Our Annual Meeting for 2026 is not yet scheduled but will likely take place at the Quality Inn & Suites in Bradley, Illinois.

Past Speakers

• 2025 - Ben Zobrist, Former Chicago Cub & 2016 World Series MVP
• 2024 - Chris Chelios & Caley Chelios, Former Chicago Blackhawk & 3 Time Stanley Cup Champion
• 2023 - Matt Painter, Purdue Boilermakers Head Basketball Coach
• 2022 - Jack Sikma, Former Seattle SuperSonics & Milwaukee Bucks, 7 Time NBA All-Star
• 2021 - Pete Rose, Former Baseball Player/Manager
• 2019 - Ted Petersen, Former Pittsburgh Steeler Offensive Tackle
• 2018 - Oliver North, LTC, USMC (Ret)- Former National Security Council Staff Member
• 2017 - Lou Holtz, Former Notre Dame & Hall of Fame Coach
• 2016 - Peter MacDonald- WWII Navajo Code Talker
• 2015 - Mike Singletary, Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee 1998
• 2014 - Richard Picciotto, FDNY Deputy Chief / 911 Survivor
• 2013 - Mike Small, University of Illinois Men's Golf Coach
• 2012 - General Thomas Draude, United States Marine Corps
• 2011- Tom Waddle, Former Chicago Bear Wide Receiver/ ESPN & Fox Commentator
• 2010 - Pat Foley & Eddie Olczyk, Chicago Blackhawks Announcers
• 2009 - Marv Levy-retired, Buffalo Bills GM/Head Coach
• 2008 - Lee Corso-ESPN College Football Analyst
• 2007 - Mike Brey-Head Coach, University of Notre Dame
• 2006 - Bob Griese-Super Bowl Champion QB Miami Dolphins & ABC College Football Commentator
• 2005 - Bruce Weber-Head Coach, University of Illinois
• 2004 - Tim McCarthy-Current Orland Park Police Chief, retired US Secret Service Agent assigned to President Reagan

• 2003 - Jim Boeheim, Head Coach, Syracuse Orangemen

• 2002 - Wayne Larrivee, Sportscaster for the Green Bay Packers

• 2001 - Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears Coach

• 2000 - Jerry Markbreite, NFL Referee

• 1999 - Greg Gumbel, CBS Host, Play-by-Play Announcer

• 1998 - Dale Jarrett, NASCAR Winston Cup Series Driver

• 1997 - Rocky Bleier, Former Running Back for Pittsburgh Steelers

• 1996 - Tim Watters, Bill Clinton Look-A-Like/Impersonator

• 1995 - Jim McMahon, Quarterback for Chicago Bears Super Bowl Team

• 1994 - Dave Werner, Political Humorist

• 1993 - Joe Theisman, Former NFL Football Player

• 1992 - Steve McMichael & Dan Hampton, Former NFL Chicago Bears

• 1991 - Jim Valvano, Former Head Basketball Coach/North Carolina State

• 1990 - Dick Vitale, Sports Commentator with ESPN & ABC

• 1989 - Art Donovan, Baltimore Colts/NFL Hall of Fame

• 1988 - Bob Knight, Basketball Coach/Indiana University

• 1987 - Terry Bradshaw, Former Quarterback Pittsburgh Steelers/CBS Sports Commentator

• 1986 - Bart Conner, Two-time Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast

• 1985 - Tommy Lasorda, Manager/Los Angeles Dodgers

• 1984 - Billy Martin-Hired, Fired and Rehired Manager of New York Yankees

• 1983 - Al McGuire, NBC Network Commentator/College Basketball Coach of 1977 Marquette University NCAA Basketball Champions

• 1982 - Art Holst, “Pro on the Go” Humorist, Motivator, Author

• 1981 - Jimmy Piersall, One of Baseball’s Most Colorful Figures

• 1980 - Bud Wilkinson, Former Coach/University of Oklahoma and St. Louis Cardinals Football Teams

• 1979 - Woody Hays, Former Coach/Ohio State University1978 - No speaker, Demonstration of New Video Tape Equipment Purchased for County Wide Use of Fire and Police Departments

• 1977 - Tyrone Fahner, Director of Illinois Dept. of Law Enforcement

• 1976 - Dwight Pitman, Supt. of Illinois State Police

• 1975 - Peter B. Bensinger, Executive Director, Chicago Crime Commission

• 1974 - Charles Siragusa, Executive Director of Illinois Legislative Commission

• 1973 - James Neville, Deputy Fire Marshall, City of Chicago

• 1972 - A.M. “Bud” Monhanon, Assistant Director, Illinois Department of Corrections

• 1971 - No speaker - Special Entertainment by GASLIGHT TROUPE from Chicago

• 1970 - Mitchell Ware, Supt. of Illinois Bureau of Investigation

• 1969 - Herbert Brown, Director of Public Safety for State of Illinois

• 1968 - Troy Coleman, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Dept. Of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield, IL

Joe Gianotti Presidents Award

• 2025 - Mary Harrison
• 2024 - Larry Osenga
• 2023 - Mary Harrison
• 2022 - Scott O'Brien
• 2021 - Brian Thomas
• 2019- Paul Shreffler
• 2018- Jim LaMotte
• 2017- Jerry Hoekstra
• 2016- Jerry Huot
• 2015- Jeff Bruno
• 2014- Chris Pristach
• 2013- Darrell Griffin
• 2012- Bryan Amiano
• 2011- Bill Salkeld
• 2010- Robert Martin
• 2009- Terry L. Johnston
• 2008 - Tom Ryan

Summer Picnic - The 2025 Summer Picnic is tentatively scheduled for July 16, 2025 @ Kankakee Valley Boat Club