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McLean County Times

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Sonja Reece named Town of Normal's 2024 Citizen of the Year

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Normal | wikipedia.org

Normal | wikipedia.org

Sonja Reece has been named the Town of Normal’s 2024 Citizen of the Year. The announcement was made by Mayor Chris Koos during the annual Appreciation Reception on Tuesday.

“Sonja Reece has worked tirelessly for the Town of Normal and the Bloomington-Normal community,” said Koos. “She was elected to the Normal Town Council in 1991 and served for 24 years. Certainly, we appreciate and honor this commitment. However, her dedication to the community above and beyond this role exemplifies why I am naming her the 2024 Town of Normal Citizen of the Year.”

Reece’s work has focused on improving health services for residents in Normal, Bloomington, McLean County, and surrounding areas. According to Koos, “Sonja’s professional career included 40 years of serving healthcare systems, including working to secure approval from the State of Illinois for major projects. When she retired, she didn’t stop caring for our community. Instead, she gave more, continuously investing her time and talents.”

Currently, Reece is interim executive director at the Community Health Care Clinic in Normal, which provides care for people without insurance who cannot afford doctor visits or prescriptions. She also serves on boards for both United Way of Illinois and United Way of McLean County—organizations she previously chaired—and has been a member of the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council since 2015.

Koos added that Reece sits on the McLean County Board of Health, which oversees various county health services such as environmental health programs and mental health support. “Sonja’s involvement in the community is almost too numerous to mention. It’s easiest to simply say ‘our community has benefited from her leadership for decades,’” said Koos. “She respects different perspectives and believes in the power of working together. Her ability to advocate for our community has greatly contributed to our success.”

Reece is founder and president of Reece Consulting Services where she presents seminars on organizing important records during life changes. She began her healthcare career in 1973 at Mennonite Hospital (later BroMenn Healthcare), working in clinical and administrative roles over four decades before retiring as director of Health Facilities Planning.

During her tenure as a councilmember from 1991 to 2015—including eight years as Mayor Pro Tem—Reece played a significant part in revitalizing Uptown Normal into its current form with new entertainment venues, dining options, retail spaces, lodging, and housing.

At a national level, Reece was active with the National League of Cities (NLC), serving on its board and chairing an information technology committee.

Her local leadership extends to roles with organizations like the McLean County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (including its Government Affairs Committee), Economic Development Council, Lincoln College-Normal’s Strategic Planning Committee, Central Illinois Regional Broadband Network, March of Dimes committees, and Community Cancer Center.

In recognition of her mentorship to professional women in McLean County, Reece received the ATHENA award from the Chamber in 1998.

Mayor Koos concluded: “Through passion and perseverance, Reece has dedicated her life to making our community truly remarkable.”

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