Alumni

2009 Town & Gown Award

Jerry Cremer2009 Town & Gown

To recognize his contributions to Western Illinois University and the Macomb community, Jerry Cremer has been named the recipient of the 2009 Town & Gown Award from the WIU Alumni Association.

The Town & Gown Award, presented to an individual who has provided exceptional service to WIU and the community, was announced at the April 17 "Celebrating Town & Gown" event hosted by the Alumni Association.

Cremer is the trust department farm manager at Citizens National Bank in Macomb. He received his bachelor's degree in agriculture business in 1989 from Western Illinois University. Cremer has been an active member of the WIU community, participating in numerous Alumni Association-sponsored events; serving as vice president for the Western Athletic Club; serving as three-time co-chair of Western Illinois Athletics' Purple and Gold Auction; serving as a current member of the WIU Alumni Council; and contributing to the Intercollegiate Athletics Program.

In the community, Cremer was named the 2007 Volunteer of the Year by the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Corporation; has served as a member of the Macomb Holiday Basketball Tournament Committee since 2001; is an active member of the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce; serves on the Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Historical Barn Preservation Committee; and is a member of the Gus Macker Basketball Tournament Committee. Cremer is also a member of the Spoon River College Advisory Board and Spoon River College Foundation Board; is a charter member of the Macomb Educational Foundation Board and former chair; a member of the Boy Scouts of America and former local financial chair; and is a Macomb Bomber Booster club member and former chair. Past community service activities include Macomb High School After-Prom Committee; McDonough County Extension Council; Macomb School District Board of Education; and Macomb Little League Board of Directors.

"Jerry's significant contributions to Western Illinois University and the Macomb community make the Town & Gown Award an fitting tribute to activism and volunteerism," said Amy Spelman, director of Alumni Programs.