Two REALTOR® association executives were posthumously honored for their service to members with a top award for leadership.

Margery Shinners

Margery Shinners, who was CEO of the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®, and Deb Borgwald, who was association executive with the Danville Area Board of REALTORS®, were announced as recipients of the Rhino Award at a meeting of association leaders in St. Charles on Thursday.

Shinners died in April. Borgwald died in June. Both had contributed many years of service to their associations.

The Danville association has 81 REALTOR® members. Mainstreet has 16,453.

The announcement was made by Illinois REALTORS® CEO Gary L. Clayton who noted that despite the disparity in the organizations’ sizes, the commitment and passion to serve members was equal.

Deb Borgwald

Both Borgwald and Shinners have been honored with contributions to a fund administered by the Illinois Real Estate Educational Foundation to further training opportunities for women leading associations.

The Rhino Award is given annually to REALTORS® who show strength and loyalty — attributes of the award’s namesake animal — in their roles leading local REALTOR® associations.