East St. Louis' Reginald Petty reflects on his life's work after top Illinois honor

East St. Louis' Reginald Petty reflects on his life's work after top Illinois honor

Author: St. Louis Public Radio April 16, 2026 Duration: 13:23
At a ceremony at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Saturday, Gov. JB Pritzker awarded the Order of Lincoln — Illinois’ highest civilian honor — to five recipients, including East St. Louis civil rights activist and historian Reginald Petty. In conversation with STLPR Metro East reporter Will Bauer, the 90-year-old reflects on his work during the Civil Rights Movement and his ongoing efforts to preserve East St. Louis’ history.

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