Webster’s defines: “Character” as the total quality of a person’s behavior. This quietly suggests, that the more qualities of good traits and good nature a person has, should present a more favorable personality and intellect. They walk among us and we know and recognize them, for their presence is too strong to ignore. Many are friends and neighbors and we are fortunate, in Chillicothe, to have a blend of some of the best. 

At St. Francis Hospital, on November 28th 1947, a son was born to Joseph and Elizabeth Fennell of nearby Camp Grove, IL. He was the 6th born of an eventual total of 12 children. They named him James Thomas, and in that same year, Joseph established The J T Fennell Steel Company. As Jim grew, he attended Valley Grade School near Speer, IL in a class of 16. Hard work was no stranger to Jim  and he welcomed it. In time, he earned fifteen hundred dollars milking 32 cows a day with other duties on a dairy farm not far from his home on the Wyoming blacktop, just west of Tanners Orchard. After his freshman year at Wyoming High, he attended and graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1965 where he was stunned and captivated by the lovely Brenda Sue Hedden who became his wife on July 27, 1968 and as he will tell you, it was the best decision he ever made. 

He attended Canton Junior College for 2 years and after 4 years graduated from a Caterpillar apprentice program in 1970, as a machinist. In 1969, he signed on to serve his home town as a fire fighter, while working at Caterpillar on 2nd shift. In 1970, son Craig came along, then Ty in 1972 and finally Trisha the Bicentennial baby in 1976. 

After the death of Jack Bean, he was elected treasurer for the Fire Department and held that position for 36 years. In the mid 80s he streamlined and modernized clerical operations for taxes and budget planning. Jim says one of the most gratifying parts of being a fireman is to be trained and prepared to help people in physical or impending harm. He held the positions of Fireman, Engineer, Captain, Assistant Chief, and Deputy Chief. With two other firemen, he received The Medal of Valor for saving a firefighter who fell through the floor at a house fire. Needless to say, Jim has a special place in his heart for the brothers and times he knew as one of Chillicothe’s finest. He retired in 2016 after 47 years. 

While working as a Quality Control Planner at Caterpillar in 1972, father Joe, asked him to come to JT Fennell Steel and run the machine shop. When Jim accepted, it created the men of steel, three of his brothers Jerome, John, and Jerry with father Joe. They joined forces, each with their own special talents to efficiently supply quality machine assemblies and fabrications to John Deere, Fiat Allis, Caterpillar, and others. It also continued to create a multitude of good paying jobs to people in our area since 1947 until 2023. Jim retired in 2013 with 41 years of service and his son Ty, with his team, now run the day to day operations. 

Jim’s nature, since he was a boy, was to help people overcome problems for better outcomes. In the late 70s he ran for the IVC School Board, wanting to do what was best for the kids and the taxpayers. At that time, the school district was one and a half million dollars in debt. With positive people and hard decisions being made, he helped turn things around and worked with members committed to improving education and to control the budget. He served for 16 years. In 2010 he was elected to The Peoria County Board representing Mossville and Chillicothe. In this position Jim and other board members made crucial decisions that in time ultimately stabilized their general fund and would leave the board with a strong financial posture for many years to come keeping the tax rate level. The last four years of his twelve year service, he was County Vice Chairman and Chairman of The Finance Committee. Many years ago, he learned a lesson from his mother, on how to stretch a dollar. She made a beautiful silk communion dress for his sister, from a parachute she acquired at an Army Navy Surplus store. 

Jim says his best mentors were his father Joe and Gail Myers, who both showed him that anything is possible. Throughout his life, he has been involved in so many donations, charities, and volunteer projects in and around our town as well as church functions. The total quality of a person’s behavior is character, and in Jim’s case the degree of quality is very high. From the young boy who made a fortune tending cows, to a loving wife who held up his fire coat at 3am for emergency calls time after time, to the guy who helped save a fellow comrade and the Medal of Valor and helping to secure a new scoreboard support standard for the IVC football field and many others, Jim says I had a lot of help from a lot of family and friends who I love dearly. 

The rest of Jim’s siblings include Bob, Betty, Joann, Jan, Jeanette, Joyce, Julie, and Jill. There’s always one hug left from Jim for you and much more to tell in his story of service to others. We thank you Jim and all of your family for helping to stimulate growth, progress and success for 51 of the last 76 years in this town we all call home. And most assuredly a special thanks to Joe and Betty.  

There have been and always will be Home Town Heroes in Chillicothe of different walks, occupations, and stature and now James Thomas Fennell, who defines the best of character and made in the USA, joins those ranks.