Sen. Kirk Dillard – Politician
Kirk W. Dillard, a former Republican member of the Illinois State Senate, is also a Western Illinois University alumnus. He is also the former chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party. Dillard’s professional experience also includes working as Chief of Staff to Illinois Governor Jim Edgar, Legislative Affairs director to Illinois Governor James “Big Jim” Thompson, and Illinois state chairman for…
Read MoreNagel Brothers – Inventors of Rolled Oats
The Nagel Brothers of Bushnell, IL were the first to invent a process of making rolled oats without having to steam the oats. Until that time, the oats were first steamed to separate the groat from the hull. The brothers patented the new process and later sold it to the Quaker Company, who in turned changed…
Read MoreEarl Homer Sheely – Major League Baseball Player / Manager
Earl Homer “Whitey” Sheely was born on February 12, 1893 in Bushnell, Illinois. Sheely entered baseball as a first baseman and made his professional debut for the Chicago White Sox on April 14, 1921. He was a major leaguer for 10 seasons with eight of them for the White Sox (1921–27), Pittsburgh Pirates (1929) and Boston Braves (1931). Sheely finished sixth in…
Read More“Kelly” Wagle – The Bootlegger
During Prohibition of the 1920s and ’30s, Chicago was the headquarters for the illicit bootlegger activity of mob boss Al Capone and his syndicate. Capone held a tight rein on any buying, selling or transporting of alcohol in a territory that reached south of Peoria and further. “Kelly” Wagle of Colchester, known as the most…
Read MoreBurl Ives – American Folk Singer / Academy Award Winning Actor
One of Western Illinois University’s greatest friends was singer and Academy Award winning actor of the screen, stage, radio and television, Burl Ives. Ives is remembered for being million selling American folk singer, his roles in motion pictures such as Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and The Big Country as well the voice of Sam…
Read MoreLee Calhoun – Two-Time Olympic Gold Medal Winner
Lee Calhoun is an international track and field legend, a two-time Olympic gold medal winner and former Western Illinois University head track coach. He won the AAU championships in 110 m hurdles in 1956 and 1959 and in 120 yd hurdles in 1957. Calhoun is the first athlete to win the 110m hurdles at two different Olympics. At…
Read MoreRodney Harrison – NFL Super Bowl Champion / Sports Broadcaster
Rodney Harrison is a studio analyst for NBC Sports’ “Football Night in America” and host, Safety Blitz with Rodney Harrison and Dan Schwartzman on NBC Sports Radio. Harrison is a former three-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion, professional American football player of the National Football League (NFL). Harrison played strong safety for the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots.…
Read MoreLou Sabin – NFL & AFL Champion Player / Coach
Louis Henry Saban (October 13, 1921 – March 29, 2009) was an American football player and coach. He played for Indiana University in college and as a professional for the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference between 1946 and 1949. Lou Saban then began a long coaching career. After numerous jobs at the college…
Read MoreStabbing Westward – Christopher Hall & Walter Flakus
Stabbing Westward is an American industrial rock band. Christopher Hall and Walter Flakus formed the band in 1986 in Macomb, Illinois. The band released an extended play in 1992, followed by four studio albums from 1994 to 2001. Stabbing Westward announced a dissolution on February 9, 2002. Two compilation albums were later released in 2003. Stabbing Westward reunited in 2016 to celebrate their 30th anniversary together, and has since continued…
Read MoreRick & Paul Reuschel – Major League Baseball Players
Rick Reuschel & Paul Reuschel (pronounced Rush-al) are American former professional baseball players. Rick played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball from the early 1970s into the early 1990s. His nickname was “Big Daddy” because of his portly physique. He was known for his deceptive style of pitching, which kept hitters off balance by constantly varying the speeds of his pitches. His older brother Paul also pitched…
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