PEKIN, Ill. – A stretch of Veteran’s Drive in Pekin has been named in honor of a community leader.
Signs indicating the Carol A. Shields Memorial Highway on Veteran’s Drive are located at Griffin Avenue and Allentown Road were unveiled in a ceremony Friday. The ceremony was attended by Shields’ husband, Harlan, as well as her son, Pekin Mayor Mary Burress, and city leaders.
Shields passed away in January of 2021.
She played a role in lobbying for the construction of Veteran’s Drive by working with local government and city leaders.
Shields also served many roles in the Pekin community. She was Executive Director of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce from 1996-2001, served on numerous committees and boards in Pekin including the Pekin Human Rights Advisory Board and the Pekin Transportation Committee, and was the Grand Marshall of the 2004 Pekin Marigold Festival.
