List of Western Illinois University people explained

The following is a list of notable people associated with Western Illinois University, located in the American city of Macomb, Illinois.

Notable alumni

Politicians and government officials

Federal government

• Darwin Gale Schisler, Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for Illinois's 19th congressional district from 1965 to 1967. He earned his B.A. at Western Illinois University^[1]
• Vincent R. Stewart, LtGen US Marine Corps and 20th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency^[2]
• Tim Walberg, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Michigan's 7th congressional district since 2011. He attended Western Illinois University, but earned his B.A. at Taylor University^[3]
• Harlan Watson, Special Envoy to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change^[4]

State legislators

• Tod Bowman, Democratic member of the Iowa Senate for District 29. He earned his M.Ed. at the university.^[5]
• Rich Brauer, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 87th district (2003–2015). He attended Western, but did not graduate
• Kathie Conway, Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives representing the 104th district since 2011. She graduated with a B.S. in Law Enforcement Administration^[6]
• Kirk Dillard, Republican member of the Illinois Senate (1994–2014) and gubernatorial candidate in 2010 and 2014.^{[7] [8]}
• Randy Frese, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 94th district (2015–present). He earned B.S. in agriculture from Western^[9]
• Regis Groff, Democratic member of the Colorado Senate from the 33rd district (1974–1994). He was the second African-American elected to the Colorado Senate^[10]
• Norine Hammond, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2010–present). Her district, the 93rd, includes the university's Macomb campus^[11]
• Joe Hutter, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007. He earned his B.A. from Western.^[12]
• Kimberly Lightford, Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois Senate. She has represented the 4th district since 1998. She earned a B.A. in communications at Western.^[13]
• Mona Martin, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives for the 43rd district (1993-2001). She earned her B.S. from Western^[14]
• Jerry L. Mitchell, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1995–2012). He represented the 90th district and earned his Ed.S. at Western Illinois University^[15]
• John Millner, Republican member of the Illinois Senate representing the 28th district (2005–2013). Earned his master's degree in criminal justice administration at the university^[16]
• Richard P. Myers, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1995–2010. He earned his B.S. at the university^[17]
• Cynthia Nava, Democratic member of the New Mexico Senate from 1992 to 2012
• Timothy H. Osmond, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 61st district (1999–2002)^[18]
• James O'Toole, Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 1992 to 2002. He attended Western Illinois University, but graduated from University of Missouri at St. Louis
• Matthew Rinker, Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives from district 99 (2023–present). He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics.^[19]
• Todd Sieben Republican member of the Illinois Senate (1993–2008). He earned his B.S. in business administration at Western^[20]
• Mike Smiddy, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 71st district (2013–present). He attended Western Illinois University^[21]
• Litesa Wallace, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 67th district (2014–present). She earned her B.A. and M.Ed. from Western^[22]
• Frank B. Wood, Democratic member of the Iowa Senate from the 42nd district.^[23]

Local officeholders

• Matthew Shirk, Public Defender of Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit Court (2008–16). He earned his B.S. at the university in 1997^[24]

Activists

• Mary Matalin, Republican political strategist who worked on the campaigns of Dave O'Neal, George H. W. Bush and served as chief of staff to Lee Atwater^[25]
• Erin Merryn, activist behind Erin’s Law, a law requiring kids be taught personal body safety education, which has been passed in 37 states
• Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. She is a human rights advocate who has worked for the Anti-Defamation League. She earned her M.S. at Western^[26]
• C. T. Vivian, leader in the Civil Rights Movement who participated in the Freedom Rides

International figures

• Ahmet Kenan Tanrıkulu – Turkish politician
• Camilo Osías Filipino politician

Business

• Robert Nardelli – former chairman and chief executive officer of Chrysler, former president and CEO of Home Depot
• Jeremy Schoemaker – internet entrepreneur

Media and arts

• Michael Boatman – actor and author
• Cisco Cotto - radio host, pastor, and professor
• Mark Konkol – 2011 Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist (Chicago Sun-Times)
• John Mahoney – actor, Frasier, taught at Western
• Warhol.SS — rapper, dropped out after one week

Education

• David L. Chicoine, 19th president of South Dakota State University (2007–present). He earned his M.A. at Western Illinois University^[27]
• Bob Krause, vice president for Institutional Advancement at Kansas State University (1986–2009). He served as acting Athletic Director from 2008 to 2009
• Michael Shonrock, 22nd president of Lindenwood University^[28]
• Paul Vallas, education administrator who has served as the chief executive for Chicago Public Schools (1995–2001), School District of Philadelphia (2002–2006) and the Recovery School District of Louisiana (2007–2012)^[29]
• Syed Abul Kalam Azad, treasurer of University of Dhaka^[30]

Athletes and coaches

• Jaelon Acklin - Canadian Football League
• Don Beebe – National Football League
• David Bowens – National Football League
• Fabien Bownes – National Football League
• Lee Calhoun – Olympic gold medal winner
• Bryan Cox – National Football League
• Joe Dykstra - National Basketball Association
• Booker Edgerson – National Football League
• Larry Garron – National Football League
• Don Greco – National Football League
• Rodney Harrison – National Football League
• Edgerton Hartwell – National Football League
• Frisman Jackson – National Football League
• William James – National Football League
• Kosuke Kimura – soccer midfielder for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer
• Gary Lagesse – Hall of Fame Softball Coach
• Gene Lamont – Major League Baseball
• Rob Lazeo – Canadian Football League
• Lamar McGriggs – National Football League
• Russ Michna – Arena Football League
• Red Miller – former head coach of the NFL Denver Broncos and USFL Denver Gold
• Dennis Morgan – National Football League
• J. R. Niklos – National Football League
• Terell Parks (born 1991) - basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Paul Reuschel – Major League Baseball
• Rick Reuschel – Major League Baseball
• Jimmy Ray Robinson - National Football League
• Khalen Saunders – Super Bowl champion (LIV) - National Football League
• Mike Scifres – National Football League
• Rich Seubert – National Football League
• Paul Singer - National Football League
• Rick Short – Major League Baseball
• Tom Soehn – director of soccer operations for Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Aaron Stecker – National Football League
• John Teerlinck – National Football League
• Marco Thomas – Canadian Football League
• Mike Wagner – National Football League
• Jason Williams – National Football League
• Frank Winters – National Football league

External links

• – Western Illinois University

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bioguide Search . bioguide.congress.gov.
2. Web site: About DIA .
3. Web site: Bioguide Search.
4. Web site: Alumni Achievement Awards - 2010 - Alumni - Western Illinois University.
5. Web site: Senator Tod Bowman Iowa Senate District 29 . www.senate.iowa.gov . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140423203730/http://www.senate.iowa.gov/senator/bowman . 2014-04-23.
6. Web site: Missouri House of Representatives - Error.
7. Web site: Senate Member Details.
8. Web site: On Republican ballot, Dillard for Illinois governor. 15 February 2014.
9. Web site: Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography.
10. Web site: Tribute to State Senator Regis Groff | Capitol Words . 2014-10-08 . dead . https://archive.today/20141008012532/http://capitolwords.org/date/2001/07/25/E1434_tribute-to-state-senator-regis-groff/ . 2014-10-08 .
11. Web site: Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography.
12. Web site: The Voter's Self Defense System.
13. Web site: Illinois General Assembly - Senator Biography.
14. Web site: State Representative. Iowa Legislative Services Agency. 7 July 2020.
15. Web site: Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography.
16. Web site: Illinois General Assembly - Senator Biography.
17. Web site: Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography.
18. 'Rep. Timothy H. Osmond, 53, Chicago Tribune, Matthew Walberg, December 18, 2002
19. Web site: State Representative . Iowa Legislature . June 6, 2024.
20. Web site: Illinois General Assembly - Senator Biography.
21. Web site: Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography.
22. Web site: Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography.
23. Web site: The Voter's Self Defense System . votesmart.org.
24. Web site: Matthew Shirk . avvo.com.
25. Web site: Washington Speakers Bureau . www.washingtonspeakers.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111206142905/http://washingtonspeakers.com/speakers/biography.cfm?SpeakerID=928 . 2011-12-06.
26. Web site: UNICEF USA Announces Planned Departure of President and CEO Caryl Stern .
27. Web site: Office of the President. 5 June 2023 .
28. Web site: Michael D. Shonrock - Cover Letter, Resume and References . ulsystem.edu.
29. Web site: School's out for Vallas. 29 June 2013.
30. Web site: Message from the Treasurer. University of Dhaka. 6 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160406120606/http://www.du.ac.bd/home/office_and_admin/otr. 6 April 2016. 12. Prof. Syed Abul Kalam Azad – 04.02.2006 – 23.01.2009.