Randy Duncan portraying Abe Lincoln at Madison County Republican Central Committee Lincoln Day Dinner

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Randy Duncan will portray Abraham Lincoln as the keynote presenter at the Madison County Republican Central Committee (MCRCC) Lincoln Day Dinner on Thursday, April 11 in the LeClair Room at the Lewis and Clark Community College N.O. Nelson Center Campus, 600 Troy Road in Edwardsville. 

The MCRCC serves as the local arm of the Party and hosts the Lincoln Day Dinner to honor the late president and raise money to support candidates and conservative initiatives throughout the region.

A social hour will kick off the festivities at 5:30 p.m., with a buffet dinner to follow catered by Bella Milano. Then Duncan will address the crowd.

Duncan takes his role as a Lincoln presenter very seriously. He began portraying the visionary Republican leader more than 20 years ago when a friend asked him to dress up as a character for a special event. Duncan a resident of Carlinville shaved the top of his beard, donned a top hat, dark suit and tie and started his Lincoln career.

"To be from Illinois, means that you probably know some things about Lincoln already as most people do," Duncan says. "But then you have to go and become serious about it and become a sort of an amateur historian, and to learn the things that a lot of people don't know, to kind of flesh out the character." Randy Duncan was featured in the story “Abes Across America” in the April 2022 National Geographic. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Randy Duncan to Madison County,” said MCRCC Chairman Ray Wesley. Wesley noted the event also will have emcee Host Annie Frey from FM NewsTalk 97.1 speaking and offering her perspective on the historic changes taking place in Madison County during the last several election cycles.

 “I encourage area conservatives to attend this event and learn more about how they can be part of the positive things happening in Madison County and our region,” Wesley said. “By attending and bringing like-minded neighbors and friends, you can meet others in our community and learn more about becoming part of solutions in government and society.”

Information about the Lincoln Day Dinner is available through the event website. The deadline for reserving tickets is April 2. Tickets are $75 per person or $140 per couple. Tables with seating for 10 are available for $700. Additionally, there are a variety of sponsorship opportunities offered. Tickets can be purchased by mailing checks to Ray Wesley, 5023 Valleyview Dr., Alton, Ill. 62002, made payable to MCRCC.

Paid for by Madison County Republican Central Committee.  A copy of our reports filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available from the board's official website (www.elections.ilgov)or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, IL.