Homecoming 2016 Message from Jim Gresham ’66

IWU Homecoming 2016 is September 30-October 2.  We can’t wait to see you! The last date to register for Homecoming 2016 and your 50th Reunion is Friday, September 16.

Click here to download the 50 Year Reunion Book Survey. These are due August 31, in order for us to get these included in the 50 Year Reunion Book that you will receive at Homecoming. If you are unable to attend, but would still like a book, please send us your survey and we will mail a book to you after Homecoming.

If you have already registered, thank you!  Remember to check in at Homecoming Headquarters in the Memorial Center to pick up your reunion ribbon and name tag. If you’d like to help reach out to classmates, please contact me at gresham@ccofdecatur.com.

Please see the full schedule and register here.

Here are some events you may want to consider:

  • Back to College Class – Friday 2 pm
    “Development of a Social Conscience”
    A panel of 1960’s and 1970’s student activists, Eldredge “Skip” Gilbert ’67; Mary(Harris) Melchor ’70; Richard Muirhead ’66; Wenona Whitfield ’70, will discuss the impact of the 1966 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visit to campus, the events that led up to and followed his visit. They will also reflect on how this period in IWU history shaped their own social consciences and their lives.  Ames Library, Beckman Auditorium
  • Alumni Awards Reception – Friday 6 pm
    Make plans to join President Jensen and the Alumni Association Board of Directors as we honor our distinguished roster of 2016 Alumni Award Winners, the 1965 undefeated football team, welcome the new Golden Titans from the Class of 1966 and kick off Homecoming Weekend. All are welcome! $15 includes a heavy hors d’oeurves buffet, beer and wine. Memorial Center, Young Main Lounge
  • Back to College Class – Saturday 8:30 am
    “From Fell Avenue Playground to Cooperstown”
    Denny Matthews ’66 Distinguished Alumnus – Broadcaster for the Kansas City Royals, will tell the stories of how his days at Illinois Wesleyan led to 48 years of broadcasting in Major League Baseball and to his 2007 induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ames Library, Beckman Auditorium
  •  Back to College Class – Saturday 10:30 am
    “2017 IWU Tour of Rome and the Amalfi Coast” Collette Tours will present details on the 2017 IWU Tour of Rome and the Amalfi Coast escorted by professional Collette guides and Associate Professor of French and Italian Scott Sheridan.Ames Library, Beckman Auditorium
  • Titan Tailgate-Saturday 10-1
    NEW THIS YEAR: The Alumni Association welcomes you to the pre-game excitement, including local food trucks! Enjoy a variety of choices from local vendors while connecting with your fellow Titans. Shirk Parking Lot
  • Class of 1966: 50 Year Class Reunion Dinner – Saturday 7 pm
    Join fellow Class of 1966 alumni and guests for cocktails and dinner. Bloomington Country Club, 605 Towanda Ave.
  • Chapel Service and Collegiate Choir Performance – Sunday 10 am
    Join fellow Titans for Chapel Service and a performance by Collegiate Choir members and alumni. Evelyn Chapel 

This is just a sample of the activities available at Homecoming.
Go here to see the full list and register.

See you at Homecoming! Go Titans!

IWU Socks – 2 Weeks Only

socks

Show your Titan Pride! 

From now through July 31, you can receive a pair of Illinois Wesleyan socks with your gift of $25 or more. All proceeds, unless otherwise designated, will support current students through the Wesleyan Fund.

These limited edition socks are only available through the end of the month.

Click here to order.

Get yours by making a gift of $25 or more at titanpride.org/socks today!

(This offer only applies to individuals who make a gift of $25 or more by July 31. Limit 1 pair per donor.
Per IRS regulations, the $10 cost of the socks is not tax-deductible.)

Dave Kindred ’63

Sportswriter Dave Kindred ’63, who was known by Muhammad Ali as “Louisville,” shared memories of Ali’s life. Also on WJBC Radio.

Click here for a link to the full article.

Dave Kindred also donated a collection to the university’s archives, including work that he has done with Muhammad Ali.

Click here for a link to the story.

Dorothea Bilder ’62

Dorothea Bilder ’62, artist and professor emeritus who taught printmaking, drawing and illustration at Northern Illinois University, will exhibit a series of dry pigment pastels titled “My Thoughts” at The Art Box in DeKalb from May 16 to June 9.

dorothea bilder

Russell D. Seaton ’69

Russell D. Seaton ’69 has a note for the newsletters to keep his classmates up to date on his life:

“Life continues to be busy, here, in Central Oregon.  Substitute teaching is about to wind down for another year and my twenty-second year of working in a local fly fishing shop is about to begin!

Just concluded my fourth year as Vocal Music Coach at Redmond High School, for their musical productions.  This year’s presentation was a bilingual version of Disney’s “Aladdin!”

I am, currently, preparing for the role of James Jerome Hill (the railroad magnate) in a presentation of three one acts celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the creation of Deschutes County, Oregon!  “The Faces of the Deschutes” will be presented at various venues throughout the Central Oregon area during the month of May.

Also, preparing an anniversary show for The High Desert Harmoneers, (in September) Central Oregon’s Barbershop Chorus.  Twenty-five years ago, I was one of the original eleven who helped to charter this group, and served as their first director. I have returned as their director and am, once again, enjoying ringing chords with these guys. Brings back lots of fond memories of my days in the Apollo Quartet at IWU (1966-1969) with Bill Eichorn, Bruce Borton, Z. Edmund Toliver and Byron Blair!

This past year I have been privileged to sing in several concerts with Central Oregon’s premiere choral group, the Central Oregon Mastersingers. In January, I dusted off the opera voice and participated in Opera Bend’s wonderful production of “Die Fledermaus!” In June 2015 I played Pseudolus in “A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum,” and I was, throughout the year a featured singer in four Cabarets for Topsoil Productions.

Not only do I live in an amazingly beautiful place aesthetically, but artistically as well!”

 

Jim Beebe ’61, Jim Stahly ’62, and Tim Calhoun ’67

Five Wesleyan grads participated in two joint barbershop shows in Danville on April 9.  Bloomington’s Sound of Illinois chorus and Danville’s chorus performed separately and together in the finale.

jim stahly

From left: Danville director Jim Beebe ’61; and Bloomington members Harry Lovell ’58, Jim Stahly ’62, Tim Calhoun ’67, and Byron Blair ’70.  Both Stahly and Blair are former Bloomington directors.

Gerri Friedberg ’60

Gerri Friedberg ’60 has been selected as Volunteer of the Year by Unity Hospice, a 7 County organization through which she visited clients weekly over the past several years. She was mentioned at a dinner for Door County, Wisconsin honorees on April 21st at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay.
Gerri has been an Egg Harbor resident for 11 years now, still plays piano most Sundays for the Unitarian Fellowship, and is a docent for Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon’s library.