Friends of Larry and Marlene Dietz:
Through mutual friends, my wife Cathy and I met Larry and Marlene Dietz a few years ago, and together we have participated in social, family and school events. For their kindness to others and their friendship to all, we are grateful and blessed to have them as friends and neighbors.
What is remarkable is how Larry and Marlene have, through their words and actions, instilled a new pride in being part of the ISU family. And this renaissance of excellence is not only appreciated by ISU graduates like my wife and I (Cathy, class of 1975; Steve, class of 1974), but also by our entire community.
Good luck on your retirement, Larry and Marlene, and know that you have made a difference not only in the lives of the students, but also in the lives of your friends and our community as a whole.
area:Outgoing ISU President Larry Dietz talks about the future of the ISU.
24 Illinois state students who made their mark
Paul DeJong ’15
Paul DeJong, 24, made his major league debut with the Saint-Louis Cardinals on May 28, 2017. On March 5, 2018, he agreed to a six-year contract extension with Saint-Louis until the season 2023. He’s had 32 home runs, 79 RBIs and a 0.281 batting average during his Major League Baseball career.
Jeff Roberson
Gary Sinise
Gary Sinise, 63, is an actor, director and musician who has won an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award and has been nominated for an Academy Award. He is known for several roles including Lieutenant Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump, Harry S. Truman in Truman, Detective Mac Taylor in CSI: NY and George C. Wallace in George wallace.
PA
Jeff Perry ’78
Jeff Perry, 62, currently stars in the ABC drama Scandal. He is one of the founders of the Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago and has appeared in several theatrical productions in addition to his work in film and television. He is best known for his work in Nash Bridges, Wild things and Scandal.
Willy sanjuan
Richard Roeper ’82
Richard Roeper, 58, is a film critic and columnist for The Chicago Sun-Times. He was the co-host of the television series At the movie theater with Roger Ebert from 2000 to 2008.
Barry Brecheisen / Invision / AP
Jane Lynch ’82
Actress who has appeared in films such as Best of Show, A mighty wind, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. She is most recently recognized for her Emmy Award-winning portrayal as Sue Sylvester in the hit TV series Joy and as a host of NBC Hollywood game night.
John shearer
Craig Robinson ’94
You might recognize Robinson from his role as Darryl Philbin in the American version of Office; he was promoted to a starring role in the fourth season. He has appeared in other TV shows including Development stopped, Fortunate, Friends, Halfway home, and Reno 911!; he also appeared in Hot tub time machine and Pineapple Express.
Chris Pizzello
Cecilia Suarez ’95
Actress who starred in the Lifetime television series, For the people and who also starred in the Adam Sandler film, Spanish. Suárez is the first Spanish-speaking actress to be nominated for an International Emmy in the Best Actress category for her performance in the HBO series Capadocie; she also spoke at Illinois State’s Latin cultural dinner in 2012.
Eduardo Verdugo
Sean hayes
This Emmy-winning actor played Jack McFarland in the hit NBC series Will & Grace. He was also nominated for a Tony Award for Promises, Promises. It can also be seen in the movies Win a date with Tad Hamilton!, Bucket List and heard in The cat in the hat and Cats and dogs.
Matt sayles
Gary Cole
A notable lead actor in various television series, including a recurring role in The Good Wife. He also starred in many films including Win a date with Tad Hamilton!, Brady Bunch’s movie, Office space, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
Richard shotwell
Michelle (Ténitra) Williams
A Grammy-winning member of the R & B / Pop music group Destiny’s Child, she also performed on Broadway in the Tim Rice and Elton John production of Aida. She could be seen on stage as Shug Avery in The color purple.
Dan Steinberg
Adam Kinzinger ’00
Kinzinger serves as the United States House Representative for the 11th Congressional District of Illinois; he got his start in politics as a member of the McLean County Board of Directors.
Susan walsh
Jay Blunk ’86
Blunk is the executive vice president of the Chicago Blackhawks; in this photo Blunk, left, sits with the president of the Chicago Blackhawks John McDonough, right.
Nam Y. Huh
Suzy Bogguss ’79
Suzy Bogguss, 59, is a country music singer and songwriter. Bogguss began her career in the early 1980s as a solo singer. In the 1990s, she released one platinum and three gold albums and ranked six of the top ten singles, winning the Academy of Country Music Award for Best New Vocalist and the Horizon Award for Country Music. Association. In this photo, Bogguss performs at the 2014 SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
John Davisson
Judith Ivey ’73
Judith Ivey, 63, is an actress and director. Ivey is often associated with his one-year stint on the CBS series Conceiving Women in his final season, playing Texan BJ Poteet. She also played a notable role in the NBC series Will & Grace and also appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, Person of interest, White collar, and Law and order: Special Victims Assistance Unit.
Charles sykes
Laurie Metcalf ’76
Laurie Metcalf, 59, is an actress, perhaps best known for her portrayal of Jackie Harris on the ABC sitcom Roseanne. She also had television roles in Desperate housewives and on The Big Bang Theory. His cinematic work received critically acclaimed roles in Make Mr. Right, JFK, and Mistress. Metcalf frequently works at the Chicago Theater. She is a three-time Emmy Award winner and four other nominees, in addition to being nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, two Tony Awards, a Satellite Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award; she won both a Theater World Award and two Obie Awards for her stage work.
Jonathan court
Rondi Reed ’77
Rondi Reed, 62, is an actress, singer and performer. She has been a member of the Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago for decades, appearing in 51 productions. She also performed on Broadway in The rise and fall of Little Voice and Grapes of Wrath, among others. In August: Osage County, she won the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Play. She is also known for her role as Mike’s mother in the television series Mike and Molly.
Evan agostini
DA Weibring ’75
Donald Albert “DA” Weibring, Jr., 61, is a professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments, including several on the PGA and Champions tours. His first was in 1979 at Quad Cities – an event he would win three times. His last Tour victory came at the Canon Greater Hartford Open in 1996. Weibring has finished in the top 10 five times in major championships. He joined the Champions Tour after turning 50 in May 2003, and has achieved five wins so far. Weibring was inducted into the Illinois PGA Hall of Fame in 2001, and he also has his own golf course design and management company.
Nam Y. Huh
Cathy Boswell ’83
Cathy Boswell, 52, is a former basketball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics. In this photo, Boswell speaks after being honored for her basketball career at the ISU during the ceremony. he was inducted into the Missouri Valley Hall of Fame on March 8, 2003, in St. Louis.
Tom gannam
Doug Collins ’73
Doug Collins, 63, is a former All-American basketball player who was the first choice in the 1973 NBA Draft and four-time NBA All-Star. He has also coached the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards and most recently the Philadelphia 76ers. Acclaimed broadcaster, Collins was chosen to represent the United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. The grounds of the Redbird Arena are named in his honor.
Carlos osorio
Dan Rutherford ’78
Dan Rutherford, a native of Chenoa, is the Illinois State Treasurer. He was a Republican member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 53rd District, from 2003 to 2011, and the Illinois House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003.
Seth Perlman
Boomer Grigsby ’07
James Harvey “Boomer” Grigsby, 33, is a former ISU football player who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He also played with the Miami Dolphins and the Houston Texans.
Tom gannam
John malkovich
John Malkovich, 61, is an acclaimed actor, producer, director and fashion designer. Over the past 30 years, Malkovich has appeared in more than 70 films, including Places in the heart and In the crosshairs, for which he received Oscar nominations. Malkovich graduated from ISU in 2005.
Jordan strauss
Donald McHenry ’57
Donald F. McHenry was United States Ambassador and Representative to the United Nations from September 1979 to January 1981. He was also a member of President Carter’s cabinet. He graduated from ISU in 1957 and two years later received a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University. He graduated from Georgetown University.
CWH
Mike Zimmer ’79
Mike Zimmer, 58, is an American football coach who is the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was previously a defensive coordinator in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals.
Anne Heisenfelt
