The state of Illinois will soon be looking for a replacement to manage its state fairs.
Kevin Gordon, division manager of fairs and promotional services, has indicated to senior agency officials his intent to retire effective Dec. 31, according to Morgan Booth, public information officer for the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
The division manager provides administrative oversight to the bureaus of the Illinois State Fair, Du Quoin State Fair, Non-Fair Events, and County Fairs and Horseracing. Gordon was promoted to division manager in the spring of 2016 and has managed the Illinois and Du Quoin State Fairs for the past two years.
In a statement to the Du Quoin Call, Booth said those years "can be characterized as record setting years."
Gordon's retirement caps a 29-year career in state government, with the past 17 years spent working at the Illinois State Fair.
Booth said Gordon's retirement will not affect current operations in Du Quoin.
"Tibretta (Reiman) is still there making the day-to-day decisions," she said.
Officials from the IDA are currently reviewing options to identify a replacement for Gordon.
