Distinguished Service Award (Est. 1972)
Bestowed upon alumni, faculty, staff and friends by the University of Illinois Alumni Association on behalf of the University. The award is presented to individuals or couples whose consistent, exceptional and meritorious service to the University of Illinois has made a significant impact on the institution’s overall welfare and the advancement of its mission.
Theodore Brown
Theodore Brown is a professor emeritus of chemistry and founding director emeritus of UI’s Arnold and Mabel Beckman Institute where he served from 1987 to 1993. The Beckman Institute is among the largest and most broadly-based interdisciplinary research institutions in the world.
Dr. Brown received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 1956. He has been a faculty member in the University’s chemistry department since 1956 and served as vice chancellor for research and dean of the graduate college (1980–86). Brown also served as interim vice chancellor for academic affairs during 1993.
During 2003–05 he co-chaired a National Academies committee on facilitating interdisciplinary research under the auspices of the Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy. Brown was a member of the Board of Directors of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation during 1994–2008. Among many other board and committee activities, he was president of the Association of Graduate Schools of the AAU universities, a member of the National Academies Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable and a member of governing boards for the American Chemical Society. He has published numerous pieces on the cognitive, philosophical and social aspects of the scientific enterprise.
Dr. Brown and his wife Audrey created endowments to support the Theodore L. and Audrey C. Brown Scholarship and the Ted and Audrey Brown Scholarship in Chemistry. Their gift has supported more than 20 students since its inception.
2018
Michael T. Tokarz, ’71 LAS, MBA ’73
2017
Colleen Callahan Burns, ’73 ACES
Leader in public service and agricultural communciations and administration
2016
Jane Phillips Donaldson, ’65 LAS, MS ’67 MEDIA
2015
Dale H. Flach, ’59 ED, EDM ’64 ED
Assistant Dean for Student and Alumni Affairs at the UI College of Medicine
2014
Thomas D. Vogelsinger, ’73 BUS, MBA ’74
2013
Mary Kay Kretch Haben, ’77 BUS
2012
Paul Koch, ’66 ENG, MS ’68 ENG
2011
Lester McKeever, ’55 BUS
2010
Merle L. Mulvaney, ’58 ACES
Janet Turney Mulvaney, ’58 ACES
2009
Ed McMillan, ’69 ACES
2008
Carol Keiser-Long, ’68 ACES
2007
Lila Jeanne “Shorty” Eichelberger, ’49 ACES, MS ’52 ACES
2006
Alice Campbell, JD ’43 LAW
Bob Campbell, ’54 BUS
2005
Ann Khan, '80 LAS
Shahid Khan, '71 ENG
2004
Roger Plummer, '64 ENG
2003
Trudy Gassmann Reynolds, 58 EDU
Richard W. Reynolds, '53 ENG, MS '58 ENG
2002
Howard C. Humphrey, '59 BUS
2001
Albert Wohlers, '39 LAS
2000
Phyllis Welsh Hallene, '51 LAS
Alan Hallene, '51 ENG
1999
Richard J. Faletti, '47 LAW
1998
Russell "Ruck" W. Steger, '50 MEDIA
1997
Gayl S. Pyatt, '64 LAS
1996
Ralph C. Hahn, '51 ENG, MS '52 ENG
1995
Erwin Small, '55 VET MED, DVM '57, MS '65
1994
William D. Engelbrecht, '66 MEDIA, MS '72 MEDIA
1993
Dean E. Madden, '43 ENG
1992
William H. Lycan, '24 LAS, MS '26 LAS, PHD '29 LAS
1991
George William Howard III, '56 LAS, LLB '59
1990
Virginia Coultas Sharp, '40 ACES, MS '54 ACES
1989
John E. Cribbet, JD '47
1988
Frederic B. Hoppin, '41 ACES
1987
Joseph Antonello Jr., '43 BUS
1986
Jane Hayes Rader, '54 LAS
1985
Orville G. Bentley
1984
Roger B. Pogue, '41 ENG
1983
Carl & Mary Jane Neer, '33 LAS & '33 EDU
1982
Timothy J. Nugent Robert D. Heath, '50 BUS, Posthumously
1981
Daniel J. Perrino, '48 FAA, MS '49 FAA
1980
Charles E. (Chuck) Flynn, '34 MEDIA, AM '40 EDU
1979
Kenney E. Williamson, '66 BUS
1978
Charles Merriam
1977
Paul K. Bresee, '23 ACES
1976
Charles C. (Chick) Evans, '60 ENG, MS '61 ENG
1975
Timothy Swain, '31 LAS, LLB '33
1974
C. E. (Chilly) Bowen, '22 BUS
1973
None given
1972
Royal (Rooney) Stipes, '27 BUS