Paul Liddle, cafeteria manager, won the Illinois Council of the Blind Robert J. O’ Shaughnessy Award for outstanding progress in mastering the skills necessary to return to a meaningful lifestyle.

Since January, Liddle has been owner and manager of the cafeteria. He participates in the state-directed, federally funded Business Enterprise for the Blind, which requires participants to be legally blind or have uncorrectable vision. Liddle has only one eye with 2500 vision.

"I am more than qualified for the program," Liddle says with a laugh. Despite his vision problems, he remains bright, cheerful and friendly, which helped lead to the September 2000 Illinois Council of the Blind award.

Liddle, his wife Vivian and son Joshua live in Oglesby. His daughter Elizabeth lives in Paxton.

Liddle taught electricity and electronics at Chicago Vocational School for 13 years. Despite wearing "real strong glasses" at CVS, his eyes were gradually weakened by several laser surgeries. He is stoical and remarkably cheerful about his plight.