J. Sterling Morton High School East
Encyclopedia
J. Sterling Morton High School East (often called Morton East) is a public secondary school
located in Cicero
, Illinois
. Morton East is one of three schools in J. Sterling Morton High School District 201
. Morton East is a sophomore through senior building, with future students attending the J. Sterling Morton Freshman Center for one year. Morton East's sister school, J. Sterling Morton High School West
is a four year secondary school. Morton East serves students in the towns of Cicero, Forest View
, Lyons
, and Stickney
.
From 1920—59, the school operated as Morton High School, changing its name when Morton West opened.
Though only seven miles from downtown Chicago, the school, in its early history was situated on prairie and farmland. In 1915, the Chicago Tribune
reported that Professor H.V. Church, then the principal of J. S. Morton, was forced to walk his cow nine miles from Berwyn
to the docks at Rush Street
so that he and his family might have nourishment at their summer farm in Michigan, where they stayed the summer. The article noted that the principal was "following the example of the mayor".
More than 20 students were expelled in June 1916, after a lemon throwing incident which started in the evening of a school play, escalated into fighting in the school cafeteria the next day. That 1916 graduating class was reported to consist of 29 students graduating from "academic courses", 24 in "shorthand
", and 8 in "bookkeeping
".
By 1917, the events of World War I
were having an effect on the school. Students began raising vegetables on a six acre plot of land adjacent to the school in order to supply produce for the school lunch room in the autumn. The six acre garden was so consuming that the school withdrew their baseball team from the league they had been playing in to "devote (their) energies to the garden".
At some point in the 1920s, the school began moving to a split schedule, with freshmen attending in the morning, and upperclassmen attending in the afternoon. This practice would continue until the opening of Morton West in 1958.
In 1924, during a basketball game in the school's gym, a major fire erupted which caused US$
900,000 in damage. The auditorium, girls' gymnasium, a library, and several classrooms and offices were lost. The fire forced the school to temporarily move to a split schedule, with the 1,200 freshmen attending classes from 8—12:30 during the day, and the upperclassmen to attend classes from 12:30—5.
Cicero's more infamous claim to fame is its association with former resident Al Capone
. In at least one instance in 1930, Capone was known to attend a football game at the school "still surrounded by his bodyguard of six".
Rather than receiving standard diplomas, the 1,045 graduates of the class of 1938 were each given pocket sized diplomas so that they may be "conveniently displayed to prospective employers".
In 1950, a major reconstruction began at the school. The five old frame structures were demolished to make way for brick structures, including two gymnasiums, an auto shop, a greenhouse
, two libraries, a band room, a typesetting
room, and over 100 other rooms. The expansion was not only in response to the increase in student population, which had already prompted preparations for building a second school, but that the older buildings were considered a safety hazard. The addition was completed in April 1952.
By the spring of 1956, construction had begun on what was to become Morton West High School. The school would open in 1958 reducing the population congestion in the school. The graduation of the class of 1956 included a commencement address by the visiting mayor of Kansas City, Missouri
, Harold Roe Bartle
.
In 1963, a US$400,000 upgrade to the main library was completed, including new data processing equipment, including equipment that would create and read punch cards
.
In 1966, Morton East's student government sponsored a performance by the Chad Mitchell Trio
, which at the time included a relatively unknown John Denver
.
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983. It is one of the largest non-commercial proscenium
style theaters in the Chicago metropolitan area.
score of 16.8. 70.3% of the senior class graduated. Proviso East did not make Adequate Yearly Progress
(AYP) on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, which with the ACT comprises the state assessments used to fulfill the federal No Child Left Behind Act
. Neither the school overall, nor any of its three student subgroups met expectations in reading or mathematics. In addition, the school overall, and one of its student subgroups failed to meet minimum expectations in terms of graduation rate. The school is listed as being in its fifth year of academic watch.
. Morton is also a member of the Illinois High School Association
(IHSA) which governs most sports and competitive activities in the state. Teams are stylized as the Mustangs
. When Morton East (and prior to that, Morton High School) competed independently, the school's teams were stylized as the Mustangs, but used school colors of maroon and white.
The school sponsors interscholastic teams for young men and women in: basketball
, cross country
, golf
, gymnastics
, soccer, swimming
& diving
, tennis
, track & field, volleyball
, and water polo
. Young men may compete in baseball
, football
, wrestling
, while young women may compete in badminton
, bowling
, Poms
, cheerleading
, and softball
.
The following teams have finished in the top four of their respective IHSA sponsored state championship tournaments or meets:
In 1927, Morton's boys' basketball team won the "Interscholastic Championship of the United States". The meet had been organized at the University of Chicago
by Amos Alonzo Stagg
.
In 1941, the school hosted an amateur boxing night which featured Barney Ross
, Johnny Coulon
, and Battling Nelson
(all former world champions) as referees.
In November 1968, the school was to host exhibition matches with the Poland men's national volleyball team
and Poland women's national volleyball team
, however the teams were denied entry into the United States because of Poland's involvement in the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
.
Between 1983 and 1985, the Chicago Bears
intermittently used Morton East for an indoor training facility, including their Super Bowl XX
championship season.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
located in Cicero
Cicero, Illinois
Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator....
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Morton East is one of three schools in J. Sterling Morton High School District 201
J. Sterling Morton High School District 201
J. Sterling Morton High School District 201 is a school district headquartered in Cicero, Illinois, United States. The district serves the city of Berwyn, the town of Cicero, and the villages of Forest View, Lyons, McCook, and Stickney...
. Morton East is a sophomore through senior building, with future students attending the J. Sterling Morton Freshman Center for one year. Morton East's sister school, J. Sterling Morton High School West
J. Sterling Morton High School West
J. Sterling Morton West High School is a four-year public high school in Berwyn, Illinois. It is a part of J. Sterling Morton High School District 201. Opened in 1958, it is the newer of the two large high schools in the district, the other being J...
is a four year secondary school. Morton East serves students in the towns of Cicero, Forest View
Forest View, Illinois
Forest View is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 778 at the 2000 census. It is close to Chicago and has a large Slavic population...
, Lyons
Lyons, Illinois
Lyons is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,255 at the 2000 census.-History:Incorporated in 1888, Lyons is steeped in earlier historical roots. In 1673 French Explorer Louis Joliet and Jesuit missionary Father Pierre Marquette left Green Bay, Wisconsin by canoe...
, and Stickney
Stickney, Illinois
Stickney is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,148 at the 2000 census. It was well known in the 1920s and early 1930s as the home for several bordellos linked to mobster Al Capone's empire....
.
From 1920—59, the school operated as Morton High School, changing its name when Morton West opened.
History
In 1892, there were reports that the town of Cicero was beginning to work to consolidate a school district that would include the current Morton Park and Hawthorne district with one consisting of the towns of Clyde and LaVergne, for means of adding what was called a "High School Department".Though only seven miles from downtown Chicago, the school, in its early history was situated on prairie and farmland. In 1915, the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
reported that Professor H.V. Church, then the principal of J. S. Morton, was forced to walk his cow nine miles from Berwyn
Berwyn, Illinois
Berwyn is a city in Cook County, Illinois, co-existent with Berwyn Township, which was formed in 1908 after breaking off from Cicero Township. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 54,016.-Demographics:...
to the docks at Rush Street
Rush Street (Chicago)
Rush Street is predominantly a northbound one-way street in the Near North Side community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States...
so that he and his family might have nourishment at their summer farm in Michigan, where they stayed the summer. The article noted that the principal was "following the example of the mayor".
More than 20 students were expelled in June 1916, after a lemon throwing incident which started in the evening of a school play, escalated into fighting in the school cafeteria the next day. That 1916 graduating class was reported to consist of 29 students graduating from "academic courses", 24 in "shorthand
Shorthand
Shorthand is an abbreviated symbolic writing method that increases speed or brevity of writing as compared to a normal method of writing a language. The process of writing in shorthand is called stenography, from the Greek stenos and graphē or graphie...
", and 8 in "bookkeeping
Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions. Transactions include sales, purchases, income, receipts and payments by an individual or organization. Bookkeeping is usually performed by a bookkeeper. Bookkeeping should not be confused with accounting. The accounting process is usually...
".
By 1917, the events of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
were having an effect on the school. Students began raising vegetables on a six acre plot of land adjacent to the school in order to supply produce for the school lunch room in the autumn. The six acre garden was so consuming that the school withdrew their baseball team from the league they had been playing in to "devote (their) energies to the garden".
At some point in the 1920s, the school began moving to a split schedule, with freshmen attending in the morning, and upperclassmen attending in the afternoon. This practice would continue until the opening of Morton West in 1958.
In 1924, during a basketball game in the school's gym, a major fire erupted which caused US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
900,000 in damage. The auditorium, girls' gymnasium, a library, and several classrooms and offices were lost. The fire forced the school to temporarily move to a split schedule, with the 1,200 freshmen attending classes from 8—12:30 during the day, and the upperclassmen to attend classes from 12:30—5.
Cicero's more infamous claim to fame is its association with former resident Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
. In at least one instance in 1930, Capone was known to attend a football game at the school "still surrounded by his bodyguard of six".
Rather than receiving standard diplomas, the 1,045 graduates of the class of 1938 were each given pocket sized diplomas so that they may be "conveniently displayed to prospective employers".
In 1950, a major reconstruction began at the school. The five old frame structures were demolished to make way for brick structures, including two gymnasiums, an auto shop, a greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
, two libraries, a band room, a typesetting
Typesetting
Typesetting is the composition of text by means of types.Typesetting requires the prior process of designing a font and storing it in some manner...
room, and over 100 other rooms. The expansion was not only in response to the increase in student population, which had already prompted preparations for building a second school, but that the older buildings were considered a safety hazard. The addition was completed in April 1952.
By the spring of 1956, construction had begun on what was to become Morton West High School. The school would open in 1958 reducing the population congestion in the school. The graduation of the class of 1956 included a commencement address by the visiting mayor of Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Harold Roe Bartle
Harold Roe Bartle
Harold Roe Bennett Sturdevant Bartle was a businessman, philanthropist, Boy Scout executive, and professional public speaker who served two terms as mayor of Kansas City, Missouri...
.
In 1963, a US$400,000 upgrade to the main library was completed, including new data processing equipment, including equipment that would create and read punch cards
Punched card
A punched card, punch card, IBM card, or Hollerith card is a piece of stiff paper that contains digital information represented by the presence or absence of holes in predefined positions...
.
In 1966, Morton East's student government sponsored a performance by the Chad Mitchell Trio
Chad Mitchell Trio
The Chad Mitchell Trio were a North American vocal group who became known during the 1960s. They performed folk songs, some of which were traditionally passed down and some of their own compositions. Unlike many fellow folk music groups, none of the trio played instruments...
, which at the time included a relatively unknown John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
.
Architecture
The school's Chodl AuditoriumJ. Sterling Morton High School East Auditorium
J. Sterling Morton High School East Auditorium, also known as Chodl Auditorium, is a Beaux-Arts building in Cicero, Illinois that was built in 1925. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.-References:...
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983. It is one of the largest non-commercial proscenium
Proscenium
A proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large frame or arch , which is located at or near the front of the stage...
style theaters in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Academics
Morton East's class of 2008 had an average composite ACTACT (examination)
The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. It was first administered in November 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test...
score of 16.8. 70.3% of the senior class graduated. Proviso East did not make Adequate Yearly Progress
Adequate Yearly Progress
Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, is a measurement defined by the United States federal No Child Left Behind Act that allows the U.S. Department of Education to determine how every public school and school district in the country is performing academically according to results on standardized...
(AYP) on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, which with the ACT comprises the state assessments used to fulfill the federal No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
. Neither the school overall, nor any of its three student subgroups met expectations in reading or mathematics. In addition, the school overall, and one of its student subgroups failed to meet minimum expectations in terms of graduation rate. The school is listed as being in its fifth year of academic watch.
Athletics
Since 1985, the schools have operated a unified athletics program under the name Berwyn-Cicero (Morton). Prior to this, Morton East competed as a separate school. Prior to the 1960—61 school year, the school was the only school in the district, and competed as Morton High School. Morton competes in the West Suburban ConferenceWest Suburban Conference
The West Suburban Conference is an athletic conference in DuPage County and Cook County in the state of Illinois.The conference was founded in 1924.-Member schools:All of the schools are also members of the Illinois High School Association...
. Morton is also a member of the Illinois High School Association
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
(IHSA) which governs most sports and competitive activities in the state. Teams are stylized as the Mustangs
Mustang (horse)
A Mustang is a free-roaming horse of the North American west that first descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but there is intense debate over terminology...
. When Morton East (and prior to that, Morton High School) competed independently, the school's teams were stylized as the Mustangs, but used school colors of maroon and white.
The school sponsors interscholastic teams for young men and women in: basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
, soccer, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
& diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, track & field, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, and water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
. Young men may compete in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, wrestling
Scholastic wrestling
Scholastic wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the high school and middle school levels in the United States. This wrestling style is essentially Collegiate wrestling with some slight modifications. It is currently...
, while young women may compete in badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
, bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
, Poms
Pom-pon
A pom-pon is a fluffy, decorative ball or tuft. Pom-pons may come in many colors, sizes, and varieties and are made from a wide array of materials, including wool, cotton, paper, plastic, and occasionally feathers....
, cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
, and softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
.
The following teams have finished in the top four of their respective IHSA sponsored state championship tournaments or meets:
- Baseball: State Champions (1942—43, 51—52, 60—61, 69—70
- Basketball (boys): 4th place (1941—42); State Champions (1931—32, 40—41)
- Gymnastics (girls): 4th place (1981—82); 3rd place (1979—80, 80—81)
- Soccer (boys): State Champions (2011-2012); 4th place (2006—07); 2nd place (1973—74)
- Softball: State Champions (1985—86)
- Tennis (boys): 4th place (1947—48)
- Track & Field (boys): 3rd place (1938—39)
In 1927, Morton's boys' basketball team won the "Interscholastic Championship of the United States". The meet had been organized at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
by Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football...
.
In 1941, the school hosted an amateur boxing night which featured Barney Ross
Barney Ross
Barney Ross , born Beryl David Rosofsky, was a world champion boxer in three weight divisions and decorated veteran of World War II.-Early life:...
, Johnny Coulon
Johnny Coulon
John Frederic Coulon was the bantamweight boxing champion of the world from 6 March 1910, when he wrested the crown from England's Jim Kendrick, until 1914, when he was defeated by Kid Williams.-Biography:...
, and Battling Nelson
Battling Nelson
Oscar Mathæus Nielsen, also known as Battling Nelson, was a Danish boxer who held the world lightweight championship on two separate occasions...
(all former world champions) as referees.
In November 1968, the school was to host exhibition matches with the Poland men's national volleyball team
Poland men's national volleyball team
The Poland national men's volleyball team is the national volleyball team from Poland, controlled by the Polski Związek Piłki Siatkowej , which represents the country in international competitions and friendly matches. It is one of the world's strongest teams, being the 2009 European Champions and...
and Poland women's national volleyball team
Poland women's national volleyball team
The Poland women's national volleyball team is the national volleyball team from Poland, controlled by the Polski Związek Piłki Siatkowej , and represents the country in international competitions and friendly matches....
, however the teams were denied entry into the United States because of Poland's involvement in the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
On the night of 20–21 August 1968, the Soviet Union and her main satellite states in the Warsaw Pact – Bulgaria, the German Democratic Republic , Hungary and Poland – invaded the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in order to halt Alexander Dubček's Prague Spring political liberalization...
.
Between 1983 and 1985, the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
intermittently used Morton East for an indoor training facility, including their Super Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX was an American football championship game played on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1985 regular season...
championship season.
Notable alumni
- Harold R. CôllierHarold R. CôllierHarold Reginald Collier was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois....
was a United States Congressman (1954—75). - Lu GambinoLu GambinoLucien Anthony "Lu" Gambino was an American football running back. He played college football for Indiana University, and after military service in the Second World War, the University of Maryland...
was a running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
(1948—49) with the Baltimore ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
of the All-America Football ConferenceAll-America Football ConferenceThe All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
. - Bill HapacBill HapacWilliam J. "Wild Bill" Hapac was the first Consensus All-American to play for the University of Illinois men's basketball team when he garnered the recognition during his senior season of 1939–40. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Hapac was an all-state player for J...
was an All-AmericaAll-AmericaAn All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n basketball star at IllinioisIllinois Fighting Illini men's basketballThe Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. Home games are played at Assembly Hall, located on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's campus in Champaign....
in 1940 and would later play professionally for the Chicago BruinsChicago BruinsThe Chicago Bruins were an American basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois that was a member of the American Basketball League. The Bruins later played in the National Basketball League and World Professional Basketball Tournament....
. - Dave KocourekDave KocourekDave Kocourek was an American college and Professional Football player who played collegiately at Wisconsin. As a professional, he played for the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1959, and then played for nine years as a tight end in the American Football League, from 1960...
was a tight endTight endThe tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
in the American Football LeagueAmerican Football LeagueThe American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
(1960—68), playing most of his career for the Los Angeles/San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. A four time all-star, he was the only player to appear in seven AFL championship games. - John KrizaJohn KrizaJohn Kriza was a ballet dancer who was one of American Ballet Theatre's best-known male principals.Kriza danced with ABT from 1940 to 1966...
was a ballet dancer and a long time principal dancer with the American Ballet TheatreAmerican Ballet TheatreAmerican Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
. - Joe MantegnaJoe MantegnaJoseph Anthony "Joe" Mantegna, Jr. is an American actor, producer, writer,director, and voice actor. He is best known for his roles in box office hits such as Three Amigos , The Godfather Part III , Forget Paris , and Up Close & Personal...
is a Tony AwardTony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a PlayThis is a list of the winners and nominations of Tony Award for the Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play. The award has been presented since 1949.-1950s:* 1951: Eli Wallach – The Rose Tattoo* 1952: John Cromwell – Point of No Return...
winning actor (Glengarry Glen RossGlengarry Glen RossGlengarry Glen Ross is a 1984 play written by David Mamet. The play shows parts of two days in the lives of four desperate Chicago real estate agents who are prepared to engage in any number of unethical, illegal acts—from lies and flattery to bribery, threats, intimidation and burglary—to sell...
) also known for his work in film (The Godfather Part IIIThe Godfather Part IIIThe Godfather Part III is a 1990 American gangster film written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, and directed by Coppola. It completes the story of Michael Corleone, a Mafia kingpin who tries to legitimize his criminal empire...
, Criminal MindsCriminal MindsCriminal Minds is an American police procedural drama that premiered September 22, 2005, on CBS. The series follows a team of profilers from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit based in Quantico, Virginia. The BAU is part of the FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime...
) and television (the voice of Fat TonyFat TonyMarion Anthony "Fat Tony" D'Amico is a recurring character in the animated sitcom The Simpsons. He is voiced by Joe Mantegna and first appeared in the third season episode "Bart the Murderer"...
on The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
). - Carmen MauroCarmen MauroCarmen Louis Mauro was a professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball between 1948 and 1953....
was a Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielderOutfielderOutfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
(1948, 50—51, 53). - Bob Miller was a Major League Baseball pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
(1953–62), played primarily for the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. - Arthur C. Nielsen Sr. was the founder of ACNielsenACNielsenACNielsen is a global marketing research firm, with worldwide headquarters in New York City. Regional headquarters for North America are located in Schaumburg, Illinois. As of May 2010, it is part of The Nielsen Company.-History:...
a research marketing company best known for the Nielsen ratingsNielsen RatingsNielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
for television. - Miro RysMiro RysMiro Rys was a Czech American soccer forward who played professionally in the North American Soccer League. Rys earned three caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team...
was a soccer player who played for the United States men's national soccer teamUnited States men's national soccer teamThe United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
and for the Chicago StingChicago StingThe Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
of the NASLNorth American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. - Clarence SelfClarence SelfClarence Elbert Self is a former professional American football defensive back and halfback who played in the National Football League...
was an NFL running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
(1949—55). - Bob WillBob Will (baseball)Robert Lee Will was an American professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues between and for the Chicago Cubs.Born in Berwyn, Illinois, Will threw and batted left-handed, stood tall and weighed...
was a Major League Baseball outfielder (1957—63), playing his entire career for the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
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