James J. Reynolds |
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James J. Reynolds |
BiographyJim Reynolds is retired as a trainer-driver, public school teacher, college professor and state administrator, but remains active as a Standardbred owner and by managing, with his wife, his 157-acre Freedom Hill Farms in Watseka, Ill. A graduate of Eastern Illinois University, Reynolds returned to his alma mater to join the faculty after having earned a doctorate degree in educational administration from Indiana University. Reynolds, although not born into a racing family, caught the horse bug while growing up in Sidney, Ill., in Champaign County. While attending—and later teaching at—Eastern Illinois, he threw all of his spare time and spare energy into driving and training, first at the fairs and later at the Chicago racetracks. He is a past president of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association and also served on the board of the Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association and the Harness Horse Youth Foundation. In 1994 he was appointed director of the Illinois Bureau of County Fairs and Horse Racing. Two years later, he was promoted to superintendent of promotions and marketing for the Department of Agriculture. His additional responsibilities included oversight of foreign and domestic marketing of Illinois agriculture products and both state fairs. After leaving state government, he was the director of economic development for Iroquois County for five years. Reynolds and his wife, Nancy, are the parents of two sons, Keith and Kristopher, and he has a daughter, Ginger, from an earlier marriage. Jim and his wife have six grandchildren. CONTACT INFORMATION: 2054 N 2430 East Rd Watseka, IL 60970-8719 Phone: 815-432-0954 [Email] TERM EXPIRES: 2026 (Membership Director) |
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