Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the exceptional achievements of Illinois State University alumni and is the highest honor presented by the Alumni Association. Recipients have demonstrated outstanding performance in their professions and have made outstanding contributions to the community, state, or nation. In addition, they must have previously received an Outstanding Young Alumni, Alumni Achievement or E. Burton Mercier Alumni Service Award.
The Awards Ceremony is held each spring. Nominations from alumni, the University community, and friends of the University are welcome.
To initiate the nomination process, please send a completed online nomination
form to Alumni Relations, Campus Box 3100, Normal, IL 61790-3100 or fax it
to the office at (309) 438-8057. If practical, please have the nominee complete
and return the online biographical data form.
A PDF version of the nomination
form and biographical data form are
also available.
Past Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
- 1971 Esther French '28
- 1971 James Logsdon '33
- 1972 Harris Dean '29
- 1972 Lillias K. Walker '40, B.S. '43 M.S. '50
- 1973 Clarence Blair '30
- 1973 Melvin Nicol '33
- 1974 Maurice Graff '29
- 1974 Kathleen Jarrett '38, M.S. '46
- 1975 Thomas Barton '30
- 1975 Ignatius Taubeneck '22
- 1976 Russell DeBow '35
- 1976 Clyde E. Fry '23
- 1977 Grace (Belden) Cox '32
- 1977 Cecil W. Hospelhorn '47
- 1978 Floyd Cunningham '26
- 1978 William W. McKnight, Jr.
- 1979 William Kuhfuss '34
- 1979 Leija V. McReynolds '46
- 1980 K. Patricia Cross '48
- 1980 Eric Johnson '39
- 1981 John C. Ayres '36
- 1981 Carrie Dawson '30
- 1982 Wallace Ann Wesley '35
- 1982 Geneva Meers '42
- 1984 Rosetta (Dawkins) Wheadon '56
- 1985 Graham Whipple '42
- 1986 Elston E. Roady '42
- 1987 Robert Abbott '58, M.S. '66
- 1989 James L. Fisher '56, M.S. '57
- 1990 Donald F. McHenry '57
- 1991 Kenneth A. Shaw '61
- 1993 Doug Collins '81
- 1994 James Koch '64
- 1995 Charles Dunn '62
- 1996 George Pruitt '68, M.S. '70
- 1997 C. Robert O'Dell '59
- 1998 Joseph L. French '49, M.S. '50
- 1999 Gary W. Schnurrpusch '69
- 2000 James A. Knecht '68
- 2001 Herbert B. Roberts '42
- 2002 Andreas A. Paloumpis '50, M.S. '53
- 2003 Felissa R. Lashley, Ph.D. '73
- 2004 Robert H. Gray, Ph.D. '71
- 2005 Jim Tyree '78, M.B.A. '80
- 2006 Tong-man Ong, M.S. '67, Ph. D, '70
- 2007 John Dossey ’65, M.S. '68
- 2008 Dave Brusick M.S. '65, Ph.D. '70
