Dick Durbin: “if you drive into the charming, walkable town center of Normal, IL--yes, the town of Normal--you will see the beautiful…”

“if you drive into the charming, walkable town center of Normal, IL--yes, the town of Normal--you will see the beautiful Carol A. Reitan Conference Center. Who was Carol Reitan? Carol was the mayor of the Town of Normal from 1972 to 1976. For those of you who have been to Normal recently, you will note what a forward-thinking community it is--with a vibrant town center, a state university, an auto plant, and a high quality of life. It is a twin city with its slightly larger neighbor, Bloomington, which is home to State Farm Insurance and Illinois Wesleyan University, among so many other things. The area around Bloomington-Normal is some of the best farmland in the country. Carol Reitan, who was an early and effective community leader, passed away this week at the age of 83. But her legacy can be seen everywhere--in the people she helped and the community she served and helped prosper. Carol was ahead of her time, both as the first and only female mayor of Normal and because of her foresight as a community leader. If you talk to her friends in Central Illinois, you will quickly pick up on a common set of phrases--a visionary, a mentor, and a leader ahead of her time. I knew Carol, and those descriptions are all true--and just the tip of the iceberg. Her accomplishments and dedication to public service are vast and long-lasting--and certainly didn't end after her service as mayor.…”