Constituent Leadership Award (Est. 1984)
This award recognizes the alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and/or special efforts in the organization, management and support of a constituent alumni association (college, school or department alumni association).
Peggy J. Ruff, ’79 ENG, MS ’80 ENG
Peggy J. Ruff ’79 ENG, MS ’80 ENG resides in Forsyth, Ill., and is the former vice president of logistics, now retired, for Tate & Lyle, Inc., a world leader in renewable ingredients. As vice president, she was responsible for all customer service and distribution functions, including production planning, warehousing, toll manufacturing, customer service technical resource, customer care order entry and invoicing.
Ruff currently is serving a second term on the LAS Alumni Association Board of Directors. During her first term of service from 2007-2012, she held the positions of vice president and president. Today, Ruff serves as the chair of the LAS Awards Committee. In her original application for board membership, Ruff wrote: “I truly believe that my career success is attributable to my degree from the University of Illinois. The coursework prepared me for dealing with the world at large, but, more importantly, it taught me how to think. The qualities I would bring to the board are integrity, honesty, enthusiasm, problem-solving capabilities and an intense commitment to the University of Illinois.”
In 2013, Ruff became a member of the Dept. of Mathematics’ Development Advisory Board, which has been charged with assisting the department in their advancement efforts that support vital programs designed to enhance student learning and faculty research and teaching.
In addition to serving her alma mater, Ruff has been an active member of the board of directors for Easter Seals of Central Illinois and Junior Achievement of East Central Illinois.
2012
John L. Carrato, ’79 ENG, MS ’80 ENG
Greg Oltman, ’72 ACES
2011
Jennifer Sterling, ’89 ENG, MS ’90 ENG
2010
Frederick V. Chin, ’75 ENG, MBA ’77
Bruce A. Miller, ’89 BUS, MS ’90 MEDIA
2009
Diane Katz Gottlieb, ’66 LAS
Marcia Stoll, MSW ’85
2008
Richard E. Furkert, '70 ENG, MS '72 ENG
Kent Schien, '81 ENG
2007
Jane A. Hays, ’76 LAS, JD ’79 LAW
Brian T. Heery, ’95 LAS
2006
Donald J. Heimburger, ’69 MEDIA
Laurence J. Pearlman, AM ’89 LIR
2005
Harold E. D’ Orazio, ENG
Gary R. Halford, ’60 ENG, MS ’61 ENG, PHD ’66 ENG
2003-2004
Daniel Hang, ’41 ENG, MS ’49 ENG
Starr Hull, ’64 ACES
2002
William H. Collins, ’60 ENG, MS ’61 ENG
Phyllis Wilken, ’71 LAS, AM ’74 LAS
2001
Karen Layng, ’84 LAS, JD ’87 LAW
Sherman Rosen, ’50 LAS, AM ’52 LIR
2000
Gail McClain, ’55 LAS
Duane Strunk, ’63 ACES
1999
Scott Anderson, MS ’36 ENG, PHD ’40 ENG
Howard S. Engle, ’72 BUS
1998
Gerald J. Moyar, MS ’58 ENG, PHD ’60 ENG
Linda Soltwedel, ’66 ACES
Norbert Soltwedel, ’65 ACES, MS ’67 ACES
1997
Norman A. Goldberg, ’39 FAA, MMUS ’42 FAA
Katherine W. Walker, ’52 LAS
1996
William N. Coffee, ’64 MEDIA
Ned R. Siegel, ’72 LAS, MS ’73 LAS
1995
John G. Huftalin, ’60 ACES
William H. Wright, ’64 VM, DVM ’66
1994
D. Michael Fox, ’65 BUS
Porter J. Womeldorff, ’54 ENG
1993
Fern Hodge Armstrong, ’52 FAA
Virginia Seidel, ’38 ACES
1992
Jimmy R. Howe, ’61 ED
James S. Spencer, EDD ’66
1991
Roger K. Heath, ’60 ENG
John “Jack” F. Rundquist, ’46 ACES, MS ’47 ACES
1990
Ralph J. Henneman, ’49 ENG
Joseph A. Zalar Jr., ’60 LAS, MD ’63 MEDIA
1989
Scott Anderson, ’36 ENG, PHD ’40 ENG
William D. Hull, ’65 BUS, MS ’67 MEDIA, PHD ’72 MEDIA
1988
Lowell E. Ackmann, ’44 ENG
Louis A. Bacon, ’43 ENG
1987
Helen Davies, ’41 ACES
Jim Davies, ’43 ACES
1986
Alan W. Hausserman, ’68 LAS
Ernest L. Hoffman Jr., AM ’54 LIR
1985
Frederic B. Hoppin, ’41 ACES
1984
Mildred Mies Hanley, ’33 ACES
Glen Wensch, ’46 ENG, MS ’47 ENG, PHD ’49 ENG