List of Western Illinois University people
The following is a list of notable people associated with Western Illinois University, located in the American city of Macomb, Illinois.
Notable alumni
[edit]Politicians and government officials
[edit]Federal government
[edit]- Darwin Gale Schisler, Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for Illinois's 19th congressional district from 1965 to 1967. He earned his B.A. at Western Illinois University[1]
- Vincent R. Stewart, LtGen US Marine Corps and 20th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency[2]
- Tim Walberg, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Michigan's 7th congressional district since 2011. He attended Western Illinois University, but earned his B.A. at Taylor University[3]
- Harlan Watson, Special Envoy to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change[4]
State legislators
[edit]- Tod Bowman, Democratic member of the Iowa Senate for District 29. He earned his M.Ed. at the university.[5]
- Rich Brauer, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 87th district (2003–2015). He attended Western, but did not graduate
- Kathie Conway, Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives representing the 104th district since 2011. She graduated with a B.S. in Law Enforcement Administration[6]
- Kirk Dillard, Republican member of the Illinois Senate (1994–2014) and gubernatorial candidate in 2010 and 2014.[7][8]
- Randy Frese, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 94th district (2015–present). He earned B.S. in agriculture from Western[9]
- Regis Groff, Democratic member of the Colorado Senate from the 33rd district (1974–1994). He was the second African-American elected to the Colorado Senate[10]
- Norine Hammond, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2010–present). Her district, the 93rd, includes the university's Macomb campus[11]
- Joe Hutter, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007. He earned his B.A. from Western.[12]
- Kimberly Lightford, Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois Senate. She has represented the 4th district since 1998. She earned a B.A. in communications at Western.[13]
- Mona Martin, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives for the 43rd district (1993-2001). She earned her B.S. from Western[14]
- Jerry L. Mitchell, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1995–2012). He represented the 90th district and earned his Ed.S. at Western Illinois University[15]
- John Millner, Republican member of the Illinois Senate representing the 28th district (2005–2013). Earned his master's degree in criminal justice administration at the university[16]
- Richard P. Myers, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1995–2010. He earned his B.S. at the university[17]
- Cynthia Nava, Democratic member of the New Mexico Senate from 1992 to 2012
- Timothy H. Osmond, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 61st district (1999–2002)[18]
- James O'Toole, Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 1992 to 2002. He attended Western Illinois University, but graduated from University of Missouri at St. Louis
- Matthew Rinker, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives from district 99 (2023–present). He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics.[19]
- Todd Sieben Republican member of the Illinois Senate (1993–2008). He earned his B.S. in business administration at Western[20]
- Mike Smiddy, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 71st district (2013–present). He attended Western Illinois University[21]
- Litesa Wallace, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 67th district (2014–present). She earned her B.A. and M.Ed. from Western[22]
- Frank B. Wood, Democratic member of the Iowa Senate from the 42nd district.[23]
Local officeholders
[edit]- Matthew Shirk, Public Defender of Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit Court (2008–16). He earned his B.S. at the university in 1997[24]
Activists
[edit]- Mary Matalin, Republican political strategist who worked on the campaigns of Dave O'Neal, George H. W. Bush and served as chief of staff to Lee Atwater[25]
- Erin Merryn, activist behind Erin’s Law, a law requiring kids be taught personal body safety education, which has been passed in 37 states
- Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. She is a human rights advocate who has worked for the Anti-Defamation League. She earned her M.S. at Western[26]
- C. T. Vivian, leader in the Civil Rights Movement who participated in the Freedom Rides
International figures
[edit]- Ahmet Kenan Tanrıkulu – Turkish politician
- Camilo Osías Filipino politician
Business
[edit]- Robert Nardelli – former chairman and chief executive officer of Chrysler, former president and CEO of Home Depot
- Jeremy Schoemaker – internet entrepreneur
Media and arts
[edit]- Michael Boatman – actor and author
- Cisco Cotto - radio host, pastor, and professor
- Mark Konkol – 2011 Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist (Chicago Sun-Times)
- John Mahoney – actor, Frasier, taught at Western
- Doug Quick - broadcast weatherman, author and museum curator
- Warhol.SS — rapper, dropped out after one week
Education
[edit]- David L. Chicoine, 19th president of South Dakota State University (2007–present). He earned his M.A. at Western Illinois University[27]
- Bob Krause, vice president for Institutional Advancement at Kansas State University (1986–2009). He served as acting Athletic Director from 2008 to 2009
- Michael Shonrock, 22nd president of Lindenwood University[28]
- Paul Vallas, education administrator who has served as the chief executive for Chicago Public Schools (1995–2001), School District of Philadelphia (2002–2006) and the Recovery School District of Louisiana (2007–2012)[29]
- Syed Abul Kalam Azad, treasurer of University of Dhaka[30]
Athletes and coaches
[edit]- Jaelon Acklin - Canadian Football League
- Don Beebe – National Football League
- David Bowens – National Football League
- Fabien Bownes – National Football League
- Lee Calhoun – Olympic gold medal winner
- Bryan Cox – National Football League
- Joe Dykstra - National Basketball Association
- Booker Edgerson – National Football League
- Larry Garron – National Football League
- Don Greco – National Football League
- Rodney Harrison – National Football League
- Edgerton Hartwell – National Football League
- Frisman Jackson – National Football League
- William James – National Football League
- Kosuke Kimura – soccer midfielder for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer
- Gary Lagesse – Hall of Fame Softball Coach
- Gene Lamont – Major League Baseball
- Rob Lazeo – Canadian Football League
- Lamar McGriggs – National Football League
- Russ Michna – Arena Football League
- Red Miller – former head coach of the NFL Denver Broncos and USFL Denver Gold
- Dennis Morgan – National Football League
- J. R. Niklos – National Football League
- Terell Parks (born 1991) - basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Paul Reuschel – Major League Baseball
- Rick Reuschel – Major League Baseball
- Jimmy Ray Robinson - National Football League
- Khalen Saunders – Super Bowl champion (LIV) - National Football League
- Mike Scifres – National Football League
- Rich Seubert – National Football League
- Paul Singer - National Football League
- Rick Short – Major League Baseball
- Tom Soehn – director of soccer operations for Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Aaron Stecker – National Football League
- John Teerlinck – National Football League
- Marco Thomas – Canadian Football League
- Mike Wagner – National Football League
- Jason Williams – National Football League
- Frank Winters – National Football league
References
[edit]- ^ "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov.
- ^ "About DIA".
- ^ "Bioguide Search".
- ^ "Alumni Achievement Awards - 2010 - Alumni - Western Illinois University".
- ^ "Senator Tod Bowman | Iowa Senate District 29". www.senate.iowa.gov. Archived from the original on 2014-04-23.
- ^ "Missouri House of Representatives - Error".
- ^ "Senate Member Details".
- ^ "On Republican ballot, Dillard for Illinois governor". 15 February 2014.
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography".
- ^ "Tribute to State Senator Regis Groff | Capitol Words". Archived from the original on 2014-10-08. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography".
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System".
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Senator Biography".
- ^ Iowa Legislative Services Agency. "State Representative". Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography".
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Senator Biography".
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography".
- ^ 'Rep. Timothy H. Osmond, 53, Chicago Tribune, Matthew Walberg, December 18, 2002
- ^ "State Representative". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Senator Biography".
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography".
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography".
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". votesmart.org.
- ^ "Matthew Shirk". avvo.com.
- ^ "Washington Speakers Bureau". www.washingtonspeakers.com. Archived from the original on 2011-12-06.
- ^ "UNICEF USA Announces Planned Departure of President and CEO Caryl Stern".
- ^ "Office of the President". 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Michael D. Shonrock - Cover Letter, Resume and References" (PDF). ulsystem.edu.
- ^ "School's out for Vallas". 29 June 2013.
- ^ "Message from the Treasurer". University of Dhaka. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
12. Prof. Syed Abul Kalam Azad – 04.02.2006 – 23.01.2009
External links
[edit]- Official website – Western Illinois University