The Department of Politics and Government is hosting a retirement reception honoring Professor Thomas McClure from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025, in room 118 of the Alumni Center. The University community is invited to attend. Remarks will begin at 4:20 p.m.
Toward the end of his successful 29-year career as an attorney with Elliott and McClure, P.C., McClure joined the Department of Politics and Government, serving first as an instructional assistant professor during 2003-09, and then as a tenure-track professor and director of the department’s legal studies program from 2009-25. He retires after 22 years of dedicated service to the department, university, and community, during which he was central to the development of the successful and thriving legal studies program and its many valuable applied and experiential components.
During his time at Illinois State, McClure was recognized for his teaching and mentoring numerous times, receiving multiple Impact Awards from Illinois State students, teaching and mentoring awards from the Illinois State chapters of Pi Sigma Alpha and Mortar Board, and the Department of Politics and Government’s Hibbert R. Roberts Excellence in Teaching Award. He also received an Illinois State Service Initiative Award, along with numerous awards from community and professional groups for his contributions to the legal community.
McClure earned his B.S. in political science from Illinois State in 1976, his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1979, and his M.S. in political science from Illinois State in 2001.
