Alumni

Past Honorary Doctorate Recipients

The Honorary Doctorate is the highest award Western Illinois University can bestow upon an individual who has made significant contributions to his/her career and to Western Illinois University.

2019

Samuel N. Oliva '77

2018

James E. Shipp '64 | Robert and Belinda Ontiveros

2015

Hyuk-Jong Kim MS-Ed '87 | Kirk W. Dillard '77

2014

Sandra Keiser Edwards MS-Ed '74

2010

John D. Welty '66

2007

Dan Webb

2006

Russell Dohner | Norm C. '67 and Carmelilta Teeter

2002-2003

C. Robert Leininger '60 | Dot Richardson

2001-2002

Robert Nardelli '71 MBA '75 | Eric Gleacher

1999-2000

Jim Edgar | Lynn Martin

1997-1998

Douglas L. Whitley | William O'Toole, Jr. '68

1996-1997

Josephine Johnson '55 MS-Ed '58 | Paul Vallas '76 MA '80

1995-1996

Floyd A. Swink

1994-1995

Director General Lu, Yu-Jium '91 | Laurent Walpen

1992-1993

Robert L. Crowe '59 | Donald Dexter

1991-1992

Ray E. Carmer | Marvin O. Bagby '57 MS-Ed '57

1990-1991

C. Richard Shoemate '63

1989-1990

George M. Irwin

1988-1989

Howard D. Silberer | James L. Johnson

1987-1988

Stanley R. Johnson '61

1986-1987

C.T. Vivian '14

1985-1986

Jack A. Laughery

1984-1985

General Jarl Wahlstrom | John William Chancellor

1983-1984

In-Kon Kim

1982-1983

Robert Wedgeworth

1981-1982

John R. Block

1980-1981

Adlai Ewing Stevenson, III

1979-1980

Lee Lavern Morgan

1978-1979

Harold Baker Steele

1977-1978

Robert B. Hulsen

1977-1978

Tomiji Ogawa

1975-1977

John Code Mowbray '40

1974-1975

Earl Lauer Butz

1973-1974

Abbas Aryanpur (Kashani) | Frank C. Bellrose, Jr.

1972-1973

Frank William Gay

1971-1972

T. Mac Downing | Burl Ives

1970-1971

Gwendolyn Brooks