Norman Bobins, CEO of LaSalle Bank, has joined the Laureates of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois, the highest honor bestowed by the State of Illinois for outstanding achievement.

Active in numerous civic organizations, Bobins is a board member of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Foundation and is involved with the Field Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago. He has previously held directorships with the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce and the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, which honored him with its Distinguished Service Award in 1982, and is the former Chairman of the Board of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. For these and many more exceptional business and civic accomplishments, Bobins will be honored as Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois, joining a group of many highly esteemed individuals who will be presented the Order of Lincoln Medallion on April 14 at the Field Museum in Chicago.

The Lincoln Academy was established in 1965 to honor Illinois' most distinguished citizens, either by birth or residence, who have brought honor to the state by their achievements. Past honorees have included John Chancellor, Paul Harvey, Walter Payton, Mike Royko, Ronald Reagan, Ann Landers, Lester Crown, Gwendolyn Brooks and Roger Ebert.

Bobins, after 40 years in the banking industry, including more than 25 years leading the growth of LaSalle Bank and ABN AMRO's other operations in North America, announced his retirement last January.