(Mary Ann - Winnie - Lois)

The Women of Distinction Awards program, sponsored by the YWCA, drew more than 600 men and women to Illinois State University’s Bone Student Center on Thursday to honor five outstanding McLean County women.

The program is a nationally established YWCA event and recognizes the personal and professional accomplishments of women. This is the 11th year the event has been held in McLean County. Proceeds benefit the YWCA’s child-care programs.

Women receiving the awards were selected from nominations submitted last month in five categories: business, education, professions, social service and community service. No nominations were received for the arts and entertainment category.

Winners received a framed certificate and a sterling silver pin designed for the Women of Distinction program by Theobald’s Gold and Silver Design Inc. and hand-crafted by Larry Hustedt of Hustedt Jewelers, Gibson City. Photographs of the- winners will join the 60 previous winners on the Wall of Fame at the YWCA, 1201 N. Hershey Road, Bloomington.

Winnie worked with her late husband on all business aspects and erected the building located on Ireland Grove Road in Bloomington. In 1980, after her husband Chuck passed away, Winnie, president and owner of Chuck’s Harley-Davidson Inc., became one of only six female proprietors of Harley-Davidson dealerships in the country. Since then there are numerous lady dealers. She manages 15 to 24 employees and began the area Harley-Davidson HOG Chapter in 1981.

Winnie is also President of Central Illinois Harley-Davidson Dealers Association (1981-2000), District Director of Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association (1995-1998), Secretary of Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association (1998-2000).

Additionally,she is involved with the Prairie Aviation Museum and Ducks Unlimited and sponsors several local youth sports teams. She was named Ducks Unlimited Sportsman of the Year for 2000 and received the Community Builders Award in 1997 from the Bloomington Masonic Lodge 43 AF&AM for civic contributions.