Western Illinois University
Encyclopedia
Western Illinois University (WIU) is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became Western Illinois State Teachers College. Today, Western Illinois University is composed of two campuses that provide a wide range of academic programs. The main campus is located in Macomb
, Illinois
, while Western Illinois University - Quad Cities is in Moline, Illinois
. The Quad Cities new WIU campus is currently under construction along the Mississippi River
and once it is completed it will be the only College along the Mississippi River.
.
The University also offers a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed. D.), which was established in 2005.
The University offers 71 undergraduate majors over 51 degree programs and 13 pre-professional degrees at the undergraduate level. At the graduate level, 42 degree and certificate programs are offered. 95% of all courses are taught by full-time faculty.
Western’s Cost Guarantee Plan is a four-year fixed rate for tuition, fees, room and board that remains in place as long as students are continuously enrolled. Western was one of the first institutions in America, and the first state university in Illinois, to offer the guarantee.http://www.student.services.wiu.edu/admissions/prospective/guarantees-cost.asp WIU's program served as a model for all other Illinois state universities through the state's "Truth in Tuition" program; however, Western is the only public university in Illinois that includes fees, room and board in its Cost Guarantee.http://www.student.services.wiu.edu/admissions/prospective/guarantees-cost.asp Western Illinois also offers the Cost Guarantee for graduate students enrolled in a degree program, as well as to transfer students earning an associate's degree. Those students who transfer to WIU the following semester upon completing their associate's degree will receive the previous year's cost guarantee rates.
WIU also provides the FYE (First Year Experience) Program for all incoming freshmen. This program is designed to ease the transition from high school to college, and fosters the participation of FYE students in co-curricular events such as concerts, art exhibits, and guest lectures. In addition to their FYE program, WIU also provides a TYE (Transfer Year Experience) program to interested students. This program is aimed at introducing transfer students to the services and resources on campus within a residential setting.
Due to the intense nature of honors coursework, students vying for a spot in the Illinois Centennial Honors College should be prepared to dedicate additional time and effort to their schoolwork. Honors can be completed in many of the majors at Western Illinois, but there has not been a curriculum fashioned for every discipline.
Consistent with its mission, the Macomb Honors Program provides a curriculum consisting of special tutorials, seminars, guided studies, and research projects, as well as opportunities to develop leadership and professional skills and participate in community and social services. A unique curriculum, honors faculty, and opportunities for leadership and service are integral to the honors experience. These are critical reasons to participate in the Honors Program for students seeking to maximize their collegiate years.
The prestige associated with the Illinois Centennial Honors College has led many to believe that graduates from the Honors Program receive preferential job placement, and applications to graduate schools are viewed more favorably than those of typical Western Illinois students.
Completed in November 1975, Memorial Library (renamed and rededicated The Leslie F. Malpass Library in 2001) is the main branch of the library system. Designed by Gyo Obata
, Malpass Library stands at six levels high and 222,000 square feet. Other WIU libraries include the Music Library, Physical Sciences Library, Curriculum Library, and the WIU-Quad Cities Library (Moline, Illinois) that was opened in the late 1990s to support WIU's growing presence in the Quad Cities.
Western Illinois University Libraries house several archives and special collections that aid in documenting the history of the west-central Illinois region. The libraries are the home for the Center for Hancock County History, the Center for Icarian Studies, the Civil War Collection (documenting the western Illinois experience in the war), the Decker Press Collection and the Mormon Collection.
The library's one millionth volume, Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations
, by Lucy Mack Smith
, was added in 2002.
(Illinois Lodge #17). Macomb was in direct competition with Quincy, Illinois and other candidates as the site for a "western" university. The Illinois legislature selected Macomb as the location. University administrators uncovered evidence of the Freemason's efforts on Macomb's behalf when they opened Sherman Hall
's (the administration building) cornerstone during their centennial celebrations.
Sherman Hall served as the University's primary facility for many years, but as the University and its programs expanded, a need surfaced for further expansion. Today, the Macomb campus consists of 53 buildings over 1050 acres (424.9 ha). Sherman Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. Western's presence in the Quad Cities spans more than 40 years. In Fall 1960, the University offered its first undergraduate course in the Quad Cities.
Western Illinois University has been repeatedly recognized as one of the “Best in the Midwest Colleges” by The Princeton Review.
. Colonel Rock, or Rocky, is the University mascot representing “The Fighting Leathernecks” for all male sports teams. Rocky was named after Ray "Rock" Hanson
, a former WIU athletic director and former Marine
. Beginning in the Fall of 2009 the men's and women's teams will be unified under the Leathernecks name. Previously, the women's teams and athletes at the school were known as Westerwinds.
Western Illinois sports teams participate in the NCAA
Division I Summit League. Leatherneck football competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Western Illinois University was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
from 1914-1970.
and a member of the Association of Illinois Music Schools. It offers a Bachelor of Music
degree in Performance, Music Education, Composition, Music Business, Jazz Studies, and Music Therapy, and a Master of Music
degree in Performance, Instrumental and Choral Conducting, Music Composition, Music Education, Piano Pedagogy, Music History and Jazz Studies. Certification as a music therapist is available through the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT).
Western Illinois University, dedicated to diversity and the fine arts, has designated four complete scholarships (tuition, room, and board) to attract international string students. These four string players (two violinists, one violist, and one cellist) form the WIU Presidential String Quartet.
The School of Music performance opportunities and ensembles are Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, University Band, Marching Leathernecks Band, basketball and volleyball pep bands, Jazz Studio Orchestra, Jazz Band and Jazz Combo. There are also a number of choirs such as University Singers, Madrigal Singers, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Opera-On-Wheels and Opera Theater. Some of the smaller ensembles are Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Steel Band and many chamber groups. Faculty ensembles are Hopper Faculty Jazztet, Camerata Woodwind Quintet, LaMoine Brass Quintet and Julstrom String Quartet.
The School of Music hosts many festivals such as 41st International Horn Symposium, Festival of Choirs, Jazz Rhythm Section Festival, New Music Festival, Showcase of Bands, Brassfest and Jazz Festival among others. The ratio of music majors to full-time music faculty in the Western Illinois University School of Music is 6:1. The music faculty are artist-teachers of the highest quality with specialties in all instruments, voice, choral, band, orchestra, jazz, music education, history, theory and composition, music business, and music therapy.
that serves more than 14,000 students, faculty and staff at Western Illinois University, publishing each Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the academic year, excluding holidays and breaks. Summer publication is on Wednesdays only. The Western Courier is the only officially recognized student newspaper on campus and is distributed free at 80 locations throughout the campus (including residence halls) and throughout the Macomb, Illinois
business community.
Macomb, Illinois
Macomb is a city in and the county seat of McDonough County, Illinois, United States. It is situated in western Illinois southwest of Galesburg. The population was 18,588 at the 2000 census. Macomb is the home of Western Illinois University.- Geography :...
, 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,...
, while Western Illinois University - Quad Cities is in Moline, Illinois
Moline, Illinois
Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 45,792 in 2010. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. The Quad Cities has a population of...
. The Quad Cities new WIU campus is currently under construction along the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and once it is completed it will be the only College along the Mississippi River.
Profile
Western Illinois University is composed of four academic colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business & Technology, Education & Human Services, and Fine Arts & Communication, in addition to an Honors College the School of Extended Studies, which includes nontraditional programs. The 17:1 faculty to student ratio maintained by WIU is among the best in the State of Illinois. Ranked 413 among the best public and private colleges and universities, from the student's point of view in ForbesForbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
.
The University also offers a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed. D.), which was established in 2005.
The University offers 71 undergraduate majors over 51 degree programs and 13 pre-professional degrees at the undergraduate level. At the graduate level, 42 degree and certificate programs are offered. 95% of all courses are taught by full-time faculty.
Western’s Cost Guarantee Plan is a four-year fixed rate for tuition, fees, room and board that remains in place as long as students are continuously enrolled. Western was one of the first institutions in America, and the first state university in Illinois, to offer the guarantee.http://www.student.services.wiu.edu/admissions/prospective/guarantees-cost.asp WIU's program served as a model for all other Illinois state universities through the state's "Truth in Tuition" program; however, Western is the only public university in Illinois that includes fees, room and board in its Cost Guarantee.http://www.student.services.wiu.edu/admissions/prospective/guarantees-cost.asp Western Illinois also offers the Cost Guarantee for graduate students enrolled in a degree program, as well as to transfer students earning an associate's degree. Those students who transfer to WIU the following semester upon completing their associate's degree will receive the previous year's cost guarantee rates.
WIU also provides the FYE (First Year Experience) Program for all incoming freshmen. This program is designed to ease the transition from high school to college, and fosters the participation of FYE students in co-curricular events such as concerts, art exhibits, and guest lectures. In addition to their FYE program, WIU also provides a TYE (Transfer Year Experience) program to interested students. This program is aimed at introducing transfer students to the services and resources on campus within a residential setting.
Illinois Centennial Honors College
Western Illinois University is home to the Illinois Centennial Honors College, which was founded in 1983 in order to attract more adept students as freshman, as well as an avenue by which the most talented students at Western Illinois could distinguish themselves from other students at the university. Accordingly, the GPA admissions standard for the Illinois Centennial Honors College is nearly a full grade point higher (0.9) than the minimum GPA of any other college at the university, the second being the College of Business and Technology. Honors students complete a series of courses and projects unavailable to average students studying at Western Illinois, and are also eligible for a host of exclusive foundation scholarships.Due to the intense nature of honors coursework, students vying for a spot in the Illinois Centennial Honors College should be prepared to dedicate additional time and effort to their schoolwork. Honors can be completed in many of the majors at Western Illinois, but there has not been a curriculum fashioned for every discipline.
Consistent with its mission, the Macomb Honors Program provides a curriculum consisting of special tutorials, seminars, guided studies, and research projects, as well as opportunities to develop leadership and professional skills and participate in community and social services. A unique curriculum, honors faculty, and opportunities for leadership and service are integral to the honors experience. These are critical reasons to participate in the Honors Program for students seeking to maximize their collegiate years.
The prestige associated with the Illinois Centennial Honors College has led many to believe that graduates from the Honors Program receive preferential job placement, and applications to graduate schools are viewed more favorably than those of typical Western Illinois students.
Library system
Five libraries make up the WIU Libraries system. The current Dean of Libraries is Phyllis C. Self, PhD.Completed in November 1975, Memorial Library (renamed and rededicated The Leslie F. Malpass Library in 2001) is the main branch of the library system. Designed by Gyo Obata
Gyo Obata
Gyo Obata is a significant American architect, the son of renowned painter Chiura Obata and his wife, Haruko Obata, a floral designer. In 1955, he co-founded global architectural firm HOK . He lives in St. Louis, Missouri and still works in HOK's St. Louis office...
, Malpass Library stands at six levels high and 222,000 square feet. Other WIU libraries include the Music Library, Physical Sciences Library, Curriculum Library, and the WIU-Quad Cities Library (Moline, Illinois) that was opened in the late 1990s to support WIU's growing presence in the Quad Cities.
Western Illinois University Libraries house several archives and special collections that aid in documenting the history of the west-central Illinois region. The libraries are the home for the Center for Hancock County History, the Center for Icarian Studies, the Civil War Collection (documenting the western Illinois experience in the war), the Decker Press Collection and the Mormon Collection.
The library's one millionth volume, Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations
The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother
-References:...
, by Lucy Mack Smith
Lucy Mack Smith
Lucy Mack Smith was the mother of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. She is most noted for writing an award-winning memoir: Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations. She was an important leader of the movement during...
, was added in 2002.
History
Western Illinois University was founded in 1899. The land for the University was donated to the State of Illinois by Macomb's FreemasonsFreemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
(Illinois Lodge #17). Macomb was in direct competition with Quincy, Illinois and other candidates as the site for a "western" university. The Illinois legislature selected Macomb as the location. University administrators uncovered evidence of the Freemason's efforts on Macomb's behalf when they opened Sherman Hall
Sherman Hall (Western Illinois University)
Sherman Hall is the main administrative building of Western Illinois University and site of the original Western Illinois State Normal School in Macomb, Illinois.-Construction & Early History:...
's (the administration building) cornerstone during their centennial celebrations.
Sherman Hall served as the University's primary facility for many years, but as the University and its programs expanded, a need surfaced for further expansion. Today, the Macomb campus consists of 53 buildings over 1050 acres (424.9 ha). Sherman Hall is listed on 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...
. Western's presence in the Quad Cities spans more than 40 years. In Fall 1960, the University offered its first undergraduate course in the Quad Cities.
Folklore
Simpkins Hall, home of the English and Journalism departments, has long been believed to be haunted by the ghost of an adolescent girl or boy, in a large part due to its former use as a training school. Simpkins is also said to be haunted by “Harold,” a former janitor or graduate assistant who lurks among the classrooms on the third floor and in the Writing Center. Students have reported hearing the disembodied sound of keys jingling, doors opening and closing, or a typewriter clicking, rattle the nerves of even the most seasoned educator. Another story circulating the hall is that of a woman who can be heard crying in the first floor restroom. Bayliss, Tanner, Thompson, and Washington residents halls have their own ghost stories, all of which are based on unsubstantiated student deaths ranging from suicides to accidents. In Washington Hall, for instance, a girl supposedly ended her life after a fight with her boyfriend. According to the storytellers, the phone in her former room rings even though no one is on the line.National Acclaim
Currently, US News & World Report ranks Western Illinois University as 49th among regional universities and 11th among public universities in the Midwest.Western Illinois University has been repeatedly recognized as one of the “Best in the Midwest Colleges” by The Princeton Review.
Presidents of Western Illinois University
| 11th | Jack Thomas Jack Thomas Jack Thomas may refer to:* Jack Thomas, President of Western Illinois University * Joseph Terrence Thomas, known as Jack, Australian citizen whose conviction for receiving funds from Al-Qaeda was overturned on appeal... |
(2011-present) |
| 10th | Alvin Goldfarb Alvin Goldfarb Alvin "Al" Goldfarb was the tenth president of Western Illinois University. Prior to his current position from 1977 to 2002 he was on the faculty of the department of theatre at Illinois State University in Normal, where he was also chairman of the theatre department, dean of fine arts from 1988... |
(2002–2011) |
| 9th | Donald S. Spencer | (1994–2001) |
| 8th | Ralph H. Waggoner | (1987–1993) |
| 7th | Leslie F. Malpass | (1974–1986) |
| 6th | John T. Bernhard | (1968–1973) |
| 5th | A. L. Knoblauch | (1958–1967) |
| 4th | Frank A. Beu | (1942–1957) |
| 3rd | Walter P. Morgan | (1912–1941) |
| 2nd | Alfred Bayliss | (1906–1911) |
| 1st | John W. Henninger | (1901–1905) |
Athletics
Inspired by the surrounding “vast golden prairie strewn with purple coneflowers,” Western Illinois University adopted purple and gold as its official colors in 1902. WIU is the only non-military institution in the nation with permission from the Department of the Navy to use the United States Marine Corps Official seal and mascot, the BulldogBulldog
Bulldog is the name for a breed of dog commonly referred to as the English Bulldog. Other Bulldog breeds include the American Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge and the French Bulldog. The Bulldog is a muscular heavy dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose...
. Colonel Rock, or Rocky, is the University mascot representing “The Fighting Leathernecks” for all male sports teams. Rocky was named after Ray "Rock" Hanson
Ray Hanson
Ray "Rock" Hanson , former United States Marine Colonel and veteran of World War I and World War II, was best known as the football coach at Western Illinois State Teachers College in Macomb, Illinois, USA from 1926 to 1964.-Coaching career:Hanson officially began his coaching career at Western...
, a former WIU athletic director and former Marine
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. Beginning in the Fall of 2009 the men's and women's teams will be unified under the Leathernecks name. Previously, the women's teams and athletes at the school were known as Westerwinds.
Western Illinois sports teams participate in the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I Summit League. Leatherneck football competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Western Illinois University was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was a college athletic conference that existed from 1908 to 1970 in the United States.-History:...
from 1914-1970.
School of Music
The School of Music is a full member of the National Association of Schools of MusicNational Association of Schools of Music
The National Association of Schools of Music is an association of post-secondary music schools in the United States and the principal U.S. accreditor for higher education in music...
and a member of the Association of Illinois Music Schools. It offers a Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
degree in Performance, Music Education, Composition, Music Business, Jazz Studies, and Music Therapy, and a Master of Music
Master of Music
The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...
degree in Performance, Instrumental and Choral Conducting, Music Composition, Music Education, Piano Pedagogy, Music History and Jazz Studies. Certification as a music therapist is available through the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT).
Western Illinois University, dedicated to diversity and the fine arts, has designated four complete scholarships (tuition, room, and board) to attract international string students. These four string players (two violinists, one violist, and one cellist) form the WIU Presidential String Quartet.
The School of Music performance opportunities and ensembles are Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, University Band, Marching Leathernecks Band, basketball and volleyball pep bands, Jazz Studio Orchestra, Jazz Band and Jazz Combo. There are also a number of choirs such as University Singers, Madrigal Singers, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Opera-On-Wheels and Opera Theater. Some of the smaller ensembles are Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Steel Band and many chamber groups. Faculty ensembles are Hopper Faculty Jazztet, Camerata Woodwind Quintet, LaMoine Brass Quintet and Julstrom String Quartet.
The School of Music hosts many festivals such as 41st International Horn Symposium, Festival of Choirs, Jazz Rhythm Section Festival, New Music Festival, Showcase of Bands, Brassfest and Jazz Festival among others. The ratio of music majors to full-time music faculty in the Western Illinois University School of Music is 6:1. The music faculty are artist-teachers of the highest quality with specialties in all instruments, voice, choral, band, orchestra, jazz, music education, history, theory and composition, music business, and music therapy.
Student newspapers
The Western Courier is a collegiate newspaperNewspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
that serves more than 14,000 students, faculty and staff at Western Illinois University, publishing each Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the academic year, excluding holidays and breaks. Summer publication is on Wednesdays only. The Western Courier is the only officially recognized student newspaper on campus and is distributed free at 80 locations throughout the campus (including residence halls) and throughout the Macomb, Illinois
Macomb, Illinois
Macomb is a city in and the county seat of McDonough County, Illinois, United States. It is situated in western Illinois southwest of Galesburg. The population was 18,588 at the 2000 census. Macomb is the home of Western Illinois University.- Geography :...
business community.
Notable alumni
- Todd AuerTodd AuerTodd Auer is a former linebacker in the National Football League and is the Defensive Coordinator of the football team at Chadron State College.-Biography:A native of Wisconsin, Auer was born in Winona, Mississippi on January 8, 1965. He has two children....
, National Football League - Robert F. Baldwin, Lieutenant Colonial, United States Army - Bronze Star Medal recipient
- Michael BoatmanMichael BoatmanMichael Patrick Boatman is an Image Award-nominated American actor and writer. He is best known for his roles as U.S. Army Specialist Samuel Beckett in the ABC drama series China Beach, as New York City mayoral aide Carter Heywood in the ABC sitcom Spin City, and as sports agent Stanley Babson in...
, actor and author - David BowensDavid BowensDavid Walter Bowens is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
, National Football League - Currently playing - Jeremy BrizziJeremy BrizziJeremy Brizzi is an American writer and musician.Jeremy graduated from Cary-Grove High School in 1994, attending McHenry County College as a music major college and Western Illinois University as a business management major before choosing discipline and direction through the United States Army.He...
, writer, musician - Lee CalhounLee CalhounLee Quincy Calhoun was an American athlete, a double winner of 110 m hurdles at the Olympic Games....
, OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medalGold medalA gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
winner - Steven CampbellSteven CampbellSteven Campbell is a Scottish and Australian professional central defender, who currently plays for East Fife....
, Current leader of GSA, Illinois division. - Charles P. Carey, Former Chairman of the Chicago Board of TradeChicago Board of TradeThe Chicago Board of Trade , established in 1848, is the world's oldest futures and options exchange. More than 50 different options and futures contracts are traded by over 3,600 CBOT members through open outcry and eTrading. Volumes at the exchange in 2003 were a record breaking 454 million...
and current Vice Chairman of the CME GroupCME GroupThe CME Group bases prices for US gasoline on Brent Crude rather than West Texas Intermediate Crude , which many believe is responsible for artificially high gas prices for US consumers... - Thomas C. Carper, Chairman of the Board for Amtrak
- Bryan CoxBryan CoxBryan Keith Cox is a former American football linebacker who played twelve seasons in the NFL from 1991 through 2002. He was a member of the New England Patriots club that won Super Bowl XXXVI...
, National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing... - Joe DeckerJoe DeckerGeorge Henry "Joe" Decker, Jr. was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs , Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners . He was born in Storm Lake, Iowa....
, Guinness World RecordsGuinness World RecordsGuinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
Holder - World's Fittest Man - Kirk Dillard, Illinois State Senator
- Kenneth L. DixonKenneth L. DixonKenneth Lee "Ken" Dixon , was a prominent journalist who reported, edited, and penned columns for seven newspapers, including two in Louisiana -- Lake Charles and Baton Rouge. He was also a war correspondent during World War II....
, journalistJournalistA journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
in Illinois, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties... - Walter Flakus, musician, founding member of the band Stabbing WestwardStabbing WestwardStabbing Westward was an American industrial rock and alternative rock band. They formed in 1985 in Chicago, Illinois and began recording in the 1990s. The band announced a dissolution in 2002.- Early years :...
- Neal Gamm, Former Governor of ForgottoniaForgottoniaForgottonia is the name given to a fourteen-county region in Western Illinois in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This geographic region forms the western bulge of Illinois that is roughly equivalent to "The Tract," the Illinois portion of the Military Tract of 1812, along and west of the Fourth...
- Rodney HarrisonRodney HarrisonRodney Scott Harrison is a retired professional football player of the National Football League. Harrison played safety for the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots...
, National Football League - Retired, current TV analyst - Christopher Hall, musician, founding member of the band Stabbing WestwardStabbing WestwardStabbing Westward was an American industrial rock and alternative rock band. They formed in 1985 in Chicago, Illinois and began recording in the 1990s. The band announced a dissolution in 2002.- Early years :...
- Edgerton HartwellEdgerton HartwellEdgerton "Ed" Hartwell, II is a former NFL linebacker. Currently signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
, National Football League - Currently playing - Frisman JacksonFrisman JacksonFrisman Jackson is a former American football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League...
, National Football League - William James, National Football League - Currently playing
- Kosuke KimuraKosuke Kimurais a Japanese footballer who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.He is the only player in the league's history who was born in Japan, and was a starting defender for the Rapids in its run to the MLS Cup Championship in 2010.-College and amateur:Kimura's career in...
, soccer midfielder for the Colorado RapidsColorado RapidsThe Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
of Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. - Gene LamontGene LamontGene William Lamont is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who managed the Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
, 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... - Rob LazeoRob LazeoRobert "Rob" Lazeo is a retired professional Canadian football offensive lineman who spent 14 seasons playing in the Canadian Football League. He spent the last four years of his career with the Calgary Stampeders where he won the 96th Grey Cup in the Stampeders' 2008 season...
, Canadian Football League- Currently Playing - John MahoneyJohn MahoneyJohn Mahoney is a British born American actor, known for playing Martin "Marty" Crane, the retired police officer, father of Kelsey Grammer's Dr...
, actor - Mary MatalinMary MatalinMary Joe Matalin is an American political consultant, well known for her work with the Republican Party. She was an assistant to President George W. Bush and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney until 2003. Matalin has been chief editor of Threshold Editions, a conservative publishing imprint...
, Republican Political Strategist and wife of James CarvilleJames CarvilleChester James Carville, Jr. is an American political consultant, commentator, educator, actor, attorney, media personality, and prominent liberal pundit. Carville gained national attention for his work as the lead strategist of the successful presidential campaign of then-Arkansas governor Bill... - Russ MichnaRuss MichnaRussell Walter Michna is a gridiron football quarterback who is currently a Free Agent of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
, Arena Football League- currently playing Chicago RushChicago RushThe Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the... - Red MillerRed MillerRobert "Red" Miller is a former professional football coach with the Denver Broncos.- Early life and career :Miller was born and raised in Macomb, Illinois and attended Macomb Public Schools and Western Illinois University, where he was later a star player and coach for the Leathernecks football...
, Former head coach of the NFL Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and USFL Denver GoldDenver GoldThe Denver Gold was a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second major professional football league in the United States, playing a springtime season, from 1983 to 1985... - Rich Myers, Illinois State Representative
- Robert NardelliRobert NardelliRobert Louis "Bob" Nardelli was the chairman and chief executive officer of Chrysler. He had earlier served in a similar capacity at The Home Depot from December 2000 to January 2007. Prior to that, Nardelli had risen to become one of the top four executives at General Electric...
, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ChryslerChryslerChrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
, Former President and CEO of Home Depot - J.R. Niklos, National Football League
- Mike PattMike PattMichael Patt is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He has competed in the UFC, Bodog Fight and FFC promotions.-Biography:...
, Professional Mixed Martial Arts Fighter (UFC, BodogFIGHTBodogFightbodogFight was a mixed martial arts promotion founded by online gambling magnate Calvin Ayre. It was a part of Ayre's bodog.com Entertainment Group....
) - Paul ReuschelPaul ReuschelPaul Richard Reuschel is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball from 1975-79....
, Major League Baseball - Rick ReuschelRick ReuschelRickey Eugene Reuschel is a former professional baseball pitcher from the early 1970s into the early 1990s. His nickname was "Big Daddy" because of his portly physique...
, Major League Baseball - Jeremy SchoemakerJeremy SchoemakerJeremy "ShoeMoney" Schoemaker is a web entrepreneur, founder of ShoeMoney Media, and co-founder of the AuctionAds service.In March 2007, Schoemaker and his business partner David Dellanave launched AuctionAds, an eBay affiliate marketing service that serves eBay auction ads on contextually...
, Internet Entrepreneur - Mike ScifresMike ScifresMichael T. Scifres is a punter for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League.-High school:Scifres attended Destrehan High School in Destrehan, Louisiana and lettered in football, soccer, and baseball. In football, he was an All-District selection...
, National Football League - Currently playing - Rick ShortRick ShortRichard Ryan Short is a former Major League Baseball infielder who is currently a scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He retired in after playing for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Japanese Pacific League for four seasons. He bats and throws right-handed...
, Major League Baseball - Rich SeubertRich SeubertRich Seubert is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants out of Western Illinois University in 2001. Seubert lives in Wayne, New Jersey.-High school career:...
, National Football League - Currently playing - Tom SoehnTom SoehnTom Soehn is an American former soccer player and manager, who is currently the Director of Soccer Operations for the Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
, Director of Soccer Operations for Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Aaron SteckerAaron SteckerAaron Stecker is a former American football running back. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at Western Illinois....
, National Football League - Currently playing - Marco ThomasMarco ThomasMarco Thomas is a American football wide receiver for the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
, Canadian Football League-Currently Playing - Mike WagnerMike WagnerMichael Robert Wagner is a former American football player with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He won four Super Bowls as a safety on the famed Steel Curtain defense.-Playing career:...
, National Football League - Jason WilliamsJason WilliamsJason Williams is the name of:*Jason Williams , NBA basketball player from the University of Florida*Jay Williams , basketball player from Duke University...
, National Football League - Currently Playing Carolina PanthersCarolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion... - Frank WintersFrank WintersFrank Mitchell Winters is a former American football center in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Green Bay Packers...
, National Football league