January 14, 2004

Videotapes of Simon memorial service now available

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Videotape copies of the memorial service for former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, the founder and director of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, are now available.

Simon, 75, died Dec. 9, 2003, at the Prairie Heart Institute in Springfield from complications resulting from heart valve and single bypass surgery.

The videotape of the Dec. 14 memorial service at the SIU Arena is nearly two hours long and is on VHS format. The tapes are $19.95, which includes shipping and handling, and are available through WSIU Public Broadcasting.

Simon, who lived in Makanda, was a professor at SIUC, where he taught classes in political science, history and journalism. He joined the faculty in 1997, just weeks after retiring from the U.S. Senate, ending a 43-year career in politics that started with his election to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1954. Simon was director of the Public Policy Institute until his death.

Speakers at the memorial service were former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyoming; Abner Mikva, a former federal judge who served in the Illinois House with Simon; Pam Huey, a former student and Simon staff member; U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts; Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich; former SIU Trustee William Norwood; Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan; and U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Illinois.

WSIU is accepting checks, payable to WSIU, as well as credit card orders. For more information, or to place an order, call 618/453-4344. You may also write WSIU Public Broadcasting, Mailcode 6602, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill., 62901. To order via e-mail, write toRebecca.Swain@wsiu.org.

"WSIU is pleased to have worked with the Simon family and the Public Policy Institute to make copies of this historic and uplifting memorial service for former Sen. Paul Simon available to the public," said Candis S. Isberner, acting director of WSIU Public Broadcasting.

Memorial contributions, payable to the SIU Foundation, may be sent to the Public Policy Institute, Mailcode 4429, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill., 62901.