PEOPLE OF NOTE

Honorary Degree Recipients of Former MacMurray College

Over the years MacMurray awarded approximately 275 honorary doctorates to women and men from all walks of life — educators, scientists, social workers, lawyers, physicians, politicians, retired MacMurray presidents and Board chairs, alumni, clergy, and members of the local community.

Some of the more notable recipients included Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson, who received a Doctor of Laws degree at the 1963 Commencement, less than six months before he assumed the presidency following Kennedy’s assassination.

In 1954 Earl Warren, the Chief Justice of the United States, was honored with the Doctor of Humane Letters. Warren had been Governor of California and Thomas Dewey’s running mate in 1948 before being nominated by President Eisenhower for the Supreme Court position. A year earlier, in 1953, a Doctor of Laws degree was bestowed on Frances Perkins, the first female cabinet member ever, who served as President Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor.

In January 1947, Eleanor Roosevelt, widow of FDR and a member of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, spoke at the MacMurray College Lecture Series and was presented with the Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Mrs. Roosevelt spent the night in a first-floor bedroom in the President’s House, a room that came to be known as the Eleanor Roosevelt Bedroom.

The acclaimed social worker and founder of Chicago’s Hull House, Jane Addams, was honored in 1928, and James E. MacMurray, the Chicago businessman and former state senator, whose generous bequests were largely responsible for the expansion of the campus, was honored in 1933. Famed heart surgeon, Dr. Michael DeBakey received a Doctor of Science degree in 1971.

Other honorees included Governors Dwight Green and James Thompson and Senator Paul Simon. A member of the MacMurray Class of 1975, Broadway performer Christine Ebersole, received a Doctor of Fine Arts degree in 2002.

MacMurray Foundation and Alumni Association Awards

Implemented in 2022 with Establishment of MacMurray Foundation and Alumni Association

Founders Award

This recognition is for an individual or organization who has supported and provided the
Foundation with expertise, resources or other aspects that focus on the Mission and
implementation of the Foundation’s goals.

  • 2024: Tammy Rust, ‘81
  • 2023: Sandra Watson, ‘73
  • 2022: Larry Kuster (Inaugural Honoree)

Legacy Award

This recognition is to an individual or organization whose focus has been on maintaining
and continuing the legacy of MacMurray College. Efforts should be directly related to
the Foundation’s mission of maintaining and making the college’s archives/museum
accessible and/or scholarship focus.

  • 2024: Jo Ann Nelson, ‘73
  • 2023: Allen Croessmann, ‘68
  • 2022: Tiffany Warmowski (Inaugural Honoree)

MacFam Spirit Award

This recognition is for an individual or organization that exemplifies the spirit and
commitment to keeping alumni engaged in the legacy of the College.

  • 2024: Sharon Mather, ‘04
  • 2023: Karen Gentile (’80) & Lisa Runkle (’84)
  • 2022: Rich Laren (Inaugural Honoree)

Community Service Award Recipients

A graduate or student of at least three years who has distinguished himself/herself through outstanding volunteer service to his/her community.

  • 2024: Dionte Jelks, ‘01
  • 2023: Joyce Strother, ‘81
  • 2019: Reverend Beth Fender ’91 & Reverend Mike Fender ’83
  • 2018: Sally Scaman ’68
  • 2017: Katherine “Kitty” Palmer Conant ’68
  • 2016: Carl Hensley ’76
  • 2015: Clara Copeland ’65, Warren Copeland ’65
  • 2014: Patricia Cowan Stansfield ’79
  • 2013: Cynthia Zahm Siegfried ’68, Paul Witthoeft ’68
  • 2011: Mike Dolan ’86
  • 2010: Bob Clary ’80
  • 2009: Evelyn “Evie” McMillan Burchett Brodland ’59
  • 2008: Joan Shaw Williams ’58
  • 2007: Ruth Anne Cohenour Unik ’57
  • 2006: Ann Irving DiNicola ’51
  • 2005: Gloria Brown Delinger ’55
  • 2004: Karen Hansen Nelson ’69
  • 2003: Harriett Bergolio Bible ’48
  • 2003: Nora Kathryn Duncan ’68
  • 2002: Nora Kathryn Duncan ’68
  • 2002: Eileen Bill
  • 2001: Marion “Billie” Nadeau Scott ’51
  • 2000: Stephen Seltzer ’70
  • 1999: Suzanne Jacques ’81
  • 1998: Susan Weller ’65

Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

Any alumna or alumnus (who attended MacMurray for at least two semesters or is a graduate) who has distinguished himself/herself within his/her chosen field and through service to MacMurray.

  • 2024: Herb Silva, ‘68
  • 2019: Gil Opferman ’74
  • 2018: Gary Stephens ’78
  • 2017: John Wakefield ’69
  • 2015: Ruth Nichols Craig ’65
  • 2014: Jani Koopman Flynn ’64
  • 2012: Jeannie Stevens Myers ’47
  • 2011: Jim Rayburn ’71
  • 2010: Susan Byungsook Rhee ’60, Susan Weller ’65
  • 2009: B. Carole Rockwell Calhoun ’59, David Hart ’69
  • 2007: Constance DeMuth Berg ’47
  • 2006: Lila Underwood Judkins ’36, Anthony R. Licata ’76
  • 2004: Richard B. Flynn ’64
  • 2003: Eleanor Garvin Skinner ’43, Robert C. Kellogg ’68
  • 2002: Dolores A. Buchler ’57, William G. Patterson ’67
  • 2001: Clinton “C.J.” Everett ’66
  • 2000: Winona Cocking Peithmann ’40, Margaret Draper Moore ’65
  • 1999: Louise Krussell Bone ’56, Andrew Onderdonk ’69
  • 1998: Patricia Bauer Burnette ’58, Irene Jones Wilkin Putnam ’31, Richard Haak ’66
  • 1997: Lucille Hughett Otto ’27, Robert J. Brueck ’68
  • 1996: D.J. Wilson Edwards ’41, Dale R. Wolff ’61
  • 1995: Ann Bonansinga McCloskey ’30, Candace O. Purdy ’65
  • 1994: Sharon Price ’59, John Austin Van Hook ’64
  • 1993: Merritta “Margi” Norvell Florence (Margaret) ’54, Brenda Kay Morgan Baumann ’73
  • 1992: Betty Overbey Hamm ’47, Constance Llewellyn Howerton ’42
  • 1991: Jean Wible Martin ’41, Lynn “Red” Blair ’61
  • 1990: Etha Johannaber Howard ’40, Esther Dumas Meyer ’35, Patricia R. Doyle-Grace ’66, Robert D. Sakamoto ’75
  • 1989: Marvin Hohenberger ’61, (Una) Lee Manuel Patton ’59, Catherine Horn Randall ’69
  • 1988: Greta Hughes Berlin ’63, Alice Finney Gabbard ’43, Nancy Meyers Leiserowitz ’58
  • 1987: Joan Turner Beifuss ’52, Robert Gay ’67, E. Muriel Shennan ’52
  • 1986: Elaine Kontominas White Alquist ’66, Dorothy Conover Brewster ’36, Verna M. Harder ’36, Dorothy Stonecipher Wham ’46
  • 1985: George F. Jackson III ’65, Robert E. Leistner ’60, (Anna) Mildred “Mickey” Fulkerson Smith ’35
  • 1984: Larry Breeding ’69, Charlotte M. Erb ’49, Robert M. Hultgren ’64, Mildred Rose Kane ’34, Wanda Dobbs Ward ’49
  • 1983: Warren Copeland ’65, Herb Silva ’68, Patricia Wilder Wall ’58, Phoebe Wilkins ’43
  • 1982: Joan Sampson Anderson ’57, Shawn W. Denney ’73
  • 1981: Eugenia Ennenga Hamilton ’41
  • 1969: Robert Head ’63, Barbara Stuhler ’45
  • 1968: J. Richard Hackman ’62, Mary Olive Hillis ’41, Sylvia Anderson Kuntzsch ’59

Distinguished Career Award Recipients

A graduate or student of at least three years who has exhibited excellence and outstanding work in his/her chosen career or occupation.

  • 2024: David Simons, ‘83
  • 2023: Shawn Denney, ‘73
  • 2019: Dr. Pamela Lund ’79
  • 2018: Reverend Carol Lakota Eastin ’78
  • 2017: Terry Chandler ’68
  • 2016: Dr. James Wisecup ’66
  • 2015: Howard Curtis ’65
  • 2014: Karen Lando Direnzo ’84
  • 2013: Jo Ann Du Bois Nelson ’73, Wanda Oney Tiffany ’63
  • 2012: Cindy Lewis ’87
  • 2011: Larry McKinney ’66
  • 2010: Bonita Wegner Bryant ’60, Calvin Fuller ’90
  • 2009: Ruth Dryden Deshaies ’53, Nancy Clapp-Channing ’69
  • 2008: Olivia Russell Colvin ’63
  • 2007: JoEllen Brannan ’87
  • 2006: Jayne Armour Schiek ’46, James M. Pettitt, III ’61
  • 2005: Ruth Naomi Zwissler ’40, Andrea Hankins Ruedi ’80
  • 2004: Effie Hunt ’44, Nadine Szczepanski ’79
  • 2003: Dennis Mueller ’68
  • 2002: E. Jean Downie ’47, David Ekin ’77
  • 2001: Thomas Origitano ’76
  • 2000: Andrea O’Leary Hasten ’75
  • 1999: Louise Rintelmann Thompson ’60, George Schmid ’69
  • 1998: Rosemary Silva Allan ’73
  • 1997: David G. Zak ’77

Young Alumni Award Recipients

A graduate or student of at least three years who has distinguished himself/herself through outstanding volunteer service to his/her community.

  • 2017: Tina Arnold Prather ’11
  • 2014: Steven Taylor ’04
  • 2009: Anne Purfield ’99
  • 2008: Matthew Jackson ’98
  • 2006: David Searby ’96
  • 2005: Brian Ganz ’95
  • 2003: Brian Dickerson ’93
  • 2002: Janice Kunkel ’92
  • 2001: Francis Nah Kateh ’91
  • 2000: Holly Mattix Kramer ’90
  • 1998: John Young ’89
  • 1996: Scott DeWitt ’86
  • 1995: Jeff Davidsmeyer ’85
  • 1994: Jonathan Ray ’84
  • 1993: David Simons ’83
  • 1991: Richard Hall ’81
  • 1990: William Sampen ’85
  • 1987: Joni Lee Jones ’77
  • 1986: Candace Kingma-Piper ’76, Glenda Thompson Travelstead ’76
  • 1985: Andrea O’Leary Hasten ’75
  • 1984: William Lynn ’74
  • 1983: Norman Foster ’73
  • 1982: Sandra Watson ’72