Board Members
Harold “Hap” Gilbert
Mayor
Mayor Hap Gilbert graduated from MacArthur High School in 1958. Mayor Gilbert has an Associates Degree in Industrial Technology from Richland Community College. Mayor Gilbert worked for Caterpillar Inc. for almost 44 years retiring Dec 1, 2002. Mayor Gilbert was elected mayor in 2001 and reelected in 2005 and 2009. Previous to that he served 22 years as a trustee. Mayor Gilbert has lived in the Village of Forsyth since 1968. He and Donna were married in 1959 and have two sons, Eric and Tim, and seven grandchildren.
Marilyn Johnson
Trustee
Trustee Johnson graduated from Unity High School and the School of Cosmetology in 1962. She and her husband Kent have lived on Ruehl Street for the past 43 years. Before retiring Trustee Johnson opened and operated a green house for 28 years. She enjoyed meeting people and selling plants. Trustee Johnson was re-elected as Trustee in 2009 for her fourth term. She serves as chair of the Activities & Events Committee, and leads the volunteer committee in the planning of the annual Forsyth Family Fest. The goal for the event is to bring the community together each June for two days of festivities.
Larry Reed
Trustee
Trustee Reed graduated from MacArthur High School in Decatur, IL. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University and a Master of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University, Trustee Reed spent his entire career in the Decatur Public School District having taught 8 years at MacArthur High School before moving to administrative positions in the school district business office. He has two grown sons and a daughter who is a student at DePaul University. Trustee Reed is now retired and has lived in Forsyth since 2001 with his wife Carol. He was elected to his first term as trustee in 2003, and was reelected for a second term in 2007.
Bob Rasho
Trustee
Trustee Robert Rasho has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a MBA degree in Management from DePaul University along with being a Certified Cost Engineer. He retired from Illinois Power Company in 2001 where he served 22 years in various management positions primarily managing large capital projects. Trustee Rasho and his wife Pauline have lived in the Village since 1980 and have two grown children, Anne and David, who reside in Chicago. Trustee Rasho enjoys volunteering for various community organizations including Habitat for Humanity and St. Teresa High School. He also volunteered for a short stint with the US State Department in Baghdad, Iraq as Program Manager of Electricity Projects in 2004. Trustee Rasho was elected to his first term as trustee in 2007.
Kerstin Trachtenberg
Trustee
Kerstin Trachtenberg graduated from St. Louis University with a BA in Communication (Marketing emphasis). She worked in the Marketing department of Liguori Publications for 12 years as a copywriter, publicist, and finally as Trade Marketing, Sales and Public Relations Director. In addition to her role as Village Trustee, Kerstin serves as a Macon County CASA, advocating in court for local children who are abused, neglected or dependent. She and her husband, Jeffrey D. Trachtenberg, MD, have lived in the Village since 2001 with daughters, Grace and Margot. It is her desire to serve the residents of Forsyth with the honesty, values and unwavering work ethic of her late father, Joseph Dolan, who was born and raised here in Central Illinois.
Steve Hubbard
Trustee
Trustee Hubbard graduated from Millikin University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Having worked for both Nestle and Mueller Company, Trustee Hubbard currently serves as the Corporate Accounting Manager for Vesuvius USA. Trustee Hubbard and his wife Stacey, who serves as the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Millikin University, have lived in Forsyth since 2005. Their daughter Alexa is a graduate of Maroa/Forsyth High School currently attending Butler University, and daughter Lydia is a third grader at Forsyth Grade School. Trustee Hubbard was elected to the Board in 2009 and also serves as the Treasurer for and a member of the Executive Board of the Children's Museum.
Eric Morr
Trustee
Trustee Morr earned an Engineering Degree from the University of Illinois in 1991 and a Master’s of Business Administration from Illinois State University in 2000. Trustee Morr is employed with Caterpillar, Inc. in Decatur, and has lived in Forsyth with his wife and two young sons since 2005. Trustee Morr was elected to his position in 2009.
^ Back to Top ^