Monee Names Linda Marshall 2026 Citizen of the Year

Monee Village Board Meeting | May 27, 2026

Article Summary: During the Monee Village Board’s Wednesday, May 27, 2026, meeting, the Monee Chamber of Commerce named longtime volunteer Linda Marshall the 2026 Ralph Failen Monee Citizen of the Year.

Citizen of the Year Key Points:

• The Monee Chamber of Commerce presented the Ralph Failen Monee Citizen of the Year Award to Linda Marshall.
• Marshall was recognized for years of volunteering with a local food pantry and stocking the village’s pet “micro pantries.”
• The award honors the late Ralph Failen, a former Monee trustee, mayor, school board member and Chamber president.

MONEE — The Monee Chamber of Commerce used the village board’s Wednesday, May 27, 2026, meeting to name resident Linda Marshall the 2026 Ralph Failen Monee Citizen of the Year, an honor that drew applause from those gathered for the meeting.

Trustee Heidi Gonzalez introduced the presentation during her parks and recreation report. According to remarks read at the meeting, the award is given each year in memory of Ralph Failen, described as a lifelong Monee resident who served the village as a trustee, mayor, school board member, Chamber of Commerce president and fire department leader.

Marshall was recognized for what officials called years of quiet service to the community. She has volunteered with a local food pantry, helping load groceries for families, and has used community connections to help stock the village’s pet “micro pantry,” officials said. During one of the coldest days of the year, the remarks noted, she helped organize a pet food pop-up event, standing outside in single-digit temperatures to load pet food into vehicles. She was also credited with helping parks and recreation replenish supplies for the micro pantries and with keeping residents informed about village happenings on social media.

“Totally unexpected,” Marshall said in accepting the honor. She returned to the podium later in the meeting during public comment, thanking the board before raising a question about sidewalks on Main Street.