IVCC-LPO Hall of Fame Inductees
2008-2009
The Illinois Valley Community College Foundation inducted the second class of the IVCC-LPO Hall of Fame in May 2009. The Hall honors alumni, former employees and friends of the college who have made a significant difference in the lives of others.
Each year, the Foundation solicits nominations from the public. The Class of 2010 nominations will be accepted through Oct. 30, 2009, and inductees will be selected by December. The Class of 2010 will be inducted April 24 in the Cultural Centre.
Call Fran Brolley at (815) 224-0466 for information.
Inductees for 2009:
Catherine Elizabeth Anderson: conservator/supervisor, preventive conservation at Colonial Williamsburg, Va. Anderson worked previously at the Field Museum in Chicago, Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., and Biltmore House in Ashville, N.C. A Peru native, Anderson graduated from IVCC in 1980.
Joseph W. Franco: successful medical clinic builder and developer in Kankakee. A native of DePue, Franco graduated from LPO in 1956. Franco, IVCC’s 2007 Alumnus of the Year, was the driving force behind downtown turnarounds in Kankakee and Moline.
William R. Kaiser: co-captain of the legendary Gold Dust Bowl football team at LPO in 1950, went on to play football and baseball at New Mexico University. He returned home to teach and coach at Logan Jr. High in Princeton.
Dr. E. Glenn Marshall: LPO chemistry instructor 1924-1955. “E.G.” died in 1982 at the age of 94 after teaching at LPO, Franklin (Ind.) College and Eureka College.
Donald E. Mayszak: a 1955 LPO alum, was the MVP of an undefeated state champion football team, MVP and co-captain of the basketball team and MVP of the 1955 baseball team. Mayszak, now of Villa Park, was also an outstanding student who went on to a successful career as a design engineer and developer in the petro chemical industry.
John J. Pierro: an LPO alum, he spent his entire 45-year career in the aerospace industry at Rockwell International. Starting in the mailroom as a mimeograph operator, he rose through the ranks to become President of the North American Aircraft Division. In retirement in Irvine, Cal., he has worked as a consultant on a variety of aerospace programs including the International Space Station and the AC-130 gun ship.
Dr. Peter S. Pierro: a 1948 LPO graduate, began his teaching career at Deer Park Grade School in 1950 and taught at nine other schools and universities before retiring from Oklahoma University as a professor of elementary/secondary history in 2002. He is also an author and consultant living in Oklahoma City, Ok.
Steve Rigazio: an IVCC alumnus and Oglesby native who went on to become President of Nevada Power Co. After being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in 1999, he helped found Nevadans for the Prevention of ALS to raise money and awareness of the incurable disease. A married father of two, he died in 2001 at the age 47.
Tony J. Sorcic: president and chief executive officer of Citizens First National Bank. Sorcic, an IVCC alumnus, was named to the Illinois State University College of Business Alumni Hall of Fame in 2007.
William E. Taylor: a native of La Salle and 1962 LPO graduate, went onto a successful 38-year career with Big Four accounting firm Deloitte & Touche. He led Deloitte’s Chicago tax practice for ten years and later specialized in mergers and acquisitions around the world. Taylor, of Winnetka, was IVCC’s 2008 Alumnus of the Year.
Inductees for 2008:
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.
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