This year’s alumni marshals love the field, that is the softball and the agriculture field. While they may not have crossed paths as students, Melinda Fischer ’72, M.S. ’75, and Dan Kelley ’70 share a love for Illinois State University.
Fischer came to campus ready to compete. Prior to 1968, Illinois did not have girls’ sports in high school, and this was Fischer’s time to hit the field. When she was not in class working toward her physical education degree, she was active in field hockey, basketball, and softball. She was the epitome of a student-athlete who worked hard, uplifted her teammates, and knew the meaning of Redbird pride.
During her time at Illinois State, Fischer played in the first Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national basketball tournament in Horton Field House and helped lead the Redbirds to the first Women’s College World Series in 1969 where they finished second. She continued her studies and her love for sports as a graduate assistant coach at Illinois State for basketball and softball.
While Kelley did not play sports, he could be seen as a student in the stands at many football and basketball games. Kelley stayed active within the Department of Agriculture while earning his degree in the same area. While sitting on several different livestock judging teams, Kelley was able to travel across the country to compete. A fond memory of his includes his first time on an airplane when the dairy cattle team competed in San Francisco (and brought home many trophies). He also served as the first president of the Illinois State’s Ag Club.
Following their time as students, Fischer and Kelley took their passions from college and turned them into professional careers. Fischer went to Eastern Illinois University to lead the women’s basketball program. After a year also became the head softball coach and led the program to an Illinois AIAW State Championship and a berth in the regional final. She returned to Illinois State to become co-head coach alongside Dr. Jill Hutchinson for five seasons and also served as assistant softball coach during that time before taking over the program in 1986. During her 37 seasons, she has more wins than any coach in Illinois State history, and her total of 1,159 victories over 39 seasons ranks her as the 18th-winningest coach in NCAA Division I softball history.
Kelley headed to the fields to farm and became involved in agricultural cooperatives as a board member and then president of the McLean County Service Company, known today as Evergreen FS. In 2000, he became board chairman and president of GROWMARK, Inc. Since retirement, he continues to farm the land owned by his great grandparents.
As Redbird alumni, Fischer and Kelley have made their marks on campus as servant leaders. Kelley has a long list of Redbird legacies. After marrying his wife, Pam, in 1971, the couple raised three children all of whom attended Illinois State. Two of their grandchildren are also Redbirds.
Kelley is a proud Redbird leader, having served on the Ag alumni advisory board as its president, and then on the Illinois State Alumni Association board for 13 years with two as its president. He is an active member of the Illinois State Foundation Board. He supports Redbird students through many initiatives including the Dan Kelley Family Agriculture Scholarship and numerous gifts to the Mennonite College of Nursing. Kelley was honored for his commitment to the University with the Alumni Association’s Alumni Achievement Award in 2016 and as an inductee into the College of Applied Science and Technology Hall of Fame in 2009.
Fischer is a 2016 College of Applied Science and Technology inductee. Her time as a Redbird alum has revolved around Illinois State as an employee and a leader in women’s sports. She mentored hundreds of student-athletes, coaches, and staff over the years, which explains her being a two-time inductee of the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame. Her devotion to the sport and its players was also recognized at the national level through the National Fastpitch Coaches Association when the organization renamed its distinguished service award the Melinda Fischer Distinguished Service Award in 2018. She stays connected to Illinois State with financial support of Redbird Athletics. Her mission now is advocating for upgrades to Marian Kneer Softball Stadium.
These Redbird marshals both love to see the changes at Illinois State. For Fischer, she loved being a small part of the landmark in front of Horton Field House that honors 50 years of Title IX. Throughout her career, she enjoyed watching the players and team development every season.
For Kelley, it’s the changes on campus in the excellent academic programs and the updated facilities that make Illinois State the best of the best.
