
John R. Ray
2010
Ivan A. Baker
Christine R. Blue
Mae R. Brandon
Diana Cruz
Jerrold Loebl
Norman J. Schlossman
Jerry and Penny Shnay
2011
Helen S. Brunner
Florence Cunningham
Adele Glassner
Alvin Glassner
Richard "Dick" Humbert
Celia-Ann Toll
Aunt Martha's Youth Services
2012
Mary H. Davidson
Francis G. Dioguardi
Marie A. Iafollo
Leonard McDannel & Margaret McDannel
Roger D. Paris
Al Sturges & Barbara G. Sturges
Tall Grass Arts Association
2013
James Gallagher
Marlene H. Gallagher
John Joyce
Alicia Rodman McCray
William M. Tilley
Park Forest Nurses Club
2014
James Henkel
Ruth Henkel
Ralph C. Medhurst
Terry J. Medhurst
Robert A. "Bob" Navid
Ruth P. Navid
A. Wayne Mann
Robert G. Pierce
Rich East High School
2015
Joan Bogar Crabb
Maureen Hubbard Cribbs
Jon & Judy Dolan Mendelson
Bruce L. Neel
John Perry
Dr. Magne B. Olson
Friends of Thorn Creek Woods
2016
Don DeMarco
Mary & Larry Lubertozzi
Kathy (Cardona) McDonough
Michael McNamara
Herbert E. & Patricia M. Tieder
Grande Prairie Singers
2017
Jack & Peg Donahue
Carl & Peggy Glassford
William "Bill" & Juanita Simpson
Herschel Wayne& Helen Davies Ward
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra
2018
Gregory C. Baker
Mary Dankowski
Deloris Janota
Yvonne Robinson
Douglas C. Ulreich
Committee for Non-Partisan Local Government
2019
Cliff Butz
Vivian A. Purnell
Chuck Sabey
Eugene P. (Sr.) & Mary E. Schmittgens
Kiwanis Club of Park Forest
2020
Katherine "Katie" Felt Armstrong
June Defoe
Anna Bonita Dillard
Roy R. Dillard
Janet Fiorenzo
Edwin Fizer
Bruce Ziegle
2021
Ann Hernandez
Dr. Jerome Kharasch
Yuan Liang
"Colonel" Milan Plavsic
John Logan Scott
H. Thurber Stowell
2022
Margaret Q. Annett
Robert W. Annett
Edward Czupryn, Jr.
Allen S. Warshaw
Cheryl Levinson Warshaw
Charlotte L. Wolf
Homer S. Wolf
2023
Gary V. Friedlund
Hon. Raymond Funderburk
Andrew Gladstone
Georgette Gladstone
John A. Ostenburg
Dave Rudolf
2024
Sam Beber
Gregory C. Randall
Vernice Johnson-Warren
Betsy Williams
Janette Rodriguez Wood
Warren J. Wood
