September 24, 2004
Past SIU Alumni Association presidents recognized
CARBONDALE, Ill. - - Southern Illinois University Carbondale Chancellor Walter V. Wendler and the SIU Alumni Association recognized 21 past alumni association presidents on campus Friday, Sept. 17, and Saturday, Sept. 18.
Twenty-one of the alumni association's 28 living past presidents attended the activities. Chancellor and Mrs. Walter V. Wendler and the association co-hosted a Friday evening dinner, along with a breakfast, brunch and campus tour on Saturday. The chancellor presented each alumni president with a Southern @ 150 paperweight. The group also was the guest of the chancellor at the SIUC-William Penn University football game on Saturday at McAndrew Stadium.
"We're very pleased to host 21 of our living past presidents on campus. The University and the SIU Alumni Association are appreciative of their many years of service, loyalty and dedication to their alma mater," said Edward M. Buerger, executive director of the SIU Alumni Association. "This weekend's activities were our way of extending our appreciation for everything these outstanding individuals continue to do in support of the mission of this institution."
The honorees each served terms as president of the SIU Alumni Association national board of directors. The 39-member board governs the not-for-profit organization and its activities, programs and services. It represents 200,000 SIU graduates living in more than 125 countries and is the largest and oldest organization serving Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
"It is difficult for a number of these individuals to return to campus on a regular basis due to their geographic locations. But we were confident they would be interested in Past Presidents Weekend based on their affinity to the University," said Robert Odaniell, who served as executive director of the SIU Alumni Association from 1952 to 1984. "This weekend also presented an opportunity for us to update our past presidents on happenings at the association and University. It was a pleasure to reminisce with these people. The responses demonstrated how these people feel about their alma mater."
In addition to current president Mimi Wallace of Beverly Hills, Calif., who has headed the organization since 2003, past presidents, their years of service and hometowns are:
Illinois
Belleville
Patricia Hunsaker, 1982-1983
Richard Hunsaker, 1968-1969
Bloomington
Paul A. Gill, 1971-1972
Keith Sanders, 1977-1978
Carbondale
Michael Carr, 1997-1998
Larry C. Jacober, 1973-1974
Andrew Marcec, 1969-1970
Albert J. Shafter, 1974-1975
Carterville
Robert L, Mees, 1991-1992
Cobden
Roger G. Gray, 1976-1977
H. Wesley Wilkins, 1995-1997
Dupo
Patrick Mudd, 1980-1981
Du Quoin
Doris Rottschalk, 1998-1999
Glen Ellyn
Paul Conti, 1986-1988
Hillsboro
Richard N. Small, 1988-1989
Hudson
Jim Gildersleeve, 1989-1990
Makanda
Robert Pulliam, 1981-1982
Springfield Don Magee, 2001-2003
Mississippi
Itta Bena
W.A. (Bill) Butts, 1985-1986
Missouri
University City
Richard H. Reynolds, 1999-2001
Wildwood
George E. McLean, 1992-1993