ALTO PASS, Ill. — It would be fair to call Wayne "Ren" Sirles a gentle giant. The southern Illinois native stands about 6-foot-3 and he has a mild-mannered disposition.

Chris Doll has known Sirles for more than 50 years, ever since Sirles started working on his family’s Centennial Farm, Rendleman Orchards in Alto Pass. "He’s just a super gentleman, who has given his time and knowledge to any new growers or existing ones over the years," said Doll, a member of the Illinois State Horticulture Society.

"He’s a great supporter of agriculture, he runs a successful orchard, and his activities all have been very good for the industry," he continued, adding that Sirles made fruit and vegetable growing his passion for life.

Because of his giving spirit, and because of his longtime service to a variety of local, regional and statewide agriculture organizations, the 73-year-old Sirles has been inducted into the Illinois State Horticulture Society’s Hall of Fame.

He received the honor during the group’s annual Summer Orchard Day, which this year was conducted in Centralia. Doll said Sirles is the 46th person inducted since the Hall of Fame was begun in 1965.

"Now I’ve always believed that there’s very little sense in tooting your own horn, but I will say this: It is truly an honor to have been blessed with everything I have, and this award was nice to receive," Sirles said, while tending to a new crop of peaches that are flying off the shelves these days.

"We do have a good supply of peaches, and they are juicy and sweet," said Sirles, quickly turning the conversation away from his induction.

He began working full-time at the 750-acre orchard and farm when he was 14, taking directions from his grandfather, Grover, and his Uncle Jimmy. By 1980, he had become the orchard’s president and chief financial officer – positions he retains today.

"He never has thought twice about helping any other grower when they need it," said Michelle Sirles, his daughter-in-law and marketing coordinator. "From advice with growing issues, to supplying other orchards with fruit during a bad growing season, he’s been right there all the time."

After graduating as his high school class valedictorian, Sirles went on to obtain his bachelor of science degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 1963. He is a longtime member of the state’s horticulture society and the Illinois Farm Bureau, and has served on the National Peach Council and the Midwest Apple Improvement Council.

He also remains active with a number of local organizations, including the SIU Alumni Assoc., chambers of commerce in Carbondale and Union County and the SIU Agriculture Leadership Board.