Spoon River College Alumni Association hosted their annual Alumni Association Awards Reception and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction on November 8, at the Spoon River College Canton Campus.
The Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Dr. Robert Bobell, owner and President of Progressive Vision Center, LTD in Canton for the past 37 years. He has been an active volunteer and leader in the community, serving on the boards of Spoon River College Foundation, Canton Park District, Graham Hospital, and Mid-America National Bank. He was honored as the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce Businessperson of the Year in 2017.
The Distinguished SRC Retiree Award was presented to Lori Murphy of Canton. She retired in June of 2024 after for 35 years working in a variety of roles. She began as a student worker in the cafeteria while earning an administrative assistant certificate. She returned later and worked in the recruiting office and the small business departments, spending the last years in the offices of SRC Community Outreach and the SRC Foundation. Murphy is a member of the Elks Lodge No. 626 and Royal Neighbors of America.
The Outstanding Service Award was presented to Patrick O’Brian of Farmington. He began his career in management at McDonald’s, where he worked for 18 years, overseeing 250 employees and more than $10 million in annual sales, before launching several of his own businesses. Honors include the 2009 and 2012 Outstanding General Manager awards given to the Top 10% in the McDonald’s global system, and the selection to the Edgar Fellows Class of 2023. He has served as the Fulton County Clerk and Recorder since 2020, and was recognized as the 2023 Illinois Association of County Clerks & Recorders County Clerk of the Year. He is a past and present member of multiple organizations throughout Central Illinois.
Alumni Achievement Awards were presented to Amy Lynn Evans, KiLee Lidwell-McFerren, Jason Parsons, Robert Reading, and Clayton Shay Widmer.
Amy Lynn Evans of Canton, a Title I Intervention Reading Assistant at Lincoln Elementary School since 2008, is a devoted and tireless advocate for education and for mental wellness through her involvement with the Canton Education Association (serving as president since 2009), the Illinois Education Association (IEA), the National Education Association (NEA) Board of Directors, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She was the 2024 Illinois NEA’s Association Support Professional of the Year, and this year received both the IEA Reg Weaver Human and Civil Rights Award and was among the Top 5 National Education Support Professionals by the National Education Association.
With a bachelor’s degree in Art Education, KiLee Lidwell-McFerren began her career in education as an art educator. Later, she earned a Master’s in Educational Organization and Leadership and transitioned into administration as an assistant principle. In 2017, she returned to Canton and took on the role of principle at Lincoln Elementary School. She has been honored with the Canton YWCA Women of Achievement Award (2024) and the Illinois Principals Association Illinois Principal of the Year Award (2025). She also serves as the CUSD #66 Homeless Liaison, supporting families and students in need.
Jason Parsons of Canton taught art and graphic design for 12 years, then was a K-12 administrator for 14 years for the CUSD #66 district. He helped launch several innovative programs, including Lego Education, the Dual Credit Running Start program, and Project Lead the Way courses in biomedical science, engineering, and computer science. He was honored as Teacher of the Year in 2007. For the past two years, Parsons has been the owner and operator of Snowman’s Reindeer Farm, and serves as part-time principle at Canton Royals Alternative School. He helped found the Archery and Trapshooting programs at Canton High School (serving as coach for six years), led local Canada canoe trips for 21 years, and coached numerous youth teams.
Robert Reading, originally of Morton, first had a career in pharmaceuticals and later in retail as housewares manager for K’s Merchandise before returning to college and earning a master’s degree in counseling. He achieved National Board-Certified Counselor and Certified AODA Counselor status in 1994, followed by Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in 2000, and spent 14 years at While Oaks Treatment Residential Center for Men in Peoria. Following his ‘first’ retirement, he helped coach high school wrestling, was a substitute teacher, and a church soup kitchen volunteer. He returned to counseling in 2007 at Samaritan Family Medical Services before retiring for good in 2017.
After graduating from Canton High School, Clayton Shay Widmer attended Spoon River College in 2013, serving as both vice president and president of the Student Government Association. He transferred to Illinois State University and studied sociology and psychology. Once finished with college, he made the decision to follow his heart and move to Nashville to pursue a career in music. Since then, he has toured across the U.S. and Canada, performing for crowds of up to 20,000 people. He has released 20 songs, earning tens of millions of streams and charting on the iTunes Country charts.
2022 graduate and former basketball player TC Wright of Louisville, KY was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. During his time at Spoon River College he earned numerous honors, including 1st Team All-Conference, 1st Team All-Region, and 2nd Team All-American. After earning his associate degree, Wright transferred to Campbellsville University before going on to play professional basketball for the Newfoundland Rogues.
The complete bios of all the recipients can be read on the college’s News Bureau page at www.src.edu.
Spoon River College alumni award recipients were recognized at the annual Alumni Association Awards Reception and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction on November 8, at the Spoon River College Canton Campus. Pictured (l-r) are Spoon River College President Dr. Curt Oldfield, Lori Murphy, KiLee Lidwll-McFerren, Amy Evans, T.C. Wright, Clayton Shay Widmer, Jason Parsons, Dr. Robert Bobell, Robert Reading, and (front) Dusty Berg, director of the SRC Foundation.