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…

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Earl 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…

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“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…

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Rodney 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.…

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Stabbing 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…

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Rick & 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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