Rock Island Today

Sen. Win Stoller (R-Peoria) recently took to social media to congratulate Randall Mullin on the publication of a book of photographs of Geneseo.

“Congratulations to Dr. Randall Mullin and the Geneseo Rotary for creating and publishing 'Geneseo - A View Through A Lens,' Stoller (R-Peoria) wrote on Facebook. “A wonderful tribute to a great city.”

In his Facebook post, Stoller shared a link to a Star Courier story that highlighted the publication.

“After retirement from my medical practice, I had an opportunity to be ‘on the other side,’” Mullin said. “While sitting in the waiting room at Hammond-Henry Hospital, I saw what I considered as some wonderful art work displayed on the walls. As I had occasion to visit other areas in the hospital, I saw a number of other ‘Americana’ pictures, which I learned were the product of the late Tom Zwica as well as some from Jerry Hahn.”

He contacted Zwicka's widow, Julie, about collecting the photographs in a book and she suggested other local photographers whose work should be included.

Then, he got the Rotary involved, particularly Todd Sieben, Jim Nash and Dr. Chuck LoGiudice who "brought a perspective to the project which I, as an outsider, could not,” Mullin told the Star Courier.

Two hundred and fifty copies of 'Geneseo - A View Through A Lens,' were produced and are being sold, according to Mullin for "cost-to-produce, plus no more than $10 overage." After the Rotary gets its costs back, the surplus will be used for civic projects. 

The book is available at $25 from Geneseo Rotary members, Geneseo Public Library, Smith Studio, Pegasus, Central Bank Farmers National Bank, and Blackhawk Bank & Trust.

Mullin has been a member of the Rotary since 1975.