The Illinois REALTORS® lost five individuals who played important roles in the lives of many colleagues and friends. Please join us in remembering their passion for protecting the rights of homeowners and REALTORS® as well as their accomplishments:

Speckman was a Kankakee-area REALTOR® who was active in his local association (Kankakee Board of REALTORS®) and served as its president in 1982. On the state level, he became president in 1990 and served as the District 5 vice president in 1985. He passed away in March.

Ursin was a Chicago-area REALTOR® who began his career in 1956 and served on the local, state and national association levels. In 1981, he was named president of the Illinois REALTORS®. He led the association’s efforts to eliminate the state’s usury laws and he was a fair housing champion. He died in August.

Borgwald led the Danville Area Board of REALTORS® and served on numerous committees for Illinois REALTORS®, including Professional Standards, Association Executives and the Conference & Expo Working Group. She passed in June.

Shinners served as deputy CEO for Mainstreet from 2004 to December 2016, when she was named CEO. In total, she worked for Mainstreet for more than 20 years. Shinners died in April and in May an Illinois REALTORS® scholarship was established in her name.

Cook served as Illinois REALTORS® executive vice president from 1956 to 1984. He was known for leading the association through an era of growth and modernization. During his tenure, the association established the Illinois Real Estate Educational Foundation, the Graduate REALTOR® Institute program and what is now called the Illinois REALTORS® Licensing and Training Center. He presided over the groundbreaking for the association’s then-headquarters on Adloff Lane in 1972, and formed what is now Illinois REALTOR® magazine. He died in February.