Celebrate 11 women who led Illinois REALTORS® as president

In honor of Women’s History Month, Illinois REALTORS® salutes the 11 female members who have served as state association presidents during the organization’s 104-year history.

Since Illinois REALTORS® named Kathryn Duncan as its first woman president in 1970, it added a second during the 1980s and three more during the 1990s. Since the turn of the century, six women have led the state association, and President-elect Sue Miller of McHenry is scheduled to be the next in 2021.

Here’s our list of past female presidents, six of whom are still active:

1970 – Kathryn Duncan

1984 – Lydia Franz

1995 – Janet Andreotti

1996 – Carol Shields

1999 – Jean Crosby (NAR Distinguished Service Award recipient, 2011 RPAC Hall of Fame)

2000 – Judie McConville

2001 – Colleen Clavesilla (2016 RPAC Hall of Fame)

2003 – Toni Sherman

2008 – Kay Wirth (2013 RPAC Hall of Fame)

2011 – Sheryl Grider Whitehurst (2017 RPAC Hall of Fame)

2012 – Loretta Alonzo-Deubel (2014 RPAC Hall of Fame)

Illinois REALTORS® thanks these leaders for their dedication to protecting the rights of private property owners and real estate professionals. The association also wants to encourage more women to follow their examples and become future presidents.