State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, is looking forward to meeting with President Barack Obama at Alpha this afternoon.

Rep. Moffitt served in the General Assembly with the president when he was a state senator. In 2005, the two men also shared a town hall meeting in a Kewanee gym.

"It's a distinct honor to have the president visit," Rep. Moffitt said.

"It's something for them to remember throughout their history," he said of Alpha residents."You take pride in your community when you have a presidential visit."

Rep. Moffitt also has a list of items he'd like to discuss with the president: railroads, promotinggreen energy and a federal interest-free revolving loan to help fire departments buy equipment. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad is the largest employer in Galesburg, part of Moffitt's district, and agriculture is the No. 1 industry in Illinois.

"The fact that this will be held at Country Corner showcases an opportunity for some additional agricultural marketing," Rep. Moffitt said. "It's something (owner)Bruce Curry and his family have done an outstanding job with."

Rep. Moffitt noted he almost shared a unique connection with the president. When Illinois remodeled the Capitol Chambers in 2007, he bought his old desk for $250 and could have bought the president's former Springfield desk.

"Unfortunately, I did not buy it," Rep. Moffitt said. "I came real close; I sure wish I had."