Interviews

Craig Shirley - Ronald Reagan In Dixon

Craig Shirley grew up in Syracuse, New York and got involved in politics and the Conservative Party at a young age. His first memory of Ronald Reagan was hearing a record album in 1965 of Reagan's 'A Time for Choosing' Speech, where Reagan endorsed Barry Goldwater. During Ronald Reagan's presidential elections in 1980 and 1984, Shirley was approached to work for the Conservative Party to acquire funds for the Reagan Campaign.

Paul Shuman - Modern Era

Paul followed the footsteps of his father, Charles, who was the President of the Illinois Farm Bureau. He discusses mechanization, genetics, the shift of natural to chemical fertilizers, the importance of management and marketing skills, as well as various debates in agriculture and government.

Bernard Sieracki - Obama in Illinois

Bernie Sieracki spent a lifetime as a lobbyist, working in the Illinois state legislature for a variety of clients, including the Illinois Petroleum Council and later on, Waste Management before starting his own lobbying firm, Business Government Relations. Sieracki talks extensively about lobbying, and about the political culture in Springfield during his roughly forty years as a lobbyist. Following the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2009, he was perfectly suited to write the definitive book on the impeachment process, entitled "A Just Cause: The Impeachment and Removal of Governor Rod Blagojevich. Sieracki shares his unique perspective of state Senator Barack Obama from lobbyist’s perspective.

Bernard H Sieracki - General Interest

Bernie Sieracki spent a lifetime as a lobbyist, working in the Illinois state legislature for a variety of clients, including the Illinois Petroleum Council and later on, Waste Management before starting his own lobbying firm, Business Government Relations. Sieracki talks extensively about lobbying, and about the political culture in Springfield during his roughly forty years as a lobbyist. Following the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2009, he was perfectly suited to write the definitive book on the impeachment process, entitled "A Just Cause: The Impeachment and Removal of Governor Rod Blagojevich."

Gary Sigler - Vietnam War

Gary Sigler was serving as a navigator/co-pilot on an RF-4 (Reconnaissance) Phantom flying his ninety-second mission in April 1967 when his plane crashed near Hanoi, North Vietnam. (The pilot had taken evasive actions to avoid a surface-to-air missile.) He spent the next six years as a prisoner of war in the Hanoi Hilton, surviving torture, brutal interrogation and many months of solitary confinement. As the years progressed, the prisoners were occasionally visited by outsiders, mostly by individuals or groups who were opposed to the war. In March 1973, following the Paris Peace Accords Sigler was released. Not until 2000 did he experience any symptoms of PTSD.

Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon - School District Reorganization

Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon served as Governor Pat Quinn's chief advisor on educational issues, and chaired the Classroom First Commission, which studied the challenges faced by many of the state's school districts on reorganization and consolidation issues. The Commission issued 23 recommendations in June, 2012, in which they addressed a far-ranging number of concerns.

Elijah Singley - Springfield African-American History Foundation

retired librarian, directly involved in Civil Rights demonstrations

Betty Sirles - Modern Era

Betty Sirles and husband Wayne “Ren” Sirles operate the 750 acre Rendleman Orchards in rural Union County, Illinois, along with son Wayne D. Sirles. Betty discusses the growing and harvesting of the orchard’s 2008 peach crop during a walking tour.

Wayne D. Sirles - Modern Era

Wayne D. Sirles, along with his parents Wayne “Ren” and Betty Sirles, operate the 750 acre Rendleman Orchards in rural Union County, Illinois. Wayne D. discusses the packing operation for the orchard’s 2008 peach crop.

Spalding (Lanny) Slevin - IHSA

Spalding (Lanny) Slevin discusses his involvement with Illinois High School sports through his 43 years of sports broadcasting, both for WLPO radio and for the Illinois High School Association, where he broadcast a weekly 15 minute IHSA sports update which was carried on ninety-five radio stations. He also MCed the one hundredth anniversary of the IHSA track championships, as well as broadcasting state basketball finals, hosting a regular sports talk show on WLPO, plus years of announcing basketball, football, baseball, softball, volleyball and track events.

Lee Slider - Historians Speak

Lee Slider served as a cultural interpreter for the Macon County Conservation District, and from the 1960s on he was a leading activist for historical preservation, interpretation and education in central Illinois. He was also active in the field of archeology. He worked at the Homestead Prairie Farm in the Rock Springs Conservation Area southwest of Decatur for decades. The farm includes the Macon County Conservation District’s restored 1850-era log home. Slider is an award-winning cultural and historic interpreter.

Emmett Slingsby - Alternatives in Education

Emmett Slingsby discusses his work at the Illinois State Board of Education on public and non-public school recognition. He explains the differences between the standards for public and non-public schools. Slingsby also talks about the advantages of being a recognized school. He addressed home schooling, and the recognition process for residential schools. In addition, he reviewed the school code for approving foreign language study in ethnics schools, non-public driving education, and residential/boarding schools. He also discussed the compliance teams that visit both public and non-public schools, and their review of health records, school calendars, safety reports, curriculum, board policies and teacher/administration certification.

Nelvin Sloman - Modern Era

Nelvin Sloman was born in 1930 in Fayette County, Illinois. He grew up on his step-father's farm in southwest Christian County. Nelvin describes life on the farm in a time before electricity and when draft animals were used for tillage, planting, cultivating and harvesting. Nelvin recalls helping farm at age eleven by harrowing with a team of horses and plowing the garden with a one bottom plow pulled by a white horse. Crops grown on their farm at that time included corn, wheat, oats and clover. Nelvin reminisces about a simpler time on the farm, where the farms were smaller, and where neighbors lived close by and helped each other cope with the hard depression years.

Lynne Slouber - Girls Basketball

Lynne Slouber taught and coached at Urbana High School in Urbana, Illinois and Walther Lutheran High School in Melrose Park, Illinois. She was also the girls’ head basketball coach at Hinsdale South High School in Darien, Illinois, where her team was one of eight teams advancing to the first girls’ state basketball tournament in Illinois. The first championship tournament was at Horton Fieldhouse at Illinois State University on April 1st and 2nd, 1977.

Angela Smith - Public School Funding

Angela Smith examines how West Aurora School District #129, a west suburban unit school district, has been funded over the past thirteen years. She discusses the district's successful operation and capital referendums, as well as the impact of the new Evidence Based Model for a Tier 1 school district. Smith also looks at the revenue and expenditure sides of the district's budget, including the benefits from Qualified Construction Bonds (Federal) and support from local foundations.

Chris Smith - War On Terror

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Smith began his military career in the 1990s with the Regular Army, then pursued a civilian career while also joining the Illinois Army National Guard. In 2006 he deployed to Iraq with an Advisory Team working with the Iraqi Federal Police, first in Sadr City and then Al Dora—both neighborhoods in metropolitan Iraq. He returned to Iraq for a second tour, this time as a strategic planner during the draw-down of American forces there.

Dr. J. W. Smith - IHSA

Dr. J.W. Smith discusses his long career in sports, starting as a student athlete in Chicago participating in both football and track, and later as a highly successful coach in Chicago for both football and track. In 1989 he became the Chicago Public Schools Football Coordinator, and in 1995 he became the district's Director of Sports Administration, retiring from that position in 2003. Dr. Smith also discussed his playing days at Northern Illinois University and long association with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).

Ed Smith - Vietnam War

Ed Smith was a career army infantryman serving with the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division in Korea from 1952 to 1953. He saw action both at Koje-Do Island and the front line. He stayed in the Army, and in 1969 pulled a year long tour in Vietnam with the 25th Division near Cambodia. He retired shortly after this tour.

Ed Smith - Korean War

Edward L. Smith was a career army infantryman serving with the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division in Korea from 1952 to 1953. He saw action both at Koje-Do Island and the front line. He stayed in the Army, and in 1969 pulled a year long tour in Vietnam with the 25th Division near Cambodia. He retired shortly after this tour.

Hal Smith - Looking for Lincoln

Hal Smith had been involved both in politics and the private sector for decades before he became the executive director of the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition in February 2008. He served in that post until December 2010. Smith discusses the importance of the Lincoln Heritage Coalition and reviewed its accomplishments during his tenure as the executive director.

Hal Smith - General Interest

Hal Smith began working for Senator Charles Percy in 1977 as his downstate representative doing constituent services and assisting with the Senator's travel and event planning in Illinois. Smith admired Percy deeply, and shared many stories about the senator and his experiences with Percy. Smith stayed in that position until Percy was defeated for reelection in 1984 by Paul Simon. After Smith spent many years in the private sector, much of it doing consulting work on state lottery systems, he returned to the political arena in 2016 to work for Congressman Darin LaHood.

Jim Smith - World War II

James E. Smith was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot in Europe during World War II. Assigned to the 527th Squadron, 379th Bomb Group, Smith's first mission was against the ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt, Germany. Smith eventually flew 25 combat missions over Germany and France as the pilot of 'Ruthie.'

Joseph Smith - World War II

Joseph Smith served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was an African American serviceman who experienced discrimination and segregation during his military service. He served in the Pacific Theater as a truck driver in the Okinawa Campaign.

Kay Smith - IHPA legacy

Kay Smith served with the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition as a contractor and then as the Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area from late 2009 through 2011. The interview focuses on Smith’s role in developing the comprehensive management plan for the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. She also talks about several other projects and programs that were occurring while she served as executive director

Kay Smith - Looking for Lincoln

Kay Smith was the IHPA's Bicentennial Coordinator in charge of managing and coordinating all of the events held to commemorate the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth on February 12th, 2009. During her two years as Bicentennial Coordinator, Smith worked with the Illinois Bicentennial Commission to help distribute one and a half million dollars worth of grant money to communities around Illinois that hosted Bicentennial events. In addition, she worked with numerous federal, state, and local agencies to ensure that the Bicentennial celebration went smoothly.

Morrie Smith - Vietnam War

As a young boy of ten Morrie Smith began wearing a POW braclet for Captain John Borling, who was shot down over North Vietnam in 1966. He faithfully wore it for the next three years until he discovered Captain Borling had been released. (He learned of that by seeing Borling's photo in the newspaper.) In 2016, Morrie had the opportunity to meet General Borling when the General gave a presentation at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

Ronald C Smith - Pension Crisis in Illinois

Prof. Ronald Smith, a tenured faculty member at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, discusses his participation as an Independent Voter delegate to the Illinois State Constitutional Convention, which resulted in the 1970 Illinois State Constitution. Smith served on the committee that drafted the Constitution's Executive Article. He also discusses the convention's adoption of the Pension Clause, which prohibits the public pension from being diminished.

William Smith - Korean War

Having previously lied about his age to obtain a job, Bill Smith was drafted into the Army in 1944. Following basic training, the Army was made aware of the false information and Bill was released from duty. Two years later Bill rejoined the Army and by 1947 he was sent for duty in Pusan, Korea. On June 25, 1950, just when Bill was nearing the end of his tour, the North Koreans invaded the south, forcing Bill's time to be extended immediately. Six months later Bill was captured by the Chinese near Unsan, North Korea. Bill spent the next two and a half years in a Chinese POW camp before he was released in April, 1953.

Fred Smith - Family Memories

Frederick C. Smith, a career civil servant with the Department of Defense, talks about his project to visit all thirteen of the nation’s Presidential Libraries and Museums. He was inspired to do so after being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008. His journey began with visits to the twelve Library's managed by NARA (the National Archives and Records Administration), and finished with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum in Springfield in April 2010. He reflects on the unique aspects of each library & museum, and share his insights on these national treasures.

William and Charlotte Smith - Korean War

Bill and Charlotte's interview focuses on their courtship and marriage, and the struggles they shared together because of Bill’s experiences while a POW. Shortly after their marriage, Charlotte learned just how challenging life would be as Bill continued to have medical problems, and lingering behavioral issues that stemmed from his POW experiences. Bill and Charlotte eventually wrote a book about Bill’s wartime experience entitled 'A Moment in Time.'

Kelsey Snyder - War On Terror

Sergeant Kelsey Snyder served in Basra, Iraq with a Reserve Military Police unit from 2009 to 2010. Her unit worked extensively to train Iraqi Police Transition Teams, and provides insights into the challenges she and her fellow MPs faced with IED attacks, working with the Iraqi police, and the challenges faced by their interpreters.

Dr. Christine Sobek - Community College Project

Dr. Christine Sobek has spent her career as an educator and administrator in Illinois's community college system, including eleven years at College of Lake County and the rest at Waubonsee College. She has held several administrative roles, including Provost, Executive Vice President for Educational Affairs, Assistant Vice President for Instruction, Assistant Vice President for Student Development, and Dean of Student Involvement. In 2001 she became the fourth President of Waubonsee College, which serves 30,000 students and 1200 Faculty Staff. She is currently President of Waubonsee Community College.

Winton Solberg - World War II

Winton Solberg was an infantry lieutenant during WW II, serving with the 29th Infantry Division from October of 1944 through the early occupation period in Germany. Solberg saw action in Belgium and central Germany, and witnessed first hand the devastation of central Europe and the Nuremburg War Crimes trial, before returning to the states.

Bob Sondgeroth - School District Reorganization

Regional Superintendent Bob Sondgeroth discusses school reorganization, especially that of Regional Office of Education (#47), which resulted from the reorganization of schools in Whiteside, Lee, and Ogle Counties. This included two recent reorganizations. One used the consolidation method; while the other used dissolution-annexation. Sondgeroth also talks about the shared services that were achieved because of the reorganizations, which allowed smaller districts to give greater opportunities to their students and to create economic efficiencies. Sondgeroth also examines recent reorganizations in Illinois that have reduced Regional Offices from fifty-eight to thirty-five.

Aubrey Southall - Civics Education

Dr. Aubrey Southall discusses how Aurora University prepares students in the field of social studies education, the amount of hours spent in pre-teaching and student teaching experiences, and how Aurora University’s secondary education department has grown. She reviews how the University prepares students to teach social studies and civics, including service projects, and how to deal with controversial topics. She also emphasizes bilingual education, and discusses student diversity, the new Illinois Social Studies Standards, and university-school district partnerships.

Gustav Speder - Immigrant Stories

Gustav Speder is a West German immigrant who came to the U.S. in 1956. He was born in 1941 at a transition camp in Rummelstein, Germany (now part of Poland). Originally from Lithuania, his family was forcibly moved to a transition camp when their home was sold by Germany to the Soviet Union. Gustav's father was drafted into the German Army in 1943 and sent to the Eastern Front, from which he never returned. After the war, his family lived in poverty in East Germany until they were able to escape to West Germany, and later to the U.S.

Vincent Speranza - World War II

Vincent Speranza grew up on Staten Island, part of a large and colorful Italian family. Following Basic Training, he became a paratrooper and joined the 101st Airborne Division just prior to the Battle of the Bulge, where the unit became famous for its defense of Bastogne. Speranza tells of returning to Bastogne 65 years later, and of his participation in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. to visit the new WW II Memorial in 2009.

Michael Spikes - Civics Education

Michael Spikes discusses how the Center for News Literacy at Stony Brook University (New York) became involved with the training of civics teachers around the state of Illinois as part of the professional training component of Illinois's new Civics Law. Michael talks about the curriculum used, what teachers and students should be looking for when analyzing news, and how to critically consume information with the ultimate goal of becoming more informed and engaged as citizens. This news literacy training took place over a five year period. Spikes also reviews other news projects, including Friendship News, Youth Voices, and Know Your Neighborhood.

Robert Spitze - World War II

Robert Spitze served in the United States Navy in the pacific theater during World War II. Spitze was a radio communications officer on LST (Landing Ship Tank) 642. His ship was involved in the invasions at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, delivering supplies and marines to the mainland. While the crew was in the Philippines preparing for the invasion of Japan, the war ended.

Bill Spriggs - Vietnam War

Bill Spriggs was drafted into the United States Army in November of 1965. He received his basic training at Ft. Hood, Texas. In July, 1966, Bill's division was slated for deployment to Vietnam. During his tour in Vietnam, Bill served as an 11B-Infantryman which consisted of daily foot patrols in search of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese regulars.

Kelly Ann Sproul - World War II

Kelly Ann Sproul was born in 1988 and grew up hearing lullabies of vintage songs from World War II and hearing stories about the blitz of London. In 2006, she began a career as a musical therapist and was offered the chance to perform at a veterans group, which she has continued to do ever since.

James Staff - School District Reorganization

Jim Staff is a career educator who has worked a lifetime in rural Illinois school districts. He taught at Vandalia High School from 1952-1959, and became Fayette County Superintendent in 1958 when he was only 29 years old. In 1979 he became a Regional Superintendent when Bond and Effingham counties were added to his area. Over the years, he presided over multiple annexations, detachments and reorganizations, many of which he discusses during the interview.

Jan Staggs - Cold War Era

Jan Staggs had already earned a Master's Degree in Industrial Relations when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in March, 1966. Following basic training at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, he was sent to Ft. Carson where he learned personnel work on-the-job. He and his wife Francie were then sent to Okinawa, where he cut personnel orders for junior enlisted personnel. Following his tour in the Army, Jan returned to Illinois and spent the rest of his professional career working for the state of Illinois, most of that time as executive director of the Illinois Occupational Information Coordinating Committee.

Edward Stapleton - World War II

Edward (Pat) Stapleton saw extensive action with the 143rd Infantry Regiment of the fabled 36th Infantry Division in Italy and Southern France during the Second World War. Stapleton first saw action at Anzio, participated in the liberation of Rome, and later was shipped to southern France, where he fought in the Vosges Mountain campaign before advancing into Germany.

Allen Stare - Baseball

Allen Stare started a career in radio while still a student at Taylorville High School and began his own DJ service then as well. Following college, he continued in the radio business for a few years, then got into the advertising business, while continuing to DJ on the side. Shortly after he and his wife moved to Jacksonville, he was approached in 2005 to be the umpire for the Jacksonville Orphans vintage base ball team. He later became the umpire for the Springfield Long Nine, and over the years, also became an expert on the early history of the game, especially pre-American Civil War base ball.

Robin Steans - Public School Funding

Robin Steans discusses the formation in 2008 of the non-profit organization, Advance Illinois. Advance Illinois was active in the effort to create a more equitable and adequate school funding formula for Illinois Public Schools. Robin was the director of Advance Illinois (two different terms) during this effort, which began shortly after state budget declines around 2010. Robin also explains her role on the Professional Rules Committee which reviews the progress of the New Evidence Based School Funding Model. Advance Illinois has also submitted reports on Principal/Teacher Training, stronger learning standards, early childhood education, school report cards, longitudinal studies of student progress, and career/college readiness.

Bradley 'Brad' Stearns - IHSA

Brad Stearns discusses his involvement with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) during a lifetime of work as a sports official in both football and baseball. He has officiated high school football games for forty years and in baseball for thirty-eight years, including state championships in both sports. In addition, he shared his memories about his years as the IHSA Baseball State Tournament umpire-in-chief, IHSA baseball clinician, and a football assignor for the Central State 8 Conference.

Harold Steele - World War II

Harold Steele was a farm boy from Illinois who saw action in France and Germany with 89th Infantry Division as an infantry platoon leader. He was one of the first to discover the Ohrdruf Concentration Camp near Buchenwald, and finished the war on occupation duty in Vienna, where he met his future wife, an OSS cryptographer.

Margery Steele - World War II

Margery (Whiteley) Steele served with the Office of Strategic Services working as a cryptographer during WW II. She spent 1945 in Egypt, then was transferred to Greece where she continued with the OSS during that nation's civil war. She was working for the Army in Vienna in late 1946 when she met Captain Harold Steele. The two soon married.

Harold Steele - Modern Era

A fourth generation farmer, Harold served in WWII then returned to the farm, with a particular interest in raising hogs in confinement facilities. He served as President of the Illinois Farm Bureau. Harold also shows his extensive collection of primitive agriculture tools and speaks of the importance of history.

Stacey Steiner - Civics Education

Stacey Steiner discusses how civics education is being taught at Carlinville High School, a smaller high school located in south central Illinois. Steiner reviews the new Illinois Social Standards, the process to becoming a Democracy School, and the interdisciplinary approach in teaching, which includes civics education taught through class service projects.

Corena Steinmeyer - Alternatives in Education

Corena Steinmeyer discusses her work as the director of the Lee County Special Education Association. The Association consists of two school districts located in northern Illinois: Dixon and Paw Paw. Corena talks about the organization of the association and its relationship with the Dixon School District. She details the association's agreement structure and reviews the training responsibilities of the Cooperative, its role for ages birth to three, the transition plans from ages 14 through 21, and the Individual Education Plan (IEP). She also discusses the many challenges facing special education cooperatives and associations.

Adlai III Stevenson - Governor Jim Thompson Project

Adlai Stevenson III, son of the Democratic candidate for President in 1952 and 1956, was a prominent political figure in his own right, having served as a U.S. Senator during the 1970s. But his ultimate goal was to serve as governor, and he made his first run for that office in 1982 against Governor 'Big' Jim Thompson. Stevenson lost by the thinnest of margins, and immediately contested the vote, alleging vote fraud in reliably Republican DuPage County. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled against him, and Thompson began his third term. Stevenson ran again in 1986, and his prospects looked good - until two Lyndon LaRouche candidates won in the Democratic primary. Stevenson had little choice but to run as an independent, and lost by a large margin.

Stacy Stewart - Alternatives in Education

Stacy Stewart, Principal of Belmont-Craigin Elementary School, discusses the implementation of the Personalized Learning Model in the K-8 School. She explains the training involved for teachers, the teaching strategies used, and the role of student leadership. Stewart also talks about her assessment of the students' progress over a five year time frame. Collaboration with other schools using this model is also reviewed.

Nancy Stiff - Girls Basketball

Nancy Stiff was the first head girls’ basketball coach at Arcola High School in Arcola, Illinois from 1973 until her retirement in 2005. Throughout her career, Stiff advocated the creation of girls' sports programs and was a major supporter and promoter of girls’ sports in Illinois.

Jackie Stites - Family Memories

Jackie Stites discusses her years spent giving back to the Springfield community. She served as Parent Teacher Association President at Hazel Dell School, Jefferson Middle School, and Southeast High School before working with the Elijah Iles House, Governor's Executive Mansion, and the ALPLM. She discusses the state of community service in the 1960s and how it has evolved, the impact that it has on a community such as Springfield, as well as the current conditions of these places.

Fred Stockmeier - World War II

Fred Stockmeier is a World War II POW, plus a veteran of the Korean War. He was assigned to the 100th Infantry Division during WW II. The division took part in operations in southern France until Mr. Stockmeier was captured on December 4th, 1944. He spent the rest of the war in various prison camps, and eventually was liberated by the Russians southeast of Berlin. He was recalled into the Army in 1950 following the beginning of the Korean War. He was shipped to Korea, arriving in late December, 1950 where he was assigned to the personnel section of the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division

Fred Stockmeier - Korean War

Fred Stockmeier is a World War II POW, plus a veteran of the Korean War. He was assigned to the 100th Infantry Division during WW II. The division took part in operations in southern France until Mr. Stockmeier was captured on December 4th, 1944. He spent the rest of the war in various prison camps, and eventually was liberated by the Russians southeast of Berlin. He was recalled into the Army in 1950 following the beginning of the Korean War. He was shipped to Korea, arriving in late December, 1950 where he was assigned to the personnel section of the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division

Jim Stone - Korean War

Jim Stone is a Korean War veteran, serving with the 5th Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division, during the second year of the Korean War. His unit saw extensive combat in the middle of the line near Kumsong, where Stone participated in numerous patrols and other combat engagements.

Owen Streeper - World War II

Owen B. Streeper served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, flying missions over Europe as a ball turret gunner in B-24s. In May 1944 his aircraft was shot down over Nice, France, where he joined the French resistance. He was briefly taken prisoner by the advancing American troops before they were able to confirm that he was an American airman.

Joan Streit - Girls Basketball

Joan Streit began working at Joliet West High School in Joliet, Illinois in 1975. She was the girls' athletic director, basketball coach, and physical education teacher. Streit was ambitious and had a love for the game of basketball. She wanted girls to have opportunities in sports that she was never offered. Her team was one of eight that advanced to the first girls’ state basketball tournament in Illinois. The first championship tournament was at Horton Fieldhouse at Illinois State University on April 1st and 2nd 1977. Her team won it all the next year with the help of future Olympian and Illinois State star Cathy Boswell.

Ray Stroh - Pension Crisis in Illinois

Ray Stroh worked for thirty-five years for the state of Illinois as a personnel manager. He moved up quickly in state government, starting in the Dept. of Mental Health, then at McFarland Mental Health Center, then Manteno State Hospital. In 1970 he returned to Springfield and worked as the personnel manager first for the Dept. of Law Enforcement, then the Dept. of Revenue, before moving in circa 1981 to the newly created Department of Central Management Services. By this time he was in a senior personnel management position. Ray talks at length about issues such as hiring procedures, union relations, collective bargaining, and many other personnel issues.

Raymond Stroh - People of Faith

Ray Stroh became a charter member of Atonement Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois in 1966, and talks about that congregation's history from its inception in the late 1960s, to its decision to merge with two other Lutheran congregations in Springfield in 2015. Ray grew up in tiny Sibley, Illinois, in the late 1940s and 1950, and describes his childhood in intimate detail. Following graduation from Southern Illinois University, he spent a long career working as a personnel officer in a variety of Illinois state agencies.

Sue Strong - Girls Basketball

Sue Strong taught physical education at Sterling High School in Sterling, Illinois where she was also head coach of the girls’ basketball team. Prior to the creation of interscholastic sports, Strong led the Girls' Athletic Association (GAA). In 1977, her team was one of eight teams advancing to the first girls’ state basketball tournament in Illinois. The first championship tournament was at Horton Fieldhouse at Illinois State University on April 1st and 2nd, 1977. Sterling won the inaugural girl's State Championship in basketball.

Sherry Struck - Governor Jim Edgar Project

Sherry and Earl Struck first met Jim Edgar when they became neighbors in Springfield, Illinois in 1981. In 1990 Edgar asked Sherry to work on his campaign, and following the election she served as Governor Edgar's personal assistant for his entire eight year administration. In that capacity, she performed a myriad of duties and responsibilities, including screening visitors and handling all of the governor's personal correspondence.

Dr. Bonnie Styles - Illinois State Museum

Dr. Bonnie Styles became the Associate Curator and Chair of Anthropology at the Illinois State Museum (ISM) in 1977. She subsequently became a full Curator of Anthropology, later the Director of Sciences, then Associate Museum Director of Science and Education, and finally ISM Director from 2005-2015. During her directorship, Dr. Styles oversaw innovative outreach and education programs, as well as the opening of new exhibits, including the Mary Ann MacLean Play Museum children’s gallery. Ultimately, Governor Rauner directed the ISM’s parent agency, the Department of Natural Resources, to close the museum in 2015 amid the state’s budget impasse, ending Dr. Styles’ directorship.

Cavan Sullivan - Modern Era

To pay for college, Cavan Sullivan used his knowledge from FFA and 4-H to raise pheasants, and earned third place in a national competition. He applied this experience to his own farm, departing from cows and crops to pheasants, bison meat and deer urine for hunters.

Kathleen Sullivan - Immigrant Stories

Kathleen (O’Connor) Sullivan was born in 1934 in Trinidad, West Indies, and grew up there until she traveled to Scarsdale, New York in 1950 to work as an au pair for her aunt and uncle. She met Jerry Sullivan in 1951, and the two were married in 1953. From that time on, she viewed herself as a career homemaker, raising six children in a very successful marriage. Kathleen talks extensively about the multicultural and multiracial society that she remembers during her childhood in the island country of Trinidad and Tobago, just north of Venezuela.

Kathleen Sullivan - ERA Fight in Illinois

Kathleen O'Connor grew up on the island of Trinidad in the West Indies, but emigrated to the United States after working as an au pair for relatives in New York, and meeting her future husband. They moved to Chicago, Illinois, and Kathleen became very active in social issues through the Catholic Church. She was Phyllis Schlafly's chief lieutenant in Illinois during the decade long struggle to pass the ERA in the state legislature. After Schlafly's Stop-ERA movement successfully blocked its passage, Sullivan worked on abstinence issues in Illinois, especially Project Reality. She also ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1990 and 1992.

Dr. Lori Sundberg - Community College Project

After Lori Sundberg earned a doctorate, she was hired at Sandburg College, initially conducting research and involved in data collection. She later became a Dean, involved with marketing, human resources, as well as negotiations and administrative/academic affairs. Dr. Sundberg became the President of Carl Sandburg College in 2011. She discusses her own experiences at Carl , including as a student at the college, a longtime Galesburg resident, President of Carl Sandburg, the school's relationship with Western Illinois University, and the community’s relationship with the college.

Tony Sunderman - Governor Jim Edgar Project

William 'Tony' Sunderman met former governor Jim Edgar in the third grade where the two formed a friendship that has lasted throughout their lives. Sunderman and Edgar grew up in the same neighborhood in Charleston, Illinois, went to college together at Eastern Illinois University, and have maintained a strong relationship into their adult lives. Sunderman, a graduate of the University of Illinois law school, served on the state's Judicial Inquiry Board from 1998 to 2006, including several years as its chairman.

Earl Swanson - World War II

Earl Swanson served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War. He was commissioned as an artillery officer in 1943, but was then transferred to the infantry. In 1945, he was deployed to the Philippines and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, which was searching for remnants of the Japanese Army and preparing for the invasion of Japan. After the dropping of the atomic bombs, Swanson’s unit occupied various areas of Japan.

Leland Sweatman - Modern Era

Drafted for WWII, Leland Sweatman left his boyhood farm chores but returned to grain farming after the war . He discusses the 1950's drought and chinch bugs, and the financial need to farm more land. An Allis Chalmers dealer in the '70's and 80', he became a collector of miniatures.

Geneva Sweet - Modern Era

In her late 90's, Geneva Sweet recalls her schoolmarm mom, her blacksmith and judge father, and marriage to a farmer. She spent her life on the farm, and saw many changes, including electrification. Geneva was more than a housewife, doing her share of the farm chores as well.

Paul Sweet - Cold War Era

Paul Sweet of New Berlin, Illinois served in the U.S. Navy from 1966 through 1969, most of that on the USS Canopus, AS-34, a submarine tender assigned to the Atlantic fleet. The ship operated out of Rota, Spain. Sweet first worked in the galley as a mess cook, then became a damage control firefighter. In 1976 he joined the 3637th Maintenance Company, an Illinois Army National Guard unit based in Springfield, and in 1980 Sweet transferred to the 183rd Fighter Wing in the Illinois Air National Guard, where he worked in the Civil Engineering section. During his many years in the 183rd, he went on several overseas deployments. After his retirement from the service, he was instrumental in the construction and dedication of the New Berlin Veterans Memorial in July, 2013.

Merlin Taber - World War II

Merlin Taber was a Conscientious Objector during World War II. He volunteered for the Civilian Public Service and spent the rest of the war in various locations in the United States. During those years, he helped build roads and dams, developed irrigation facilities, fought fires, and worked at a mental hospital. He also was a medical test subject and was infected with jaundice and Hepatitis A.

Sandra Taenzer - Educational Reform Act 1985

Sandy has been involved with early childhood education in Illinois since 1971. She discusses the formation of early childhood education prior to Illinois's landmark 1985 Educational Reform Act, and reviews the implementation and the legacy of the Act regarding the Early Childhood programs. Sandy discusses the Prekindergarten Program for At Risk Children, the Early Childhood Model Parental Training Program, the Prevention Initiative, and the Early Childhood Block Grant, which covers the years 1985-2003.

Joan Talley - Korean War

Joan Talley is the sister of Allen Dulles, a Korean War veteran who suffered a severe brain injury during action in 1952. Joan chronicles the family's reaction to Allen's injuries in Korea in late 1952, his slow and tragically limited recovery from the severe brain injury that he suffered in combat, and Joan's lifelong commitment to his care.

Paul Tarr - Cold War Era

Paul Tarr grew up in Morton, Pennsylvania, and played sports extensively, both throughout high school and also during his college years at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. Following college, Tarr was drafted into the Army, but soon found himself involved in sports again. Following his initial military training, he was assigned to the 30th Field Artillery Group in Hanau, Germany, where he played on the Group's baseball team, which allowed him to travel extensively throughout Europe playing other unit teams.

James C. Taylor - IHSA

Jim Taylor, the award-winning sports director for WRMJ radio in Aledo, Illinois, discusses his sports and news broadcasting career, and the impact that the Illinois High School Association has had on sports in Illinois, especially the local teams covered by WRMJ. Taylor hosts a Saturday morning sports show, often featuring local coaches, officials, and leaders in the sports community as they discuss their upcoming seasons and issues impacting the broadcast area.

Neil Taylor - War On Terror

Neil Taylor grew up in Blandinsville, Illinois, and enlisted in the Illinois Air National Guard in 2005. His unit, the 182nd Air Wing, based in Peoria, Illinois, deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. While in Afghanistan, Taylor worked in Nuristan Province helping coordinate close air support to local forces responding to insurgent attacks.

Ed Teefey - Modern Era

Ed Teefey grew up in Sterling, Illinois with a passion for standardbred horses and harness racing. He chose law, however, as a profession, and after passing the Illinois Bar in 1978 began working at the Farmers State Bank and Trust Company in Mt. Sterling. In the first interview session, Ed talks about the challenges of banking to a farm community that has seen many ups and downs over the years. The bulk of the interview focuses on Ed's love of harness racing, and includes a trip to a standardbred farm, to the Illinois State Fair horse stables, and finally, to the Brown County Fair.

Ed Teefey - General Interest

Ed Teefey grew up in Sterling, Illinois with a passion for standardbred horses and harness racing. He chose law, however, as a profession, and after passing the Illinois Bar in 1978 began working at the Farmers State Bank and Trust Company in Mt. Sterling. In the first interview session, Ed talks about the challenges of banking to a farm community that has seen many ups and downs over the years. The bulk of the interview focuses on Ed's love of harness racing, and includes a trip to a standardbred farm, to the Illinois State Fair horse stables, and finally, to the Brown County Fair.

Dr. Wayne Temple - Historians Speak

Wayne Temple served during World War II as a junior officer on General Eisenhower's staff. Following the war he enrolled in college, and by 1956 he had a Ph.D. in history and was teaching at Lincoln Memorial University. In 1964 he moved to Springfield and began a long career at the Illinois State Archives. Since then he has earned the reputation as being one of the nation's most knowledgeable Lincoln scholars. 'Doc' Temple authored scores of speeches, short articles, and research notes about Abraham Lincoln, as well as a half-dozen important volumes, with particular focus on Lincoln's military, religious, surveying, and domestic life. He still worked at the State Archives at the time of his interview in 2015.

Bruce Thiemann - Vietnam War

Bruce Thiemann enlisted in the Army in 1968, and following his training as a helicopter mechanic, he was sent to Vietnam and assigned to B Troop, 7th Squadron of the 1st Air Cavalry Regiment, based at Vĩnh Long, South Vietnam. Thiemann volunteered to serve as a door gunner and then as a crew chief on UH-1H Huey helicopters. As crew chief, he insured the ship was properly maintained, armed, gassed up, with the logbook kept up to date. He assisted his aircraft commanders with insertion missions, dropping off and picking up infantry troops in the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam, as well as near the Cambodian border.

Evelyn Brandt Thomas - Family Memories

Evelyn Brandt was born in 1923, and followed her brother Glen into the family business their father had started, Brandt Consolidated. That business was at the cutting edge of the liquid fertilizer business, and Evelyn worked as the office manager and treasurer for decades. Glen and Evelyn built their business on the principles of honesty and hard work, and it grew by word of mouth. In 1995, Glen’s son Rick was named President and CEO of Brandt Consolidated. Evelyn has also become known in central Illinois for her civic leadership, philanthropic efforts, and support for NASCAR.

Peter Thomas - Alternatives in Education

Director Peter Thomas discusses his involvement with the Lincoln ChalleNGe Academy going back to its creation in 1993 by the Defense Authorization Act. It was created to serve as a youth intervention program for ages 16-18 who had dropped out of school, and did so in partnership with the Illinois National Guard. Thomas talks about the selection of the former Chanute Air Base at Rantoul as its campus, the relationship with the Dept. of Defense, the National Guard, and the State of Illinois, how students become eligible, and the criteria for eligibility. It is a five and a half month academic program followed by a year long mentor program. He also discusses the eight core objectives each cadet completes and the extra activities in which cadets can participate.

Randal E. Thomas - Vietnam War

Randy Thomas served as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 5th Special Forces Group in the I-Corps sector of South Vietnam from May, 1968 to May of 1969. For the first seven months he was assigned to a Special Forces A-team which supported company sized Vietnamese units as they conducted patrols. He spent the remainder of his tour working on a Special Forces B-team as the unit S-5, Psychological Officer. Upon the completion of his tour he returned to Illinois, earned a teaching certificate, and worked at Hillsboro High School while also serving in the Illinois Army National Guard as an infantry officer. In 2003 he became Illinois's Adjutant General.

Jim Thompson - Obama in Illinois

James R. Thompson, known to Illinoisans as Big Jim, served as the state's governor from January, 1977 to January, 1991, a total of fourteen years. During his long tenure as governor, Thompson developed a reputation as a moderate Republican who was a fiscal conservative, but also a friend of labor and a builder. He also enjoys the reputation as one of Illinois’s most skilled campaigners and politician. Following his many years in office, he worked in the private sector, serving as the chair of the important Chicago law firm, Winston and Strawn for many years. As Illinois’s leading senior stateman, he reflected on Barack Obama surprising emergence to national prominence, first as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, then during run for president and his presidency.

Samantha Thompson - Governor Jim Thompson Project

In 1978, in the midst of a gubernatorial campaign, Samantha Jayne Thompson became the first child born to a sitting Illinois governor in seventy-two years. As such, Sam’s birth and childhood drew sustained media attention throughout 'Big' Jim Thompson's long tenure as governor. In this interview, Sam reflects on this attention and her experience growing up in the public eye. She also discusses controversy over her appearance on the campaign trail in the 1978, life in the Executive Mansion, her parents’ decision to enroll her in Chicago public schools, living with a protective detail, protests outside the family home, and meeting a host of famous and influential people.

Steven Thompson - Community College Project

In 2002 Steve Thompson joined Rock Valley College as a liaison to the Friends of Estelle M. Black Library staff. He taught library classes, provided reference assistance, developed the library collections to 5 academic areas, and served as a staff liaison archivist. In this interview he covers Rock Valley’s growth, to include the 50th year anniversary of the College which was formed October 10, 1964 as Winnebago-Boone County Junior College.

Ernest Thorp - World War II

Ernest Thorp grew up in Illinois with two passions - farming and flying. He earned a pilot's license while in college, and enlisted into the Army Air Force in May of 1942. Thorp was assigned to the 729th Squadron, 452nd Bomb Group, and flew missions as a B-17 co-pilot over northern Europe. He was shot down on August 4th while on his eighteenth mission. He bailed out over the North Sea, was pulled out of the water by German fishermen, and spent the rest of the war as a Prisoner of War, moving from camp to camp as Germany was nearing defeat.

Vice Admiral Ron Thunman - Cold War Era

Vice Admiral Ron Thunman spent a lifetime in the U.S. Navy, the vast majority of it involved with nuclear-powered submarines. He signed up for nuclear submarine service during its infancy, and from that day forward his assignments repeatedly brought him in close contact with the father of the nuclear force, Admiral Hyman Rickover. Thunman's highlights included command of a nuclear attack submarine, command of the entire Pacific submarine fleet, key assignments in the personnel field, a tour as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Submarine Warfare, (where he helped field the Tomahawk missile and find the RMS Titanic) and Chief of Naval Education and Training.

John Thurman - Modern Era

The Thurmans are African-American farmers of a small acreage, using sustainable practices to raise foodstuffs for themselves, their family and extended family of Black farmers in a small community, renting or bartering for additional land. They are involved with the youth in their area.

Gary Tipsord - Public School Funding

Gary Tipsord discusses the issues of Illinois public school funding covering the years from 1986 to 2019. As the superintendent LeRoy CUSD, he focused on the impact of prior school funding formulas which typically resulted in low levels of funding support for rural districts. He also talked about the challenges of the pro-rated school funding formulas, the importance of local resources, and the movement toward the new Evidence Based Funding formula. Additionally, Tipsord addressed the issues of school consolidation and the district's sharing of programs.

Ray Torry - Girls Basketball

Ray Torry was a vocal advocate for girls’ interscholastic sports when he held the dual position of Principal of Washington High School in Washington, Illinois and the superintendent for the Washington School System. In 1977, the girls’ basketball team at Washington High School placed second at the first girls’ state basketball tournament in Illinois. Coach Jan Smith's team was one of eight teams advancing to the first girls’ state basketball tournament in Illinois. The first championship tournament was at Horton Fieldhouse @ Illinois State University on April 1st and 2nd, 1977.

Tim Townsend - Historians Speak

Tim Townsend began working at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois in 1991, and at the time of the interview served as the site's historian. He spoke extensively about the many plans that civic groups and individuals developed for the home and surrounding area during the early 20th Century. In 1967 Congressman Paul Findlay, whose district included the Lincoln home, began to champion efforts to have the federal government take over the home (then owned and operated by the state of Illinois, with adjacent properties owned by local property owners). After several years Congress passed legislation transferring the home and the project to the National Park Service, which continues to operate the site. President Richard Nixon signed the legislation in August 1971. Following that, the site underwent dramatic changes. The home went through major renovations in the mid-1950s and again in the late 1980s.

Mary Truitt - Looking for Lincoln

Mary Truitt is one of the founding members of the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition. She was appointed by the mayor of Vandalia to represent the community, and served on the Looking for Lincoln Steering Committee. She was also appointed to the Vandalia Tourism Commission. She has been continuously involved with Looking for Lincoln since 1997 and is currently representing Vandalia on the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Steering Council.

Steve Tucker - IHSA

Steve Tucker discusses his career covering Illinois high school sports while working at the Chicago Sun-Times from 1984 to 2011. He began his tenure at the Sun-Times as a stringer, and eventually became the paper's high school sports editor. He explains how the Sun-Times reported on Chicago-land high school sports as well as the state tournaments. In addition, Steve also talks about his role with an AAU girls' high school team, and the growth of girls basketball in Illinois after the passage of Title IX in 1972.

Joe Turek - Educational Reform Act 1985

Joe Turek began his career in education as a teacher, and in 1984 he took a job with the Illinois State Board of Education, where he worked for the next twenty years. He was intimately involved with the implementation of the 1985 Educational Reform Act of 1985, with a special focus on truancy and alternative education. He discusses the impact of dropouts on society, the coordination needed for various service, and describes the Request For Proposal (RFP) program and other state initiatives.

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