<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3Zv56i_0vmMyZ6b00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Zv56i_0vmMyZ6b00" width="1000" height="563" ><figcaption>Inductees into the 2024 Class of the GoRockford Tourism Hall of Fame are, clockwise from top left, Fourth of July Civic Committee, Tommy Meeks, Painter’s District Council 30, local 607, and Marco Lenis. (Photos by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)</figcaption></figure>ROCKFORD — GoRockford on Friday inducted two people and two organizations into its Tourism Hall of Fame.The honors were revealed during the tourism group’s 40th anniversary celebration. The inductees were recognized for their contributions to the Rockford region’s tourism, culture and economic development. Each, GoRockford said, left a lasting impact on the region’s growth and vibrancy.Roughly 600 people attended the celebration at Hard Rock Live, where GoRockford also revealed its rebranding and discussed its Thrive 2035 vision for drawing people to the Rockford region over the next decade.The 2024 Tourism Hall of Fame class is: <h2>Tommy Meeks</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3D6sOc_0vmMyZ6b00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3D6sOc_0vmMyZ6b00" width="2048" height="1408" ><figcaption>Tommy Meeks, who has organized Juneteenth celebrations in Rockford for 33 years, waves to the crowd on Monday, June 19, 2023, at the annual festivities at Sinnissippi Park. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)</figcaption></figure>Meeks is honored for his nearly 35 years of growing the city’s Juneteenth celebration from a small event to one with thousands of attendees at Sinnissippi Park with multiple musical performances, art, poetry, giveaways and local food vendors.“Through his vision and hard work, what started as a modest gathering has become one of Rockford’s and the state of Illinois’ signature events, drawing thousands each year,” Bobbie Holzwarth said in inducting Meeks.Decades before Juneteenth was widely recognized, Tommy and Evelyn Meeks, along with their children, passed out fliers and hung posters to do their best to spread the word about the celebration.In fact, the event Meeks put on is Illinois’ oldest and longest-running Juneteenth celebration.Today, Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of slavery on June 19, 1865.Meeks works at the Winnebago County Resource Intervention Center, where he helps formerly incarcerated people reintegrate into the city and rebuild their lives. Some of those individuals have gone on to volunteer and win awards at the Juneteenth event.“His blend of compassion and leadership has fostered personal growth in those around him and played a pivotal role in creating and enhancing a long-standing local cultural celebration,” Holzwarth said.<h2>Fourth of July Civic Committee</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1i1OWu_0vmMyZ6b00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1i1OWu_0vmMyZ6b00" width="1441" height="1052" ><figcaption>Ted O’Donnell, co-chairman of the Rockford Fourth of July Civic Committee, looks out at the display on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, in Davis Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)</figcaption></figure>The committee is honored for continuing the legacy of Mr. Fourth of July Joe Marino by leading the downtown Fourth of July celebration and the annual Festival of Lights.Cousins Ted O’Donnell and Tom Luepkes, co-chairmen of the group, accepted the induction on Friday.“From the vibrant illumination of our summer sky to the twinkling holiday lights reflecting off the snow, there is one group, led by two men who’ve dedicated their lives to making our community brighter,” Dana Martin said in the induction.Luepkes and O’Donnell have carried the torch for the annual celebrations since Marino died in November 2018.“Think back to the first time you saw a child’s face pressed against the car window; eyes wide with wonder as you drove through the Festival of Lights,” Martin said. “Did it take you back to your own childhood? Or the grand finale of the fireworks shows, can you hear the cheering as people stare in awe?”“These annual events are more than just celebrations — they are traditions that have been passed down one generation to the next.”<h2>Painter’s District Council 30, Local 607</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3KSO5Q_0vmMyZ6b00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3KSO5Q_0vmMyZ6b00" width="1000" height="563" ><figcaption>Ryan Robertson of Painters District Council No. 30 primes the wall of Comprehensive Community Solutions, 917 S. Main St., Rockford, on Thursday, May 26, 2022, for the upcoming CRE8IV mural festival. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)</figcaption></figure>The painter’s union is honored for its role in prepping and priming walls throughout the Rockford area to prepare for the nearly 60 murals that now decorate the city and region as part of GoRockford’s CRE8IV mural program.The mural initiative has changed the look of buildings across the region over the past five years.“In 2019, the RACVB envisioned Rockford as an expansive art gallery filled with large, impressive and impactful works of art, essentially turning the city into a canvas,” Jennifer Furst said in inducting the council. “Before the artists pick up their paintbrushes, one incredible group stepped up to the challenge, and has done so consistently each of CRE8IV’s five seasons.”They prepped and primed the mural walls and covered the costs of their employees labor for each season of the project.“It reflects a profound commitment to enhancing their community and fostering creativity,” Furst said.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2cO1k3_0vmMyZ6b00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2cO1k3_0vmMyZ6b00" width="2048" height="1400" ><figcaption>Richard Shuga, second from right, accepts the induction into the Tourism Hall of Fame on behalf of Painters District Council 30, Local 607 on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)</figcaption></figure><h2>Marco Lenis</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2yyUlt_0vmMyZ6b00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2yyUlt_0vmMyZ6b00" width="2048" height="1613" ><figcaption>Marco Lenis, right, accepts an award inducting him into the GoRockford Tourism Hall of Fame from board members Tiana McCall and Mustafa Abdall on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Hard Rock Live in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)</figcaption></figure>Lenis is honored for his efforts to build soccer in Rockford in the 1970s, which led to the city’s prominence as a sports destination.“We over 50 soccer fields and tens of thousands of visitors each year for tournaments, it’s safe to say that we are a true soccer town,” Shelton Kay said in inducting Lenis to the Hall of Fame. “But it wasn’t always this way.”Kay said that Rockford had just one soccer field when Lenis first came to town, and it was in constant use. Lenis, seeing the need to accommodate growing interest in the sport, met with then Rockford Park District director Webbs Norman to discuss how to build the sport here.Lenis, who was also president and CEO of La Voz Latina from 1981-2006, worked behind the scenes to make sure efforts to grow soccer in the Rockford area made a lasting impact on the community, Kay said.He’s also served on boards for the Discovery Center, Burpee Museum, Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the GoRockford Foundation board.“His contributions both large and small have consistently built something greater in our community,” Kay said.This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

GoRockford inducts 4 into Tourism Hall of Fame

ROCKFORD — GoRockford on Friday inducted two people and two organizations into its Tourism Hall of Fame. The honors were revealed during the tourism group’s 40th anniversary celebration. The inductees were recognized for their contributions to the Rockford region’s tourism, culture and economic development. Each, GoRockford said, left a lasting impact on the region’s growth and vibrancy.