By Reece Rutland
INA, IL – The 50 Influencer series launched with the pioneers that molded the vision of a local community college into the reality that became Rend Lake College.
Rend Lake College Board. Reece Rutland Rend Lake College Public Information
So, it feels only fitting that the series concludes with a look at those who are currently maintaining the legacy that was established by their forefathers five decades ago.
Over the course of 50 years, dozens of local men and women have been elected to the RLC Board of Trustees, serving the institution and its students to the best of their ability. As many of those first Influencer stories focused on the founding board members, it felt appropriate to culminate the list with the college’s current trustees.
“I am proud to work alongside this board to set the tone of a better tomorrow for our institution, its students and our community,” said RLC President Terry Wilkerson.
NOTE: Over the next few days, the board members will be featured individually. The first will be Chairman of the Board Randy Rubenacker of Dahlgren. -sd
Randy Rubenacker was named the new chairman of the Rend Lake College Board of Trustees in 2017.
A six-year veteran of the RLC Board before that, Rubenacker said he is pleased with the college’s current direction despite challenges with state funding.
“I think the college needs to stay on the track that it’s on,” Rubenacker expressed during his appointment to chair. “With the issues we have with the state, I think this board has been very practical and pragmatic and frugal. We’ve held the expenses down pretty well and I think we just need to continue that course until something changes.”
Randy Rubenacker
But, Rubenacker’s experience with RLC extends far beyond his time on the board.
As a sophomore in 1978, the 20-year-old, soon-to-be graduate was the second student in RLC history to receive the college’s Outstanding Agriculture Student of the Year Award. His younger brother Terry followed suit by earning the same honor in 1985.
He also carries a family legacy of involvement with the institution and the Rend Lake College Foundation. In 2005 Randy was selected to succeed his late father, Richard Rubenacker, on the RLC Foundation Board of Directors.
“I give a lot of credit to my father and mother,” Randy Rubenacker said. “They were very proud of Rend Lake College and all that it does for the area, and they made sure that we all used it. They had a lot of influence on what success my brothers and I have had.”
“I think both of my brothers – Rodney and Terry – felt the same way. We all went to Rend Lake College, got our degrees in Ag Production and started farming. He (Richard) was always good about giving us advice but letting us help make decisions.”
Randy also notched Alumnus of the Year designation in 2008, becoming the institution’s 27th alum to earn the accolade.
“It is quite an honor,” he said. “I’ve been to several of the annual dinners and you see who usually gets it … it is a pretty impressive crowd. It is an honor and a humbling experience. I really appreciate the consideration.”
Rubenacker and his wife, Debbie, live in Dahlgren. She is also a RLC graduate.
Randy’s mother- and father-in-law, Victor and Betty Rapp, were conferred honorary degrees by the college after all eight of their children graduated from Rend Lake.
Rubenacker is Owner-Manager of Rubenacker Farms Partnership, a row crop farm operation since 1987. He also serves as President of Prairie Tile Systems, Inc. and Rubenacker Farms, Inc., and is President of 4R Corporation, a farm implement dealership which dates to 1987.
He has served as a member of the Hamilton County Board, Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District Director, State Fair Advisory Board, Haw Creek Drainage District Commissioner, Southeastern Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commissioner and a Hamilton County Economic Development Commissioner
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