Pekin Rotary recently selected Greg Cassidy as the recipient of the 2025 Paul Harris Fellow award. This recognition, bestowed by the club every year for decades, is given to that Rotarian who has had a history of service to the club, and work it does, and to the community. This award, named in honor of Paul Harris, Rotary International’s Founder is made possible through Pekin Rotary’s $1000 donation to the Rotary International Foundation.

Here is the text of the presentation read by Gary Gillis at the Rotary Annual Dinner held on October 14.

“In recent years, it seems like we’ve started a trend—not by design but by coincidence—Selecting a new Paul Harris Fellow who was not born and raised in Pekin.

But this year it’s different—this person is quintessentially a Pekinite, deeply rooted in our community—without question.

And when it came to pursuing a college degree, this person didn’t venture far from his central Illinois roots by attending Bradley University, majoring in English and History. That explains his passion for history and the fact that his wife claims, “expect to lose if you ever play him in trivia. He just knows everything!” BUT, she adds 

“Don’t call him a nerd! He prefers geek because they have better social skills.”

“Some will rightly say that he chose a career in service to those with Special Needs. But I think he would disagree and tell you that it was more than a career choice—it was a “calling.”

So it was natural for him to hear Rotary’s clarion call to service. He did so as our club president, an active participant in our Rotary Scholarship selection process, and quick to step forward whenever our club has a need.

Now—I know he has figured this out by now—but for a guy who knows everything, here are some words, some thoughts, expressed by his wife of 29 years … he does not know:

Until now…

And…they reveal something about this fellow Rotarian that we may not have known. More than anything, these words validate our selection and announcement tonight.

She wrote: “He’s a very loving father and husband. He spends many weekends watching his Steelers play football, watching Formula One races with his girls, or playing board games with his high school friends. He’s the kind of guy who has long-lasting friendships. He saves the world from the zombie apocalypse every week with one of his best friends from high school.

Along with Rotary, he’s on the Dirksen Center board, Salvation Army board, Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Board, and the Healthy Living Board at the health department. He has worked with adults with disabilities all his life. Growing up with a close friend with Down syndrome, he began volunteering at school as a young boy, then working at EPIC, Adults with Developmental Disabilities of Woodford County (ADDWC), and now at TCRC for the last 14 years. He has a kind heart and a love for the people he serves. ….and it seems like every week we hear him brag on his family—one who sits next to him—and more that join us now as we welcome our newest Paul Harris Fellow….Mr. Greg Cassidy”