Jeanine Baxter, Du Quoin fair's First Lady, beginning her 25th year in the front office

Mrs. Jeanine Baxter, the perennial First Lady of the front office at the Du Quoin State Fair, returns this week for her 25th year.

Her Silver Anniversary return to the wonderfully storied history at that desk near the front counter comes as welcome news to everyone.

She is the fair's beautiful face that turns an uncertain hour into the finest hour in everyone's life.

She is the wonderful head of a large family that she holds both dear and to a higher standard among the residents of Du Quoin.

Du Quoin State Fair manager Shannon Woodworth comments on her return to this year's summertime fair staff: "What makes Jeanine Baxter great is her love for the fair and for the people who attend the fair. There are few people you will ever meet who are as gracious and show as much compassion as she does."

Here's a secret. She's 84-years-old and still runs circles around the rest of us.

Her beloved Louis Verneal died in 1978.

For two decades she was a member of the office staff at Illinois Power Co., which was housed at the corner of East Poplar and North Mulberry Streets before building a new customer care center on Rt. 51 south of Du Quoin.

That's when Illinois Power Co. had its own local manager, office staff and linemen who worked out of that office.

For years she worked alongside another great lady of Illinois Power Co.--Kay Daily.

Together they were the most professional and customer service oriented team in the utility industry. She worked hard while raising a family--eight children. Three of those passed away too soon.

Her extended family includes 25 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. "They all bring joy to me," she says. "We have a family reunion every year . . . maybe as many as 200 attending." This year's reunion will be in Chicago. "I've already asked off for the weekend."

That reunion is so well organized "we even have officers and dues," she smiles.

Maybe it's not only what she does for the Du Quoin State Fair that makes her so great. It's what she is and what she means to the people of Du Quoin who love her so much.

As the road to the 2014 fair begins, we extend our appreciation and love because of the example you set for all of us.