A Pekin Park District Commissioner since 1993, Mr. Gillis has been board president twice, Park 4H representative, Special Recreation President of the Illinois River Valley SRA, Park Recreation Committee Chair, has helped pioneer the establishment of the Pekin Park District Foundation, and chaired the Park’s 100th Anniversary Celebration in 2002. Mr. Gillis served as president of the Pekin Rotary Club 1987-88 and 2015-16 and is currently president of its charitable foundation-Pekin Rotary Charities. Mr. Gillis is also Past-President of Pekin Main Street and was a member of Pekin’s Marigold Festival Committee from 1981 through 2017. Has served as clue writer for the Pepsi Marigold Medallion Hunt for 33 years. Elected to the Illinois Association of Park District Board of Trustees in 2018; re-elected in 2020; and elected as board Vice President the same year.  He serves as Co-Chair of the Joint Editorial Committee and on the Program Committee. Professionally, Mr. Gillis was a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones for over 40 years, until he retired at the end of March, 2019.