Sharon McBride - Spotlighting a Lifetime West Peorian
The stability of West Peoria depends so much on its residents, some of whom have lived here for most of their lives and have made lifetime 
contributions to this community. Sharon McBride is one of those people. Sharon was born and raised at 2413 W. Kellogg Avenue, lived on W. Barker for four years, and then returned to the family home on Kellogg.
Sharon’s childhood memories include the simple pleasures enjoyed by so many West Peoria children. She remembers playing kick the can in the streets and hide and seek in the “secret” spots in neighbors’ yards, etc. Of course, she recalls the adventures that many West Peoria children have had in the big gulley that was behind Calvin Coolidge School. One favorite “playground,” now off limits to today’s youth, was the cemetery.
Later her own children played in the same streets and yards in this community where she was happy to have raised her own family. For Sharon, as with many, West Peoria is still home and offers the conveniences and friendly atmosphere of a small town.
Not only did Sharon graduate from Manual High School and from Bradley University with a BA and a MA but—as an adult—she also remained involved with both schools and other local educational institutions.
As a parent she supported her children’s schools, first by serving as the president of the Calvin Coolidge Mothers’ Club and later by holding several offices of the Manual High School Boosters’ Club. As a Peoria Park District Summer Band parent, Sharon chaperoned the band’s tour to the British Isles. Also, she held several positions with Pack 11 of the Boy Scouts of America. She was a den leader, a den leader coach, and an advancement chairman for the district for the Boy Scouts.
Thirteen years of her professional life were spent at Illinois Central College as an instructor of technical writing. In May 2010, she will retire from her position as the Undergraduate Student Advisor of Bradley University’s College of Engineering and Technology.
As one of many volunteer efforts, Sharon regularly writes a column for the Community Word. Sharon has served West Peoria and the West Peoria Residents’ Association in many capacities and through many organizations in our community. She helped organize the West Peoria War Veterans’ Memorial and Memorial Day ceremonies. She served as a West Peoria representative for the Bicentennial Commission.
As a West Peoria Lions Club member she chaired the Fourth of July Parade and Flag-raising Ceremonies for approximately twenty years. In 2004 Sharon was the Grand Marshal of the Fourth of July Parade. As a member of the West Peoria Residents’ Association, she has served on the Jamboree Run Committee. She is a founding member of the West Peoria Garden Club and a former member of Rotary Club North.
On the more political side of her volunteer work, she has worked for the city of West Peoria by serving on the Zoning Board of Appeals and by chairing the committee that wrote the zoning codes. Sharon has served the Peoria County Township as a county and Illinois Township Officials Association officer. She has, also, served as a West Peoria Township Trustee.
Sharon currently serves West Peoria Township as a trustee of the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District/CityLink and currently serves as the GPMTD treasurer. She also edits BOARDtalk, a national electronic newsletter published for Transit Board Members. She is a founding member, past president, and current secretary of the Women’s Transportation Seminar, Central Illinois Chapter.
Sharon’s four children—Matthew Ciota, Tom Ciota, Nathan Ciota, and Liz Ciota Faron—were all Manual High school graduates. Matt lives with his wife Paula and her son Ben Veazey in Buda, Texas. Tom lives in Olympia, Washington, with his wife—the former Karen Schmidgall—and their son TJ. Nathan, who married Julie Fisher, lives in Peoria. They have three children: son Cannon and daughters, Morgan and Sharadyn. Liz and her husband Rich live in Berwyn, Illinois. They have two sons, Sean and Joe.
In retirement, Sharon plans to stay involved in all the activities that now take up only her “spare” time. However, she plans to spend more time with her children and grandchildren and to lend them a hand when she’s needed.
contributions to this community. Sharon McBride is one of those people. Sharon was born and raised at 2413 W. Kellogg Avenue, lived on W. Barker for four years, and then returned to the family home on Kellogg.
Sharon’s childhood memories include the simple pleasures enjoyed by so many West Peoria children. She remembers playing kick the can in the streets and hide and seek in the “secret” spots in neighbors’ yards, etc. Of course, she recalls the adventures that many West Peoria children have had in the big gulley that was behind Calvin Coolidge School. One favorite “playground,” now off limits to today’s youth, was the cemetery.
Later her own children played in the same streets and yards in this community where she was happy to have raised her own family. For Sharon, as with many, West Peoria is still home and offers the conveniences and friendly atmosphere of a small town.
Not only did Sharon graduate from Manual High School and from Bradley University with a BA and a MA but—as an adult—she also remained involved with both schools and other local educational institutions.
As a parent she supported her children’s schools, first by serving as the president of the Calvin Coolidge Mothers’ Club and later by holding several offices of the Manual High School Boosters’ Club. As a Peoria Park District Summer Band parent, Sharon chaperoned the band’s tour to the British Isles. Also, she held several positions with Pack 11 of the Boy Scouts of America. She was a den leader, a den leader coach, and an advancement chairman for the district for the Boy Scouts.
Thirteen years of her professional life were spent at Illinois Central College as an instructor of technical writing. In May 2010, she will retire from her position as the Undergraduate Student Advisor of Bradley University’s College of Engineering and Technology.
As one of many volunteer efforts, Sharon regularly writes a column for the Community Word. Sharon has served West Peoria and the West Peoria Residents’ Association in many capacities and through many organizations in our community. She helped organize the West Peoria War Veterans’ Memorial and Memorial Day ceremonies. She served as a West Peoria representative for the Bicentennial Commission.
As a West Peoria Lions Club member she chaired the Fourth of July Parade and Flag-raising Ceremonies for approximately twenty years. In 2004 Sharon was the Grand Marshal of the Fourth of July Parade. As a member of the West Peoria Residents’ Association, she has served on the Jamboree Run Committee. She is a founding member of the West Peoria Garden Club and a former member of Rotary Club North.
On the more political side of her volunteer work, she has worked for the city of West Peoria by serving on the Zoning Board of Appeals and by chairing the committee that wrote the zoning codes. Sharon has served the Peoria County Township as a county and Illinois Township Officials Association officer. She has, also, served as a West Peoria Township Trustee.
Sharon currently serves West Peoria Township as a trustee of the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District/CityLink and currently serves as the GPMTD treasurer. She also edits BOARDtalk, a national electronic newsletter published for Transit Board Members. She is a founding member, past president, and current secretary of the Women’s Transportation Seminar, Central Illinois Chapter.
Sharon’s four children—Matthew Ciota, Tom Ciota, Nathan Ciota, and Liz Ciota Faron—were all Manual High school graduates. Matt lives with his wife Paula and her son Ben Veazey in Buda, Texas. Tom lives in Olympia, Washington, with his wife—the former Karen Schmidgall—and their son TJ. Nathan, who married Julie Fisher, lives in Peoria. They have three children: son Cannon and daughters, Morgan and Sharadyn. Liz and her husband Rich live in Berwyn, Illinois. They have two sons, Sean and Joe.
In retirement, Sharon plans to stay involved in all the activities that now take up only her “spare” time. However, she plans to spend more time with her children and grandchildren and to lend them a hand when she’s needed.