Rednour Jr. to fill late father's shoes as bank chairman, stepping down as Fair manager

John Rednour, Jr., announced today that he is stepping down as manager of the Du Quoin State Fair in order to fill his late father's shoes as chairman of the board at the Du Quoin State Bank.

"This is something that my father wanted," Rednour said. "This is a man that I have loved and respected all of my life and there is no way I intend to let him down. He worked tirelessly to make this bank great. Now I am honored to be carrying on my father's tradition of hard work and dedication."

John Rednour, Sr., passed away on Dec. 1 after a lengthy battle with numerous health problems. He was 78.

"Just before last year's fair, we were concerned that dad was going to pass then," Rednour said. "He told us he was going to live to enjoy one more fair and he certainly did it. He was always a man of his word."

John Sr., and his wife, Wanda, are well known for their annual party at the start of the Du Quoin State Fair. Thousands from throughout Illinois attended their parties each year.

"This is another tradition we intend to continue," Rednour said of the annual party. "These parties have been important to Southern Illinois for a number of reasons. A lot of important decisions have been made in my parents' backyard."

Rednour was appointed manager of the Du Quoin State Fair in 2003 by former Governor George Ryan.

"I've had 11 great years as manager of the fairgrounds," Rednour said. "It was my dream job. I grew up on the fairgrounds in my parents' home. To be able to manage the fairgrounds, to be able to make decisions that impacted the Southern Illinois economy and created so many jobs, was a big dream come true."

One of the most impressive things Rednour did as fair manager is increase the amount of non-fair revenue at the fairgrounds from about $33,000 annually when he took over to more than $700,000 today. Non-fair revenue is considered revenue generated outside of the 10-day fair that stretches from late August until Labor Day.

"I felt like it was important that the fairgrounds had a positive economic impact year-round not just during the 10 days of the fair," Rednour said.

Rednour has worked for the state for 22 years. He has worked under the following state leaders: Dawn Clark Netsch; Lolita Didrickson; Dan Hynes; George Ryan; Rod Blagojevich; and Pat Quinn. He is also a former United Mine Workers coal miner and a steel worker. He has been a Perry County Democrat Party leader for many years. He and his wife, Laurie, have two children, Lauren and John Rednour III.