Tim Black ’84 presented his paper “Hamburger Wars: McDonalds System v Sandy’s Inc.” at the 17th Annual Conference on Illinois History in Springfield last fall. This is the second time Mr. Black has presented a paper at the conference. In 2013, he presented his work entitled, “Russell Johnson: The man who took on the Ryans…and Won.”
Larry Stimpert ’80 has been named president of Hampden-Sydney College, a liberal arts college in Hampden Sydney, Virginia.
Here is a link to the article to include in the post.
http://www.virginiabusiness.com/news/article/hampden-sydney-college-names-new-president
Renee’s painting “Storm Port” was selected for the 4th annual Bridgeport Fine Arts Competition.
It is seen above getting it’s final varnish.
Renee McGinnis ’84 has an art piece being featured in an art interpretation series at the Addington Gallery in Chicago.
Former Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross ’80 has been appointed to lead the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
Here is a link to the entire article –
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160226/news/160228941/
Dan Brady ’81 has been appointed president of Ronk Electrical.
Link – http://www.tedmag.com/News/people-news/Ronk-Electrical-Appoints-New-President.a
Agribusiness owner Scott Murphy ’80 was appointed to fill a vacancy on the McLean County Board.
Lisa Powell Williams ’88, received her first pastoral call to pastor Union Congregational Church, Moline, IL as a licensed minister this past month.
Lisa continues to work full time, in addition to this part time call, as a librarian.
Frankie R. Faison ’71 (left) poses with IWU’s Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter President, Scott Huch ’86, following the matinee performance of Between Riverside and Crazy at Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C., on February 13, 2016. In Studio’s production of this 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Stephen Adly Guirgis, Faison stars in the lead role of Walter “Pops” Washington. Faison is a Tony and Drama Desk Award-nominated Broadway actor also known for his work on film and TV, notably as Commissioner Ervin Burrell on the acclaimed HBO series The Wire. Faison can currently be seen in the hit Cinemax series Banshee as Sugar Bates.
After graduating from IWU Scott Murkin ‘88 went on to attend 
medical school at Vanderbilt University. He was an emergency room physician for 12 years, then switched to hospice and palliative care. Scott and his wife, Mary, have two children, Grant and Alyssa. Scott was recently featured in an article in the March 2016 issue of American Quilter. Scott’s grandmother always made quilts for family as gifts. She passed away before she was able to make quilts for his children. Scott helped his grandmother make the quilts when he was younger. He decided it would be his job to take over making the quilts. Members of a local quilt Guild encouraged him to enter one of his quilts in a local show. It was his first show ever and he won the Best Original Design award and first place in the pieced bed quilts category. He began teaching at a quilt shop and shortly after began judging shows.