DECATUR - U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, told members of the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce on Monday that he's seen many positive changes in Decatur during the more than quarter-century he's spent in public life.

"You need to continue to do what you've been doing for the last several years and what I call 'thinking outside the box,' " he said.

LaHood, who is retiring when his term expires this year after serving 14 years in Congress and 12 years as an aide to former House Minority Leader Bob Michel, R-Peoria, addressed the Chamber's annual meeting as keynote speaker.

The representative said Decatur has many attractive assets such as a revitalized downtown and the Farm Progress Show that put the city on the "cutting edge," especially in the area of agriculture, but community leaders need to rely on innovative ideas and positive branding to make the most of them.

"What you need to do is create the opportunity so your kids will come back to Decatur and stand on your shoulders and continue to contribute to this community," LaHood said.

Chamber board Chairman Jeff Hendricks said he would work in his second term to help the group continue making progress in the areas of improving Decatur's image and educational opportunities, strengthening neighborhoods and revitalizing Lake Decatur and Downtown.

"Lifting up the good that we have and attacking the difficulties that we have - the key is really working together," Hendricks said.

Hendricks assumed the role of board chairman for a second straight year after it was announced the Chamber's initial preferred candidate, Mike Johnston, former general manager at WAND-TV, is moving to Austin, Texas.

Johnston's wife, Denise Daniels, who until recently was the station's general sales manager, recently accepted a job at KXAN-TV in Austin.

"We all wish Mike great success - he and Denise both," Hendricks said.

He said he had looked forward to seeing what fresh ideas Johnston might bring to the position, but was honored to be chosen to have a second term as chairman of the Chamber board and looked forward to seeing through some of the projects begun in the last year.

Mary Tallon can be reached at mtallon@ herald-review.com or 421-7984.