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Volume 19 • Number 3 • Fall 2018
War wounds: Military alum’s mission brings salve to soldiers’ souls
Col. David Rabb ’83 is an expert in the hell that is war.
Yesteryear remembered: Ewing Manor remains historical treasure
Every family has a legacy, but few have the unique opportunity to celebrate generations of history in the way relatives of Davis and Hazle Buck Ewing did in September.
Wandering Redbirds: Living life beyond the borders
Redbirds can be found from Africa to Asia, in South America and across Europe. They teach, coach, and help build communities. Not all left right after graduation, as some opted for encore careers after retirement. Lawrence Whittet ’78, for example, joined a team working in Dubai to build the world’s largest solar plant after a
Immigrant tale: Sportswriter turned columnist becomes voice of underdog
The tears came abruptly. We had been discussing the University of Illinois men’s basketball team—whose run to the 2005 national title game she covered for the Chicago Tribune—when the woman across the table from me apologized. Then, she began to cry.
Celebrating legacies: Scholarships expanded for incoming students of alumni
Legacy Families are celebrated at Illinois State in many ways, including with a new financial benefit announced this fall and set to begin in 2019.
WZND station earns top national honors
WZND Fuzed Radio, Illinois State’s student-run radio station, has been named the Broadcast Education Association’s 2018 National Signature Station.
Where are they now? Karen Stephens
Since her 2013 retirement, after 37 years at Illinois State University, every day is a Saturday for Karen Stephens.
Honoring excellence: Basketball standout alumna chosen for Valley Hall of Fame
Former Illinois State All-American women’s basketball player and all-time leading scorer Kristi Cirone ’09 has been selected for induction into the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Hall of Fame.
Baseball, women’s golf welcome coaches
Steve Holm and Breanne Hall were named over the summer to lead Illinois State’s baseball and women’s golf programs, respectively.
ISU fans offered more through mobile app
A mobile app designed to enhance the game-day experience of Redbird fans is now available for download at no cost in both the iPhone App Store and Google Play Store by searching “Illinois State Redbirds.”
Valley chooses ISU for baseball tourney site
Illinois State has been chosen to host the 2019 Missouri Valley Conference baseball championship in the spring. Scheduled for May 21–25, the competition will take place at Duffy Bass Field.
ISU takes conference program of the year
The Redbird track and field and cross-country team was named the 2017-2018 Missouri Valley Conference Program of the Year based on the performance of student-athletes in cross-country, indoor track and field, outdoor track, and outdoor field.
A royal return: Proud Redbird couple chosen Homecoming king, queen
Ask 2018 Homecoming alumni king and queen Margaret (Menne) and John Swalec to sum up the University’s impact on their lives, and this is their answer. “The fondest memory we have is going to Illinois State. The friends, the experiences, the education, and our Redbird romance is because of ISU.”
Class celebration planned for April
Graduates from the Class of 1969 will celebrate their 50th class reunion on April 26 and 27 during the annual Half Century Club event.
Gamma Phi Circus to celebrate 90 years
To celebrate nine decades of performances and accomplishments, Gamma Phi Circus will hold a special reunion on Saturday, April 13, at the Hancock Stadium Club.
Refer a Redbird: Alert Admissions to prospective students
So often students credit their decision to attend Illinois State to family members or friends, a teacher, or graduates who recommended the University.
Pause for applause
We applaud these Illinois State alumni featured in the November 2018 issue.
How we met: Pam and Jerry McGreal
Pam Franco ’68 was a freshman when her roommate, Linda Ohmart ’68, worked at convincing her to go to yet another Friday night campus mixer at the student union.
Redbird legacy: Siblings started family’s longtime bond with ISU
A photo taken during the Christmas season of 1962 has special meaning to Mary (Asplund) Orton. She is pictured in it at age 9 with her parents, two sisters, and older brother Roy. The female siblings are wearing Illinois State sweatshirts that were gifts from Roy, who at the time was a freshman.
Couple’s bequest to support biology students’ research
When Professor Emeritus Charles “Charlie” Thompson joined the Department of Biological Sciences in 1978, he wanted to have a lasting impact.
Reggie Reads: November 2018
Illinois State is proud to be able to acknowledge the work of graduates who are successful authors.
