Former Illinois State Representative and Macomb business owner Bill Edley has been appointed to the Western Board of Trustees. Western President Al Goldfarb received notification Dec. 16 of Edley’s appointment, effective upon confirmation by the Senate.

Edley, who now resides in Peoria, was a state representative from 1989 to 1995. After leaving the General Assembly he worked as a financial consultant for Merrill Lynch and as a portfolio manager for Smith Barney. He currently serves as executive director of the USA Patriot Corporation, a not-for-profit group advocating tax advantages for United State-based companies which meet standards regarding production in the United States and health and pension benefits for employees.

In the General Assembly Edley served as chair of the House Education Appropriations Committee and as vice chair of the Illinois House Transportation Committee. He was honored with legislative awards from the Illinois Community College Trustees Association, the Illinois Association of Homes for the Aging, the Illinois Nurses Association, the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities and the Illinois State Council of Senior Citizens.

From 1974-1989 he was president of Automotive Wholesale with businesses in Macomb and Monmouth. This past January Edley was one of eight individuals named to the Library Leadership Board at Western, a volunteer group established to raise awareness for University Libraries and assist in raising funds to continue the Libraries’ commitment to the region.

Edley’s appointment includes the completion of a term ending in January 2005 and a full six-year term as trustee through Jan. 17, 2011.