First IVCC-LPO Hall of Fame class named

The Illinois Valley Community College Foundation inducted the first 25 members of the IVCC-LPO Hall of Fame in January 2008.

        The Hall honors alumni, former employees and friends of the college who have made a significant difference in the lives of others. The Class of 2009 will be inducted May 16 in the Cultural Centre.

        Inductees for 2008 were:

Don Baker: LPO ‘48. Peru mayor since 1965; credited with the city's extraordinary retail and industrial expansion.

Hon. Tobias ‘Toby’ Barry: influential state representative and judge who led the effort to build I-39 between Rockford and Normal.

Marion Dane Bauer: award-winning author of more than 60 children’s books.

Louis Borio: chair, Life and Physical Sciences division 1967-1995; earned seven National Science Foundation awards and in 1988 founded IVCC's Raptor Rehabilitation program.

Ralph Bowermaster: LPO ‘47; gifted singer in several college musicals; has served the Foundation board for 25 years.

W. Durley Boyle: legendary 40-year Putnam County State’s Attorney and former member of the Foundation and college boards.

Elizabeth Cummings: co-author of The First 70 Years of IVCC History; 40-year IVCC librarian.

Bill Danley: award-winning newspaper reporter; IVCC public information director (1968-94); co-author of college history.

Dr. Francis “Phil” Dolan: LPO director 1947-67 and renowned “Godfather” of movement to establish comprehensive community colleges in the mid-1960s.

Harry F. Erlenborn: LPO ‘35. In 47-year career at Peru’s American Nickeloid rose to CEO and maintains a 70-year affiliation with the company today.

Dr. William Farley: the 1940 LPO alum delivered an estimated 15,000 babies in Peru over a 57-year career.

Dr. Henrietta Herbolsheimer: LPO ‘32. As an instructor at the University of Chicago School of Medicine (1951-80), she was a nationally acclaimed healthcare advocate for women and premature infants.

Les Hoenscheid: LPO ‘26. LPO’s first football coach and 43-year psychology and physical education instructor. He left the college temporarily in 1942 to fight in World War II and later served 36 years as Peru Recreation Director. 

Dr. Thomas J. McCormack: Princeton University-educated scholar was LPO’s first director. Recognized as one of the nation’s outstanding educators, Dr. McCormack came to La Salle-Peru High School in 1903 as Superintendent.

Rhonda Morel: IVCC’s first great female athlete led the ‘78-79 basketball team to a 21-4 record; earned a full-ride to Eastern Illinois University.

Rollie Morris: member of LPO’s 1950 Gold Dust Bowl team and 1952 New Mexico State Hall of Fame football team; 30-year football and track coach at Hall High School.

Anthony C. “Tony” Raccuglia: LPO ‘56; successful personal injury attorney and lead prosecutor in the Starved Rock Murders case.

Hon. Howard C. Ryan: retired Illinois Supreme Court Justice and 1934-35

LPO debate champion.

Dr. Robert Spetzler: world renowned Arizona neurosurgeon who studied pre-medicine at LPO in 1964; performs 500 high-risk surgeries a year.

John Strell: athletic director 1946-1976; coached football, baseball, basketball, cross country, track and tennis at various times. Strell led the 1950 football team to the Gold Dust Bowl in Vallejo, Cal., and the 1959 basketball team to the NJCAA championships in Hutchinson, Ks.

William “Bill” Strong: leading Foundation contributor and advocate has a near 40-year affiliation with the college as a Foundation director and elected trustee.

Helen Taylor: Peru elementary school teacher left $100,000 to the college in 1975 to create the IVCC Foundation.

R. Earl Trobaugh: first IVCC President 1969-74; instrumental in the creation of IVCC; started at LPO in 1936 as a Spanish instructor.

Dr. Mary Margaret Weeg: beloved humanities division chair from the 1960s to the ‘80s; editor of the first yearbook in 1951.

Dr. Harry Wilmot: founding dean of LPO Junior College 1924-61.

        Each year, the Foundation will solicit nominations from the public and new members will be added to the ‘hall.’

        Class of 2009 nominations will be accepted through Feb. 27 and inductees will be selected in March and honored at a 7 p.m. Saturday, May 16 ceremony in the IVCC Cultural Centre.

        Call Fran Brolley at (815) 224-0524 for information.