The Canton Community College/Spoon River College Alumni Association hosted their annual Alumni Association Awards Reception and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction on November 9 at the Spoon River College Canton Campus.
Inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame were Miranda Aguilar, Pomona, CA., and Steve Lance, Cuba, IL.
Aguilar enrolled in Spoon River College after meeting John Bassett, SRC athletic director and head softball coach, at a softball tournament in Colorado. After graduating from SRC, she transferred to Southwest Baptist University for a Bachelor degree in Social Work, and then to California Baptist University for her Master of Social Work degree.
While at SRC Aguilar earned First Team All-Regional, NFCA All-Region, Second Team All-American, Region 24 All-Region, MWAC All-Conference, Second Team, and Academic All-Conference. She boasted a .492 batting average at SRC and a .421 career batting average. Although nervous about coming to a town halfway across the country, Aguilar said she found the SRC community to be a welcoming and helping community, and it ultimately helped her grow as a person. Her advice to other students: “Step outside of your comfort zone.” One of her favorite SRC memories was playing at the University of Illinois and knowing that she could compete with athletes at the D1 level. Married to Dominic Johnson since May, Aguilar currently works at Sunrise Horizon FFA as a Foster Agency Social Worker.
Lance attended Cuba High School, where he was 1st Team All-County in basketball, football, and track and field, and selected to play in the East/West All-Star Shriners football game. He attended Spoon River College from 1985-1987 before transferring to Eastern Illinois University to study coaching. While at SRC, Lance played basketball, averaging 15 points per game, was voted Top Defensive Player, and once held the record for making the most free throws (17/22) in a single game. He also played baseball and participated in track and field. One of his favorite SRC memories was competing in the National Track and Field Championship Decathlon in Texas, and sitting next to author Zig Ziglar on the plane, who gave him advice he still uses today; “When you wake up, always tell yourself to have a good day.”
Lance has owned multiple businesses, including carpentry and Jule’s Ice-Cream and Coffee in Cuba. He served on the Cuba City Council for nine years, and was a professional auto racer, earning Rookie of the Year and Sportsman of the Year in the same year. A member of the Peoria Speedway Hall of Fame, he has raced around the country and in Australia. He enjoys time with his family—wife Julie, and children Cody, Stephanie, and Stevie—and especially enjoys taking his nine grandchildren fishing and to the races.
Distinguished SRC Retiree Award: Sonnie Meredith
Originally from Indiana, Sonnie Meredith had a passion for baseball, gears, smoke, and noise while growing up. He started working as a mechanic trainee at 17, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education and Technology from Western Illinois University, then began a 19-year teaching career in the Automotive Technology program at Spoon River College. He credits former instructors Brian Telander and Bob Owen for being a great influence on him, and said a favorite SRC memory was of hosting a conference for all Illinois automotive instructors. The featured speaker was famous drag racer Arnie Beswick. “He did not disappoint!”
Besides teaching, Meredith also operated Meredith Garage, which he continued after he left the classroom. He has served as church committee board member, baseball coach, and Little League and YMCA board member. He and wife Julie have been married for 47 years, are parents to Skyler, Clyde, and Beau, and have seven grandchildren.
Alumni Achievement Award: James Bixby, posthumously
Peoria native James Bixby enrolled in Canton Community College after graduating high school, then went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Bradley University. A lifelong steward of youth education, he began his career in 1964 as a principle for Redeemer Lutheran Christian School in North Hollywood, CA. He returned to Peoria to teach 5-6 grade and history a year later. His long career as a guidance counselor, 1969-1998, began at Peoria Manual High School.
After retiring he continued to serve youth by founding the Jim Bixby College Connection and working as Dean of Students at Lincoln College, and ended his career at the Peoria Regional Learning Center at Wildlife Prairie Park. Bixby was the Central Illinois Coordinator of Admissions for West Point, and a staunch supporter of the Collegiate Fraternal Society. A member beginning in 1969 of the Zeta Phi – Sigma Nu Housing Corporation, he was also a frequent visitor in the Sigma Nu house at BU.
Bixby was equally active in the community. He was a lifelong Barbershopper, a member of the Rotary Club of Peoria-North, BU Chiefs Club, and a Teenagers in Encouraging Christ team member. He served as Public Address announcer for youth sports, Homeowners Association president, IHSA State basketball team host, Assistant Director for the Gus Macker, and was a Boy Scouts of America and Big Brothers and Big Sisters contributor.
Bixby passed on December 26, 2023, leaving behind his wife Karen, “the love of his life”, and his four children and ten grandchildren.
Outstanding Service Award: Stanley Ransom
Stanley Ransom of Canton enjoyed traveling, music, and theater while growing up, and his travel began when he was just four weeks old. He graduated from Canton Community College in 1966, then transferred to Illinois State University and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French. He was hired to teach French at Canton High School before he even graduated, and continued teaching it for the next 34 years.
While there, Ransom was a beloved teacher, even to those who didn’t take his classes. He served as a building representative, President and Vice-President of the Canton Education Organization, chairman of the North Central Evaluation, National Honor Society committee, and chairman of the Foreign Languages Department, which earned him an Educator of the Year award from the Canton Area of Chamber.
Retirement hasn’t stopped Ransom from teaching. He continues to teach retirement group classes through the Lifelong Learning Conferences at Spoon River College, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at BU. His knowledge base spans across Broadway productions, history, travel, and languages, and he has served as Vice President for the Opera Illinois League and Superintendent of the Mt. Pleasant Church of Orion Township.
Ransom has organized and led travel groups, including 25 day trips for students and 26 trips to six continents for students and adults. He’s visited 107 countries, most of them multiple times. A personal achievement that stands out to Ransom is battling juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and powering through to accomplish his goals despite health challenges. His advice to SRC students and employees it to “go for as much as you can; expand your horizons.”