"Key Person" Award

(James J. O'Connell Memorial Award) 

 Jim O’Connell the pioneer, founder and unanimously elected Charter President of the Illinois JCI Senate went on with a group of senators to formulate the United States JCI Senate. He took his talents of flying on his own dime around the country promoting the idea and vision of a National JCI Senate organization. Jim O’Connell personally visited 21 states, TOYM, Canada, Japan, Korea, China, attended CREW meetings, Washington DC, Coral Gables, met with John Armbruster, attended numerous Jaycee Chapter meetings, adding 100 flying hours to his Beech Bonanza, 10,000 miles on his 1972 Ford and 76 hours of commercial jet to encourage and recruit the dream of an idea to form a National JCI Senate organization. In 1972, in Atlanta, Georgia 21 states present, a motion by Illinois and seconded by Virginia that a national Senate organization be formed known as “The United States JCI Senate”. He was the “Key Person” to our organization’s formation.
In 2024 at Tampa, the James P. O’Connell “Key Person” Award was established by the Executive Board to be awarded for the first time at the 2025 Convention. This award is given in memory of James O’Connell presented to a JCI Senator considered to be the “Key Person” of the past administration who best exemplifies the ideals, vision, interest, and enthusiasm that supports the organization with the simple philosophy inspired by “The Old Irishman” Jim. This award is in memory of James O’Connell #5046, and is sponsored by the Illinois JCI Senate.

2024-2025  Ray Ainslie #44136

2025-2026 Logan Giese #52655