Author Archives: classnews

Robert Manahan ’52

Hall High School in Spring Valley will name its new auditorium in honor of Robert Manahan ’52, who worked to rebuild the school’s chorus and theater programs.  A link to the full article can be accessed here.

Congratulations to Robert!

 

Constance Connolly Platt ’50

Constance Connolly Platt died December 31, 2014 at her home in Missoula, Montana. She was 86. She was born September 15, 1928 in Springfield, Illinois, the daughter of Leo Albert Connolly and Beatrice Key Connolly. The family, which included her older brother, Dale Leon Connolly, moved to Taylorville, Illinois in 1934. She attended Taylorville schools, graduating from Taylorville Township High School in 1946. She attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington for two years and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1951. She taught elementary school for six years: one year in South San Francisco, California, one year in Springfield, Illinois, three years in Urbana, Illinois and another year in Springfield, Illinois. She married George Mattox Platt on December 27, 1952 in Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Platt then attended Law School at the University of Illinois while Mrs. Platt taught school in Urbana for those three years. They returned to Springfield in 1956. Three children were born to them: Ellen Jo Platt, on February, 2, 1959; Thomas Morton Platt on August 3, 1960; and Daniel Mattox Platt, on May 26, 1962. They moved to Olympia, Washington for a short time in 1963-64, but returned to Springfield, Illinois. However, they liked the Northwest and when, in 1966, Mr. Platt was offered a position on the faculty of the School of Law at the University of Oregon, they were happy to move to Eugene, Oregon. Mr. Platt was on the law faculty for 30 years and died in Eugene on April 12, 2010. A son, Daniel Platt died November 8, 2005, in Missoula, Montana. Mrs. Platt, then with declining health decided to move to a retirement community in Missoula, Montana where her son Tom and his family live. The family is grateful for the kindness and support of Hospice of Missoula and Dr. Meg Carnegie at the time of her passing. Mrs. Platt’s parents, Leo and Beatrice Connolly also moved to Eugene from Springfield in 1968, and her brother Dale Connolly and his family (wife Donna Carroll Rhodes of Taylorville, Illinois) moved to Eugene in 1969. Beatrice Connolly died in Eugene January 6, 1986 and Leo Connolly died there on February 15, 1987. Dale’s family moved to the Seattle area in 1974; he died in Oostende, Belgium in April of 1993. All three are buried in the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Eugene, Oregon. Mrs. Platt is survived by her daughter Ellen Platt (Terry Rogers) of San Jose, California and her son, Thomas Platt (Jennifer Ferenstein) and one grandchild, George Emmett Platt, of Missoula, Montana. Her four nieces, Deborah Haskett (Bill), Jennifer Raney (Roger), Carroll Warner (Jeff) and Susan Mansfield all live in the Seattle area. Her nephew, Phillip Bradley (Sylvia) and their two daughters reside in Springfield, Illinois.

Thank You From IWU

February 16th is Thank A Giver Day — a day when the Illinois Wesleyan campus community celebrates the generosity of our supporters. We celebrate Thank A Giver Day on February 16th because at this point we’re 70% of the way through the school year. Since tuition covers 70% of the total cost of an IWU education, it’s a fitting time to draw attention to the fact that outside support from alumni and friends of the University plays a key role in delivering the kind of educational experience we expect from our alma mater.

Last year, over 8,000 people made gifts to Illinois Wesleyan University and, regardless of the size, each and every one played a role in keeping Illinois Wesleyan strong. If you would like to take a moment to make your annual gift, we invite you to do so at iwu.edu/give.

Go Titans!

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