The national Children’s Health Insurance Program was a response to the Pittsburgh unemployed steel workers protesting their lack of health insurance for their children at local churches where steel executives worshiped and what this author observed as she sang in the choir at the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church. The positive resolution begun at that church became the model for the Pennsylvania CHIP program, which led to the national CHIP program. This inspired Scott Galloway, the son of the church’s senior pastor, now a professional film maker, to make a Documentary, “CHILDREN IN CRISIS: The Story of CHIP,” featuring Wilberta (Naden) Pickett ’50.

You can read more about this here and here.

Bob Riseling ’59 served on a panel at the International Clarinet Association Clar-Fest in Denver, Colorado on 8 July.

Paintings by famed artist Oliver Lee Jackson ’58 are on display in the Stanley Museum of Art at University of Iowa, where he attended graduate school after earning his BFA in art at Illinois Wesleyan. You can read more here. Congratulations Oliver!

Arthur Leach ‘42 was featured in the Illinois Farmer Today where he shared about his time in World War II. Arthur began his time serving as a Navy Pilot just two days after he graduated from Illinois Wesleyan. Leach remained in the service for 14 years, leaving as a senior lieutenant in 1956. He was due to become a lieutenant commander but chose to return to civilian life in Illinois. During his time in the war, Leach earned two Air Medals and a Distinguished Flying Cross. Today, at 103 years old, he shares his story at the Livingston County War Museum in Pontiac, IL. You can read more about Arthur’s story here. Congratulations Arthur!

Robert Riseling ‘59 performed SAPPHIRE SONG on March 28, 2023. This work was written for him by Donald Steven, for the opening of ALAN TOROK Drawings, 2016-2022: “By Their Light We Shall Know Them.” At this event, he was the subject of two of the drawings. The event was held at the Toronto Arts and Letters Club.

Additionally, in November 2022, two of his paintings were sold at the London, Ontario Westland Gallery’s Square Foot Show and two others were sold from his Facebook page. Congratulations Robert!

Jim ’41 and Mary ’43 Winn, who met while studying music at Illinois Wesleyan, are being honored through a scholarship in their name for Clinton Community College students who are active in sharing their musical talents with the community. Read the Clinton Herald article here.

Kathleen (Ross) Gardner ‘59 and William H. Gardner celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on December 22nd, 2022. They married in Christ Church in Riverdale, New York and have lived in Tucson, Arizona for 36 years. She notes that IWU will always be special to her, and that she remains a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha

Joseph Roderick Myshrall graduated from IWU in 1952 and was a member of the baseball team. His son, John Myshrall, has recently written a book about his WWII service and other aspects of his life, including his time at IWU. The book is entitled Thunderbird Has Done It Again: Ernie Pyle & General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Favorite WWII Story – Part 2 and can be found on Amazon Books.

Artwork by Oliver Lee Jackson ’58 is currently presented in a solo exhibition at the St. Louis Art Museum. The free exhibition will run through Feb. 20, 2022. It features work spanning five decades of Oliver’s career. A 120-page catalog, featuring work from this exhibition and a 2019 exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., is forthcoming. Click here to read more about Jackson’s artwork.

Covid 19 has curtailed most everyone for over a year….but, now thanks to the vaccines, life begins to move back toward “normal”   My wife, Jeannine, and I have resumed “outside” activities with the caution of masks and outdoor activities.  We love being able to return to Yosemite National Park (as pictured) to enjoy huge waterfalls, park beauty, hikes through fantastic Redwood trees, etc.  Also, Bocce leagues have resumed and fishing in the San Francisco Bay are currently safe, enjoyable outdoor activities  And with more than 1,000 wineries within a 50 mile radius safely seating people outdoors some 15 feet apart, we have resumed those enjoyable visits.  Back to near normal is great!  We encourage everyone to get their vaccines as soon as possible.  Fond memories of my IWU days.