Milburn Akers
Encyclopedia
Milburn Peter Akers often known as Pete Akers, was a Chicago journalist, chairman of the Board of Trustees of McKendree College
, and the ninth president of Shimer College
.
Akers was born in Chicago and graduated from McKendree College
, of which his great-grandfather had been the first president. In his early life, he worked as a staff reporter for newspapers including the Peoria Transcript and Illinois State Register. He served as the publicity man for Governor Henry Horner
from 1937 to Horner's death in 1940.
Akers joined the Chicago Sun, later the Chicago Sun-Times, shortly after its founding in 1941. He became executive editor of the Sun-Times in 1950, rising from the position of managing editor; his position became simply "editor" after the departure of Marshall Field III
from that position. After retiring from the paper in 1965, he became an important figure in Illinois higher education due in part to his political ties. From 1965 to 1967 he served as president of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities.
In 1968, Akers was appointed president of Shimer College following the resignation of Francis Joseph Mullin
in the aftermath of the Grotesque Internecine Struggle.
On May 27, 1970, Akers was killed in a head-on collision with a truck south of Hopedale, Illinois
. He had been traveling to Springfield, Illinois
to lobby for a law providing greater aid to small liberal arts college
s such as Shimer.
McKendree College
McKendree University, formerly known as McKendree College, is a private liberal arts college located in Lebanon, Illinois. The area is a part of the Metro-East region of Greater St. Louis. Founded in 1828 as the Lebanon Seminary, it is the oldest college in Illinois...
, and the ninth president of Shimer College
Shimer College
Shimer College is a very small, private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Founded by Frances Wood Shimer in 1853 in the frontier town of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, it was a women's school for most of its first century. It joined with the University of...
.
Akers was born in Chicago and graduated from McKendree College
McKendree College
McKendree University, formerly known as McKendree College, is a private liberal arts college located in Lebanon, Illinois. The area is a part of the Metro-East region of Greater St. Louis. Founded in 1828 as the Lebanon Seminary, it is the oldest college in Illinois...
, of which his great-grandfather had been the first president. In his early life, he worked as a staff reporter for newspapers including the Peoria Transcript and Illinois State Register. He served as the publicity man for Governor Henry Horner
Henry Horner
Henry Horner was the 28th Governor of Illinois, serving from 1933 to 1940, when he died in office. Horner was the first Jewish governor of Illinois.- Political biography :...
from 1937 to Horner's death in 1940.
Akers joined the Chicago Sun, later the Chicago Sun-Times, shortly after its founding in 1941. He became executive editor of the Sun-Times in 1950, rising from the position of managing editor; his position became simply "editor" after the departure of Marshall Field III
Marshall Field III
Marshall Field III was an American investment banker, publisher, racehorse owner/breeder, philanthropist, heir to the Marshall Field department store fortune and a leading financial supporter and founding board member of Saul Alinsky's community organizing network Industrial Areas Foundation.Born...
from that position. After retiring from the paper in 1965, he became an important figure in Illinois higher education due in part to his political ties. From 1965 to 1967 he served as president of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities.
In 1968, Akers was appointed president of Shimer College following the resignation of Francis Joseph Mullin
Francis Joseph Mullin
Francis Joseph Mullin , also often known as F.J. Mullin or Joe Mullin, was the seventh president of Shimer College....
in the aftermath of the Grotesque Internecine Struggle.
On May 27, 1970, Akers was killed in a head-on collision with a truck south of Hopedale, Illinois
Hopedale, Illinois
Hopedale is a village in Tazewell County, Illinois, United States. The population was 929 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Hopedale is located at ....
. He had been traveling to Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
to lobby for a law providing greater aid to small liberal arts college
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
s such as Shimer.
See also
- History of Shimer CollegeHistory of Shimer CollegeThe history of Shimer College begins in 1853, and has involved a series of crises and profound changes. Because of this, the college is often symbolized by a phoenix which is reborn from its own ashes...