The University community lost a pair of dedicated Redbird supporters and employees in the fall.
Jim Johnson, M.A. ’64, and Bob Kief ’70, M.S. ’72, made significant contributions to the campus and impacted student-athletes for many years.
Retired in 2002 after a 35-year career as a psychology professor, Johnson became a volunteer academic coordinator with the Karin L. Bone Athletics Study Center. He continued leading an introduction to psychology class, teaching large numbers of student-athletes. Affectionately known as “Dr. J,” he led study skills workshops and worked with individual student-athletes. He was inducted into the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame as a Campbell “Stretch” Miller Award recipient.
Kief served in the military, enrolling at ISU at the age of 39 and earning degrees in physical education and athletic training. He was a faculty member and athletic trainer for eight years before becoming a full-time assistant athletic trainer. He retired in 1989 as the head athletic trainer for men’s Athletics. One of the first 50 licensed athletic trainers in the state of Illinois, Kief was voted into the Illinois Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame. He enjoyed coming up with new concepts for preventive and post-injury care and was fondly known as “Doc.”
To make a donation to honor either Johnson or Kief, go to IllinoisState.edu/Giving or call (309) 438-8041.
