leaders among us

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MAY 2010SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL2

Contact UsPublisher:Bob Williams618-351-5038

Editor:Gary Metro618-351-5033

Copy Editor:Cara Recine618-351-5075

Copy Editor:Mary Thomas Layton618-351-5071

Writers:Les O’DellWilliam Atkinson Marilyn Halstead

Advertising:Abby Hatfield618-351-5024

Circulation:Trisha Woodside618-351-5035

Publication Design:Rhonda M. Ethridge618-529-5454, ext. 5118

About UsThe Southern Business JournalMonthly is a publication of TheSouthern Illinoisan. Contact usvia mail at 710 N. Illinois Ave.,Carbondale, IL, 62901, or atP.O. Box 2108, Carbondale, IL,62903. Also reach us on theWeb at www.sbj.biz and viaemail at [email protected] 2010 by The SouthernIllinoisan. All rights reserved.Information about how tosubscribe may be obtained bycalling 618-529-5454 or618-997-3356, or by visitingwww.sbj.biz.

Feirich / Mager / Green / RyanAttorneys at Law

Providing Business and Personal Legal Services to the Midwest

Located in the Westown Centre • 2001 West Main, Carbondale • (618) 529-3000Visit our web site at www.fmgr.com

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MAY 2010 SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL 3

Through the pages of thismagazine, you will meet 15outstanding citizens fromSouthern Illinois — the“Leaders Among Us” Classof 2010.

It is a distinguished andrespected team of men andwomen, though severalmembers of this class ofLeaders are decidedlyyounger than many of their102 predecessors from sixprevious years. Othermembers of the Class of2010 have more years ofexperience but remainyoung at heart.

In their stories in thefollowing pages, toldpowerfully by SouthernIllinois writers Les O’Dell,William Atkinson andMarilyn Halstead, youmight notice moresimilarities than

differences among thisdiverse collection of people,people who come fromdifferent walks of life,backgrounds andhometowns.

These men and womenshare a trait of commitmentto their variouscommunities. All werenominated by theiradmirers throughout theregion. They give freely oftheir time and resources forthe well-being of theirneighbors. And their

community contributionsstretch above and beyondthe accomplishments oftheir vocations, which alsoare significant.

“These men and womencome from larger andsmaller communities fromacross Southern Illinois.Each was nominated byothers in their communitybecause of their activitiesand accomplishments onbehalf of their friends andneighbors,” said GaryMetro, editor of SBJ andThe Southern Illinoisan. “Itis a pleasure to share theirstories. We are pleased toadd their names to the‘honor roll’ of leadersrecognized in earlier years.”

Each member of the Classof 2010 was invited to agathering in their honor,the April 29 Community

Leaders Breakfastsponsored by the SouthernBusiness Journal and TheSouthern Illinoisan. Thebreakfast’s scheduledkeynote speaker is DonYaeger, a former associateeditor at Sports Illustratedand best-selling author, fora presentation on thecharacteristics of greatness.

Greatness, too, is acharacteristic of our newest“Leaders.” Join us incongratulating eachmember of the “Leaders Among Us” Class of 2010.

– Bob Williams is publisherand Gary Metro is editor ofthe Southern BusinessJournal and The SouthernIllinoisan. They can bereached at 618-529-5454 or [email protected].

Williams Metro

Introducing the best and brightest – ‘Leaders’ Class of 2010!

Don Heine10 Years

Kim Verdick10 Years

Billy Martin20 Years

Judy Trankle20 Years

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uy Alongi III says he is just “the guy at thewheel” of the familybusiness that

was started in 1933 by hisgrandfather and inherited by his father, John, and uncle,Jerome “Mimi,” in 1953.

“If they hadn’t done what they did,we wouldn’t be successful today,” hesaid.

The restaurant Web site boasts thatthey have sold more than 1 millionpizzas.

As part of his business, Alongi andhis partner, his brother John, aregetting ready to tear down a building inorder to expand the restaurant.

“We are in the process ofredeveloping one of the old buildingsthat is located next to us,” he states.“We plan to add outdoor dining at therestaurant for about 80 people and thenadd drive-through access and a parkinggarage.”

Alongi, a member of the Du QuoinChamber of Commerce, wants to drawpeople to the center of town.

“If we can add features to therestaurant, it gives people morereasons to come to Du Quoin and givespeople attending Du Quoin State Fairmore reasons to come to downtown Du Quoin,” Alongi says.

“We want to be an important part ofthe community, because this is wherewe live and work.”

One of the ways the Alongi familyhas done that is by creating ascholarship at Southern IllinoisUniversity Carbondale. Education isalso important to the Alongi family.Mimi Alongi was one of the originalmembers of the John A. Logan Boardof Trustees. The family started theAlongi Legacy Scholarship in the mid-1990s, demonstrating not only acommitment to education andSouthern Illinois University but also acommitment to help others.

“As a family we have all been blessedto go to college and get degrees, and werealize that not everyone in our area isblessed with that opportunity,” Alongisays. “That’s why we started thescholarship.”

The scholarship is awarded annuallyto a high school senior from PerryCounty who plans to attend SIUC.Applicants must prove a financialneed and have a home address inPerry County. Students fromTrico, Pinckneyville and Du Quoin high schools whoqualify may apply. The PerryCounty Chapter of SIU Alumni

Association is responsible for choosingthe recipient.

While a lot of people work at therestaurant, the Alongis hire quite a fewcollege students.

“We have about 20 college studentscurrently,” he states.

Employees of the restaurant aregiven special consideration for thescholarship.

The family has worked to make it anendowed scholarship that will continuefor years, hosting an annual golftournament to help raise funds. DorisRottschalk, president of the PerryCounty Chapter of SIU AlumniAssociation, says Alongi, his brotherand his father are graduates of SIUCand members of SIU AlumniAssociation.

“Guy has worked very hard,”Rottschalk says.

Alongi is also a member of SacredHeart Catholic Church parish council.The council is responsible for thechurch building, which is more than100 years old, caring for Sacred HeartCemetery and for creating andadministering church policies.

“In fact, he’s really worked onpolicies and procedures for thechurch,” Rottschalk says. She is a former member of the parish council.

“I see this as a way of giving back tomy church,” he explains. He was alsoinvolved in some other organizations atone time. “To be honest, though, therestaurant takes up the majority of mytime,” he says.

Alongi understands that doingbusiness is tough in Du Quoin andtough in small towns all over SouthernIllinois.

“I thoroughly enjoy being at therestaurant,” he quickly adds.

He may take that quality from hisfather. Although John Alongi retiredabout 25 years ago, he often can befound at the restaurant.

He points to his parents, John andBetty, as his sources of inspiration.

“They have taught me theimportance of dedication and workethic over the years to run a familybusiness,” he adds.

Rottschalk praised the family. “They are very loyal to SIU and very

loyal to Du Quoin,” she says.

– William Atkinson and Marilyn Halstead

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DID YOU KNOW?Many of the photographs on therestaurant Web site, as well asnewer photos in the restaurant,were taken by Guy’s wife, Beth.


Armstrong is involved in severalbusinesses in Steeleville, includingautomotive parts, real estate and sportsmemorabilia. Even though he isinvolved with all of these endeavors, hestill finds the time to spend numeroushours working to improve the city, bothin an administrative capacity, as well as in a “hands on” capacity. As mayor,for example, he helped revitalize the downtown area and assisted withthe development of two newsubdivisions.

Armstrong doesn’t take a lot of creditpersonally, though.

“We are a small community of 2,200,”he said. “As mayor, I have been veryfortunate to be surrounded with verygood people on the private side and thepublic sector, and this is what has beenmaking things work.”

One difference between thebusinesses and the municipality,according to Armstrong, is that themunicipality has to operate 24 hours aday, seven days a week.

“As a result, it takes a team effort toget everything done,” he explains.

And he likes to be part of the team. Infact, he very much likes to be “handson.” He helps put up the city’s

Christmas decorations each year, andhe also helped landscape the newlibrary. He helped construct a newbaseball field, along with concretepads for bleacher seats, areas forpicnic tables and bathrooms.

Armstrong was born and raised inSteeleville. He and his wife, Rebecca,have two children, ages 22 and 15. Hefirst got involved in communityservice in 1995.

“I had a lot invested in thecommunity with our businesses at thetime, and the community had beenvery good to me over the years, so Ifelt it made sense to get involved inways where I could give back,” heexplains.

Armstrong admits there are timeswhen things can become frustratingand even overwhelming. However, heemphasizes, the good days outweighthe bad days.

“I have an appreciation for thepeople I work with on a regular basis,”he says. “This is a great community.”

In looking to his sources ofinspiration, he first credits hisparents.

“They have been very supportive ofeverything I have done my whole life,”he states. Another key figure wasFloyd Hartel, who was Armstrong’sfirst and only employer. (Armstrongshifted to self-employmentopportunities after working for Hartel.)

“He really pushed me to get intobusiness and politics and helped me getstarted with my own businesses,”Armstrong explains. “He was a no-nonsense, hard-working man who ran atruck service, the local Dairy Queenand other businesses. He also donatedtons of time to make the communitybetter.”

Hartel passed away in the 1990s, andthe Citizen of the Year Award inSteeleville is named after him.

“When I worked for him, he would

occasionally have me come in at threein the morning to begin work, and thenwork until midnight,” Armstrongrecalls. “However, he was always rightthere beside me. I have tried to modelmyself after that. For example, I neverask the city guys to do anything that Iwouldn’t do myself.”

And Armstrong frequently puts hismoney where his mouth is. Forexample, he has spent countless hoursover the years working side-by-sidewith the city’s maintenance crewrepairing water line breaks.

“We have a small maintenancedepartment, so every hand helps,” heexplains. “They know they can call me


ARMSTRONGARMSTRONGMIKE

ike Armstrong has been mayor of Steeleville since2001. He was a village

trustee for six years before that, having been elected at the age of 25. He has servedas a member of the city’s firedepartment for many years. He also is a member of theboard of directors of the IllinoisTax Increment Association,which focuses on TIF activities.

MM

DID YOU KNOW?Mike Armstrong developed hiswork ethic and leadership styleunder the tutelage of Floyd Hartel,for whom Armstrong worked, andfor whom Steeleville’s Citizen ofthe Year is named.



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anytime, and I am always happy tohelp.”

While Armstrong is proud ofSteeleville, in general, what makes himmost proud is the way everyone seemsto be working together these days.

“This is something we lacked in thepast,” he admits. “It is a compliment tothe people in our community that wehave all come together and beganworking together. All of theorganizations are now headed in thesame direction.”

These days, in fact, many of theprojects that take place in Steelevilleare designed to help everyone, not onlyone or two groups.

One example is the new library. It was the result of cooperationbetween the local school system, thecity and the library district. The oldlibrary was a 600-square-foot room inthe city hall.

“You could barely turn around insideit,” Armstrong recalls. The new libraryis a 5,000-square-foot facility that wasbuilt on school property. “This allowedthe school district to move its libraryinto the new building, too,” he adds.And doing this opened up a couple ofnew classrooms.

Teamwork was responsible for newplayground equipment in the city’spark.

“This was a joint venture with theSteeleville Jaycees,” Armstrongexplains.

“They came up with 50 percent of thefunding, and the city came up with theother 50 percent. They provided some ofthe labor, and we provided some of thelabor.”

Armstrong notes that it is importantto remember his family in all of this.

“I really appreciate their support,” heemphasizes. “They put up with a lot interms of the amount of time I spendwith the businesses and thecommunity.”

– William Atkinson


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arry Carter of Anna knows about stars.Not the lights in the night sky or thosewho achieved prominence on the athleticfield or in Hollywood. To Carter, a

professional in pharmaceutical sales withAstraZeneca, the acronym STAR, situation, task,action and result, is helpful. It’s a procedure heuses in working with sales representatives on adaily basis.

“In situation, task, action, result, we ask a question aboutsomething, and we know that often past performance willpredict future actions,” Carter says, referring to theinterviewing process for new sales representatives.

The STAR system is also a good way to look at the impactCarter has had on his home region. Whenever he saw asituation he could improve, he got involved. Carter says itwas a lesson he learned from his father.

“I remember when I was growing up, my dad always saidthat it was his generation’s turn to make sure that thingswent the way they were supposed to go,” Carter says. “As anadult, I believe it’s my generation’s time to take care ofthose things.”

That’s meant serving in a variety of organizations andon boards. He oversaw the Anna District 37 School Board,and served as secretary and president throughout the 1990s.Additionally, he is a member of the board of Anna-Jonesboro National Bank, has served on Union CountyHospital Board and has been active in St. Mary’s CatholicChurch.

Carter’s first job was selling life insurance. In 1973, hebegan as a teacher at Unity Point School, spending hissummers working with migrant laborers. After seven yearsof teaching, he was ready for a new challenge. He took asales job with Quaker Oats, then moved into pharmaceuticalsales. He’s now been in the industry for more than 25 years.

“People ask me how I lasted here for this long. I tell themit’s not a matter of lasting, it’s enjoying it for 26 years,”Carter says. “It’s the people. I truly believe that I’ve made adifference in the lives of my family and in the lives ofpatients. I haven’t just survived, I’ve enjoyed it.”

He says the belief that teachers make good sales people hasproven true in his life and in his experiences.

“Teachers know how to manage their time, and the samepresentation skills that you learn as a teacher are importantto sales. In pharmaceuticals, we’re a unique breed becausewe have to apply product knowledge to selling. We have tounderstand the science and know how to communicate it,”

he says.That know-how leads to the rest of the STAR acronym:

tasks, actions and results. In Carter’s life, it is difficult toseparate the three. He’s brought results through tasks andactions.

“I can pick out individual accomplishments in each projectthat I’ve been particularly proud of. I’ve been involved in theplanning that has built a lot of buildings: the St. Mary’sCatholic Church Parish Hall, additions to schools, bankbranches. It’s been a good journey.”

He is especially proud of his work with the school board.“I wanted to make sure that we were doing the best job we

possibly could in Anna to give our children the besteducation available,” he said.

Carter says sometimes he was thrust into leadershipsituations.

“When I joined the parish council, I was taking the place ofthe outgoing president,” he recalls. “So, I became thepresident. I don’t know. Maybe nobody else was willing to doit.”

He says it didn’t matter. “As individuals, we’re not here to take care of ourselves;

we’re here to serve,” he says.Balancing his work — which includes supervising a

10-member sales force —as well as civicinvolvement and familycould be a challenge, butnot for Carter. He says it’sa matter of planning andpriorities.

“I put out a monthlycalendar and I try to lookat things a month inadvance. That way youknow where you’re going,”

he explains. “It’s a matter of priorities. Family should comefirst. Sometimes you have to juggle and work needs to be firstfor a while, but 95 percent of the time, the wife and kids haveto be No. 1.”

He says he’s tried throughout his life not to do too much atone time, that it always has been a matter of priorities, withhis wife of 36 years, Mindy, and three children, now grown,coming first.

With his family, with work and with his civic involvement,Carter says the best part has been working with people.

“In my lifetime of work and in being on the boards, I’vemet a diversity of individuals, some that I’ve agreed withand others that I’ve disagreed with, but we’ve always beenable to find a common ground. I’ve worked with a lot ofdifferent people and different environments.”

He says he hopes the next generation, like his,has learned from the examples of generationsthat have gone before and is ready to take thereigns to make things go the way they’resupposed to. That’s what he’s tried to do.

“I did the things I did because I have a deeppassion for the community and I wanted to makethings better,” Carter says. “I wanted to helppeople and make these organizations better. Iwould like to believe that in each and every case,the organizations are better when I left thanwhen I got there.”

– Les O’Dell


LL

DID YOU KNOW?Growing up, Larry Carteralways wanted to be anentertainer. Specifically, hedreamed of being a stand-up comedian like JonathanWinters or Robin Williams.

LARRY

CARTERCARTER

SBJ Leaders 042010.qxp 4/13/2010 4:05 PM


athan Cherry prepared to be a youth pastor his wholelife. He couldn’t help it. He’s always been around kids.As Doug and Lisa Cherry’s eldest, he often helped corral,entertain, manage and teach his nine brothers andsisters. So when his parents established Victory

Christian Center in Carbondale, there was no doubt who shouldhandle the church’s business and its youth program.

NNDID YOU KNOW?Nathan Cherry’s wife, Tara,nicknamed him ‘HandsomeBandsome.’ She even hadthe name engraved in hiswedding ring.


of Fellowship of ChristianAthletes. Somehow, he findstime to volunteer atCarbondale Middle School. Itkeeps him busy.

“Every day, I have at leastfive different directions that Icould go in the morning,” hesays. “What challenges memost is picking which ofthose to pursue. I want to domore than just juggle them

withoutprogressingon any ofthem.”

Theproblem,Cherry says,is thateverythinghe wants todo isimportantto him and

it is all part of his ministry.“This is what I’ve always

wanted to be. From the time Iwas 11 or 12, my parents havebeen in ministry, and I’vewanted to be in ministry, too,since then,” he explains. “Mydesire is not because it was allI’ve ever known, but ratherbecause I think I developed aheart — a passion — for it.”

That passion has led Cherryto preach and share withgroups of all sizes and ages.

“Being in a service with 50,150 or 200 kids who arepassionately worshiping theLord and watching themrespond to what God is doingin them — that lights my fire.That’s what I love to do,” heexplains. “But I also enjoysitting down one-on-one witha teen or an older man and

being able to ask, ‘What isgoing on in your life?’ That isalso rewarding for me.”

It hasn’t always been easyfor him. Even though todayhe’s adept at leading meetingsand speaking in front ofhundreds and thousands ofpeople, Cherry says he had toovercome shyness.

“I never did stray far fromMom. I always was a quietkid. I think the transition tookplace when I was in college. Iwas sort of pushed out intothe real world and as I beganworking with youth, I justmatured out of it. I had tolearn how to be a peopleperson.”

Of course, being part of afamily of 12 helped, too.

“Growing up in a largefamily is everything to me asa youth pastor,” Cherry says.“I pull from it so much, but ina lot of ways it has kept mehumble, and it’s helped merelate to people of all ages.”

He says he tries to applywhat he has learned growingup in a large family tobuilding relationships amongpeople and between churches.

“I’ve learned in ministrythat relationships areeverything. When you find aplace you are serving, youhave an opportunity — no, anobligation — to cultivaterelationships and developtrust just by being there. Youhave to ‘sew’ into someone’slife so that they know you’llbe there when they needsomething. Just like in a bigfamily.”

Today, the 25-year-old isassociate pastor of thechurch, but his influencegoes far beyond thechurch walls.

Cherry directs theReality Youth Center, anoutreach program atCarbondale’s Bowen Gym.He also volunteers as the

head basketball coach forTrinity Christian HighSchool in Carbondale. Heorganizes meetings andevents for high schoolyouth groups from acrossSouthern Illinois in aprogram called SURGEand serves as the worshipleader at a summer camp


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uring one afternoon each week,Barbara Bock Dallas reads for thefourth-graders at St. Andrew School inMurphysboro. She always reads from

the same book, “Holes” by Louis Sachar. In thenovel, boys who might be described as juvenile delinquents are sent to Camp GreenLake as punishment. Instead of hiking, boatingand normal camp activities, these campersspend all of their days digging holes in aformer lake bed.

It’s ironic thatBock Dallas reads tostudents aboutdigging down. It’s outof character for herbecause she’s allabout building up.

Over the years, theMurphysbororesident has worked tirelessly in support of projectsimportant to her and her hometown. Except for a brieftime when she lived in Milwaukee, the Jackson Countycommunity has always been her home.

“I was gone almost four years,” she recalls. “I missed

DD DID YOU KNOW?Barbara Bock Dallasconfesses that dark chocolateis her guilty pleasure. ‘Thedarker the better,’ she says.She will not, however, say howmany dark chocolates.


Murphysboro. I missedwalking down the aisle ofSt. Andrew Catholic Church,I missed driving downWalnut Street.”

So, she came back toSouthern Illinois. Sheworked for about a dozenyears at Southern IllinoisUniversity Carbondale beforejoining the Illinois HospitalAssociation. It was a rolethat took Bock Dallasthroughout Illinois andaround the nation as an

advocate for ruralhospitals. During 25years with the IHA,she worked withbusinesses andpolitical leaders,health care companiesand consumers, yetshe remained investedin Murphysboro. Itspeople were the oneswho really mattered toher.

“The people ofMurphysboro makethis place special,” shesays. “I love to see thefamiliar faces, thefamiliar cars. I lovethe feeling of security,of being home.”

When she retired in2004, she didn’t have tolook far to find thingsthat interested her.She just looked aroundtown.

“The first year afterI retired, I did almostnothing. I organizedmy pantry, I did thingsaround the house, andthe year was good forme. I refreshed myselfspiritually, mentallyand physically. Then Ithought, ‘OK, what am

I going to do?’ I knew Iwanted to give back to mychurch and to St. AndrewSchool. The first thing I didwas to call the school and askif there was a class I couldread to. Fifty years after Iwas in the fourth gradethere, I started reading to the fourth-graders at St. Andrew’s.”

Bock Dallas says after shestarted volunteering at the


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school, other opportunities emerged.She started helping with the Gen. JohnA. Logan Museum, she began to domore at church, and she began tovolunteer at nursing homes.

“During that time, people would callme and ask me to serve on boards,” sheexplains. “But I’d tell them that, forexample, I wasn’t going to be on anursing home board. I’m going to be outthere serving them ice cream anddancing with them and saying prayerswith them.”

For Bock Dallas, life is about doing.She says it’s something she learnedfrom her father.

“I saw my father be on the firstvolunteer auxiliary police force. I sawhim take up collections and be an usherat Mass every Sunday. I saw him helpwith bingo at the American Legion. Igrew up knowing that you volunteer todo things and you give back.”

Giving back was what she planned ondoing when she retired.

“I knew I wasn’t going to lie on thecouch eating chocolate bonbons andwatching television,” she says. “I’m too

high energy for that.”While she enjoys traveling with her

husband, Bruce, Murphysboro still callsher to come home.

“I’m not saying that we don’t packfrom time to time,” she says, winking.“We go to other places, but when wecome back, this is home.”

She says even in a small communitysuch as Murphysboro, her volunteerwork is giving her a chance to meet newpeople.

“Since I have gotten involved invarious projects, people who I knew alittle bit before are becoming very, verygood friends. There are people I didn’t personally know, but hadadmired from afar. All of sudden, I’mworking with them on a project. I lovethat.”

She’s working with lots of peoplethese days, as her calendar is quitebusy, filled with tourism commissionmeetings, church events, activities withthe museum and special projects thatcome her way. She established a FlagDay observance that became a modelfor other Southern Illinoiscommunities. She helped implementthe Murphysboro Hometown Christmasactivities, and when the SIUC School ofJournalism began planning to send

photojournalism students to documenta weekend in Murphysboro, it was BockDallas who coordinated the effort onbehalf of the community.

“The things that I pick to do arethings that haven’t been done before,”she says. “I am never satisfied. I alwayswant more. I try not to look back atwhat we’ve done. Instead, I want to seewhat’s next. I want something more.Let’s build on what we’ve done.”

She says she doesn’t know what hernext project will be. But one thing iscertain. She’ll put everything she hasinto it.

“I haven’t the foggiest idea what’snext. I don’t really pick what I do. It’smore like God puts these things in mypath, so who am I to question?”

Regardless of Bock Dallas’ nextproject, she says she’s already lookingforward to it, much the same way thatthe students at St. Andrew School lookforward to her weekly reading of“Holes.”

“I’ve had students tell me they look forward to fourth grade becausethey know I’ll be reading to them. When I look on those faces and theyhang on every word, that’ssatisfaction.”

– Les O’Dell

BOCK DALLASFROM PAGE 13



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s a child, Linda Flowerswanted to be a teacher.In fact, as the fifth-oldestof 11 children growingup in inner-city Chicago,

Flowers used to play ‘school’with her brothers and sisters. Itwasn’t just for fun; for her, itwas serious business.

“My mom’s family was fromAlabama, and because of the times inwhich she was born, her parents didn’tallow her to go to school until they hada son that was old enough for the two ofthem to go together, so she startedschool at the age of 11,” Flowers says.“She only went through the sixth grade,but regardless, both my mom and dadinstilled in us the value of aneducation.”

Because of the value they placed onschooling, Flowers says her parentsmade sure every one of their childrencould read before reaching school age.

“We only had one TV,” sheremembers, “but we all had books. Weused them for playing school, but weknew they were really for reading. If Iever said to my mom, ‘I have nohomework,’ it didn’t matter. It would bereading time, and then I could play.”

It’s a concept that Flowers, whoserves as principal at Carbondale’sThomas Elementary School, says is lostin many homes today.

“I think sometimes kids tell theirparents that they don’t have anyhomework and that means it’s Nintendo time or TV time,” she says. “I tell our parents here that reading isalways homework, math facts are always homework, spelling words are always homework. You don’t have to have the teacher say there is homework in order for there to be homework.”

Flowers, whose school encompassessecond and third grades, says childrenface many distractions today, and, insome ways, education has lost its placeas a priority.

“Even though we say education isimportant, as a society, there are alot of things, a lot of actions, thatdon’t show that, and actions dospeak louder than words. We givekids double messages and theydon’t know which ones to believe.Do kids believe what the adults say,or do they believe what the adultsdo?”

She says the key is for communitiesand societies to get on the same pageand to stress the value of an educationand for schools to really preparestudents for what’s ahead.

“I went to a high school that wasn’t preparing students for college; itwas preparing people for vocations. Imajored in cosmetology in high school.I was No. 17 in my high school class, soI came to SIU thinking that I wasprepared and that maybe I was smart,but I was really totally unprepared forcollege in terms of study skills andeverything else,” she says.

Despite feeling unprepared, Flowersdid well in college, and kept doing well,eventually earning a Ph.D. She creditspeople who encouraged her, and shetries to encourage others at school andin other activities.

She’s active in Carbondale’s RockHill Missionary Baptist Church, amember of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority,board member for the CarbondaleCommunity High School district and aleader in Girl Scouts.

She’s also an active member of thelocal chapter of NAACP, a role that sheconsiders among her most enjoyableactivities. Even though she’s a schoolprincipal, she still sees herself as ateacher.

“I’m a kid person, more so than anadult person,” she says. “So my workwith children, I think, is mostrewarding to me, especially the workI’m able to do with kids that arestruggling academically andbehaviorally. I had teachers whobelieved in me and pushed me to bebetter, and I think that’s what the kidsneed now. Sometimes, especially withthe economics right now, parents mightbe consumed with making ends meet.

That’s where the teachers, the schoolsand the communities have to fill in thegaps for kids.”

Sometimes that means givingstudents opportunities they may nototherwise have. At Thomas, everysecond-grader gets violin instruction ina joint venture of the school districtand Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale School of Music. Then Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn named theinstruction a pilot program for his 2006Illinois Violin Initiative, a program toencourage children to learn classicalmusic.

When SIUC approached the schoolwith the idea and the instruments forthe program, Flowers quickly agreed.

“How would you say no to somethingthat would provide students withexperience and opportunities that theywouldn’t otherwise have,” she says.“The discipline of music and thediscipline of practice carry over to theclassroom. There’s a big body ofresearch out there that ties music tosuccess in academics.”

Flowers says she often tells parentsthat violins are cheaper than videogame systems.

She says that, for her, success isseeing a child succeed, whether it iswith a musical instrument, in math orin reading, a particular passion of hers.

“My last teaching job was in reading,and when I became an administrator, Igave away all of my social studies,science and math things, but I still haveall of the reading books. I kept thembecause I imagine that when I retire,I’ll still be teaching kids to read.Knowing kids will be OK because theycan read gives me a real sense ofsatisfaction.”

– Les O’Dell

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DID YOU KNOW?Linda Flowers originally plannedto become a music teacher. Sheplayed tenor saxophone with theMarching Salukis and SIU PepBand in the mid-1970s.

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erance Henry is someonewho has found a way tosqueeze 25 hours out ofevery 24-hour day. His

list of business, professionaland civic activities is extensive.

Henry is co-owner of Latta Java inMarion, as well as co-owner of SI SmallBiz, which provides Web site designservices, information technologysolutions and Web site hosting.

He spends additional amounts oftime teaching Southern Illinoisbusiness owners and their employeesabout using technology, and alsoteaches continuing education classesabout computers and eBay sales at JohnA. Logan College in Carterville.

In 2009, Henry helped start Marion’sDowntown Hubfest.

“Like all new things, though, it takesa lot of people to get something like thisoff the ground,” he states.

How did the idea evolve?“Every town has its own special

event, so we wanted something uniquefor Marion,” he replies. Henry came upwith the idea for the name, becauseMayor Bob Butler calls Marion the“hub of the universe.” The first Hubfestwas in late 2009.

“We blocked off the downtown area,and we had food vendors, a beautypageant and several concertperformances,” he reports. “We arealready planning the 2010 Hubfest,which will be in September.”

Henry also organized and leddowntown businesses during the firstyear of Cruise Nights. This involveshaving a number of antique carsparked around the square in Marion,which brings several hundred peopledowntown the fourth Saturday of eachmonth.

And to further boost business indowntown Marion, Henry came up withthe idea of cooperative advertising.

“I realized that advertising can makeor break a business,” he explains.“However, a lot of small businessowners don’t have budgets forindividual advertising.”

As a result, he initiated a program tohelp downtown businesses engage incooperative advertising in newspapersand on television.

“Businesses are now starting to seesome positive returns from this, andthey are getting excited,” he adds.

Henry is also now the newly electedpresident of Marion Main Street, aswell as a two-time winner of Marion’sDowntown Business of the Year.

His activities do take him outside ofMarion, though. He is a member of theYouth Council Board of Man-Tra-Con,as well as a board member of theSouthern Illinois WorkforceDevelopment program at Man-Tra-Con.

He is also an active member ofSouthern Illinois NetworkingAssociation, which provides referralassistance to business owners in thearea for various professional servicesthat the members can offer to eachother.

Henry is originally from the Altonarea. He lived in Carbondale and Du Quoin for a while and graduatedfrom Carbondale Community HighSchool in 1992. After that, he movedback to Alton. Soon, though, hereturned to this area and graduatedfrom John A. Logan College in 2000with an LPN degree. After that, hebegan attending Southeastern IllinoisCollege in Harrisburg, with plans towork toward his R.N. degree.

“I quit halfway through because theeBay business was growing so much,”he recalls. “I had been doing it as ahobby on the side to pay for gas to get toand from school.”

However, the activity began taking up more and more of his time. In addition, the size of the sales was growing.

“I started selling small things, butended up selling things like bulldozers,backhoes and motor homes,” he states.

After working on the eBay businessfor about seven years full time, hestarted to get even more involved incomputers. He landed a job as the ITperson for the city of Marion. Now, aspart of SI Small Biz, Henry does ITwork for a number of othercommunities, agencies and businesses

in Southern Illinois.With so much business on his plate,

what led Henry to want to give back somuch to the community?

“I came from a humble beginning,”he replies. “I grew up in the ‘concretejungle’ part of Alton, where there reallywasn’t much else to do other than getinto trouble.”

However, as he got older, he realized,through the help of some mentors, thathe had the potential to do somethingwith his life, as well as to givesomething back to a community.

“We are only here for a short time, soI don’t want to just take resources; Iwant to leave some behind,” heexplains.

How does he find the time for somuch? Two things that help areaphorisms that he uses as reminders.His father-in-law told him several yearsago, “Promise what you can deliver, andthen deliver what you promise.” Hisgrandmother told him, “The Lord willput no more on your shoulders thanwhat you can handle.”

When it comes to inspirational peoplein his life, Henry can count a number ofthem.

“There is no single person,” heexplains. “In fact, I have developed thehabit of trying to learn as much as Ican from everyone I meet.”

One particularly inspirational person


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DID YOU KNOW?Terance Henry received a licensedpractical nursing degree from JohnA. Logan College and was halfwaytoward a registered nursing degree from Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg when he decided to pursue business and communitydevelopment full time.

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SEE HENRY / PAGE 38


ichaelHopkins is vicepresident

of commerciallending at The Bankof Marion.Previously, heworked at BanterraBank, Citizens Bank of Du Quoinand First Bank inWest Frankfort.


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HOPKINSHOPKINSFrankfort Lions Club. He hasplayed Santa Claus duringChristmas events for theLions Club, Moose Club andElks Lodge in WestFrankfort.

He helps cook barbecuechicken for the Pony Leaguebaseball and softball youthsummer league fundraisersand is an active member ofSt. John’s School’s parentorganization.

And, according to hisbrother, Hopkins is “one ofthe good handful of peoplewho annually meets at 5 a.m.on a Saturday to put up theChristmas decorations indowntown West Frankfort,and one of the smallerhandful of people who meetsat 5 a.m. several weeks laterto take down the decorations,when it is usually colder anddefinitely less fun.”

Hopkins is also co-chair ofJohn A. Logan College Boardof Trustees. While the schoolserves primarily Williamsonand Jackson counties, WestFrankfort is the onlyFranklin County town withinthe district. His brother notesthat Hopkins “has the abilityto meet and make a goodimpression with electorateoutside his home county andthus overcome a districtingdisadvantage.”

To what does Hopkins owehis volunteer spirit?

“I have been very blessedand fortunate to have peoplearound me my whole life whotaught me how important itis to be active and to makeyour community better,” hereplies. “I watched my momand dad, Gladys and George

His brother, whonominated him for “LeadersAmong Us,” noted that he is,as vice president ofcommercial loans for TheBank of Marion, “not thestereotypical Mr. Potterbanker from ‘It’s a WonderfulLife.’ He is more the GeorgeBailey type, with trueconcern for customers andneighbors and their well-being.”

Hopkins grew up in WestFrankfort, where he playedbaseball, football andbasketball at FrankfortCommunity High School. He

graduated from John A.Logan College, where he wasa member of the baseballteam. He then graduatedfrom Southern IllinoisUniversity Carbondale with adegree in marketing.

He is an active member andpast president of WestFrankfort Chamber ofCommerce and helps cookribs for the chamber’s annualfundraiser.

Hopkins is also an activemember and past president ofWest Frankfort Rotary Cluband an active member andpast president of West



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Hopkins, and how activethey were in the church,school and coaching at thepark. They showed me firsthand how essential it is to beinvolved and to give morethan you take.”

And as the youngest of fivechildren, he grew upwatching his three olderbrothers and sisters doingthe same thing — beingactive and making adifference.

“I have also been lucky toobserve some other greatcommunity leaders in WestFrankfort, such as CharlieLintner, Wilma Finazzo, BillMcKee and Goebel Patton,who have had such a greatpassion for communitybetterment,” he continues.

Patton is particularlyinspirational to Hopkins.

“At 96, he is still veryactive,” he reports. In fact,Hopkins attributes one ofhis favorite sayings toPatton: “Service is the rentwe pay for the space weoccupy on earth.”

Another one of hismentors is Jake Rendleman,

a longtime JALC boardmember.

“I learn something fromJake every time I am aroundhim,” he states.

After being around theseservice-minded individuals,Hopkins realized that servicework doesn’t get done byitself.

“I realized that I had theability to do it, so I wentahead and started doing it,”he explains. “I have beenvery fortunate to be able towork with so manywonderful people. All ofthese people know theimportance of being avolunteer.”

He goes on to add that heenjoys the whole idea ofvolunteerism, whether it iscooking ribs from thechamber or picking up trashduring the Town Clean Upday.

“You make greatfriendships with otherpeople who share the samecommunity spirit,” he adds.

Where does Hopkins findthe time for all of hisactivities?

“It certainly helps to havea wife who understands,” hereplies.

His wife is Holly, and theyare parents to two children,Matthew (grade 5) and Ryan(grade 3). Holly spends timevolunteering for their churchand school.

“I hope that all of ourinvolvement will rub off onour boys and that they willlearn the lesson that I havelearned from my parents,siblings and fellowvolunteers,” he states. “Iwant them to learn that it isimportant to leave more thanyou take.”

It also helps to have anemployer who understandsthe importance ofcommunity service.

“The Bank of Marion isvery involved in community

spirit activities,”Hopkins states.

The support hereceives from his familyand employer are vital.

“This is veryimportant because thereare things that may takeyou away from work orfamily for an hour or two

a day,” he explains. “I havejust always tried to focus onmaking time for the rightthings.”

While he has been involvedin a lot of activities over theyears, the one that gives himthe most pride is beingelected to serve on JALCBoard of Trustees.

“This is an electedposition, and to have thenumber of people inSouthern Illinois who havefaith in me and voted for memeans a lot,” he reports.

“Now that I am working inMarion, I hope to become asactive here as I have been inWest Frankfort,” Hopkinsstates. “I still want to keepmy ties in West Frankfort.”


DID YOU KNOW?Michael Hopkins played highschool baseball, football and basketball at West Frankfortand baseball at John A. LoganCollege, where he earned adegree in marketing.


During the last 13 years,Kelly has become involved inmany activities locally,regionally and statewide.Interestingly, while manypeople who are active in theircommunities talk about howtheir service helps theircommunities, Kelly alsorealizes how his service helpshim as a person and as aprofessional. In other words,he has always felt he receivesas much as he gives.

He is a member and pastpresident of Du Quoin LionsClub, a member of the boardof directors of Du QuoinChamber of Commerce, anorganizer of Perry CountyFellowship of ChristianAthletes Camp, a past boardmember and a coach ofDu Quoin Youth Club and apast coach of Du QuoinKhoury League.

He is also an organizer ofDu Quoin Weekend WarriorFeeding Program.

“This was organized by theschool district in cooperationwith the Du QuoinMinisterial Alliance,” heexplains.

The idea was in realization


ary Kelly cameto Du Quoin in 1993 as thehigh school

principal. He becameassistantsuperintendent of the district in 1994,and then becamesuperintendent in 1997,a position he hasoccupied ever since.

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of the fact that studentsreceive breakfast and lunchduring the week at school.However, many students maynot have access to nutritiousmeals on the weekends. Theprogram is designed toprovide food on weekends tochildren who have beenidentified as not havingaccess to these nutritionalitems.

“We modeled this programafter ones we were familiarwith in other communities,”he states.

Kelly is president ofSouthern Illinois SchoolMasters. This is anorganization of SouthernIllinois schooladministrators, includingsuperintendents, principalsand assistant principals, whomeet twice a year forprofessional development, aswell as to network.

“The organization has beenin place for a number ofyears,” he states. “We bringin a speaker and share a mealat each meeting.”

He is president-elect of theIllinois Association of SchoolAdministrators, a statewideorganization for Illinoisschool administrators set upto provide support in theirpursuit of educationalexcellence through schoolimprovement initiatives.

“Participating in thisorganization allows me toconnect with school leadersthroughout the state, and ithas been a great opportunityto learn a lot of things,” hereports.

Reaching his position assuperintendent has been no easy journey for Kelly.Both of his parents were

born and raised in Sesser.His mother went throughnurse’s training in St. Louis,and his father worked for the FBI in Washington,D.C.

“They carried on a long-distance relationship,” hereports.

When they married,though, his father left theFBI and moved to St. Louis,where Kelly was born.However, his father diedwhen he was inkindergarten. His motherthen moved Kelly and his twobrothers back to Sesser.

“We had relatives in Sesseron both sides of our family,and my mom felt it would bea better environment for usto grow up,” he explains.

As a result, Kelly wasraised in Sesser and wentthrough the school systemthere.

After that, he attendedRend Lake College for twoyears and then received hisbachelor’s degree ineducation at the Universityof Illinois.

He was a substituteteacher in Sesser-Valier for awhile and then taught fulltime at Mount Carmel HighSchool. He pursued hismaster’s degree in schooladministration at SouthernIllinois UniversityCarbondale, and then, later, a Ph.D. at SIUC.

Kelly admits part of hiscommitment to communityservice is simply an element

DID YOU KNOW?Gary Kelly credits his mom for much of his success,professionally and personally. ‘My mom is my hero,’ he says.



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of the responsibilities of hisposition as a superintendent.However, it goes beyond that.

“Our community hasalways been very supportiveof our school district, so it isimportant for me to giveback,” he explains.

“This helps thecommunity, the schooldistrict and the students.”

And even before becomingan administrator, Kelly had acommitment to communityservice.

“I have always beeninvolved in communityactivities, even when I was ateacher,” he recalls.

“I have always believedthat it is important to beconnected with thecommunity and to be anactive member.”

One thing that keeps himgoing is remembering whathis mother went through.

“My mom is my hero,” he

states. “She is the mostinspirational person I haveever known. She raised threeboys on her own. She was ayoung person at the time.She didn’t throw up herhands and give up. She triedto do what she thought wasbest for us.”

Kelly notes that manysingle-parent families haveproblems.

“However, my mom alwaysmade things happen for us.She always did whatever shecould to help us becomesuccessful,” he says.

In looking back over hiscareer, the thing that givesKelly the greatest sense ofpride is having had theopportunity to be a schooladministrator in Du Quoinfor 17 years.

“We have had a lot ofchallenges over the years,”he points out. “Fortunately, Ihave had the opportunity to

work with a lot of greatpeople, including the board,the staff, the students andthe community in general.”

A specific source of pridefor Kelly is the students.

In fact, in December 2009,he wrote an article for theschool district’s Web sitecalled “Acts of kindnessabound with District #300students.” In it, he paidtribute to the schooldistrict’s students, who have been and continueto be involved in community serviceactivities, such as donatingitems for the PTO food drive,the American HeartAssociation’s “Jump Rope forthe Heart,” efforts for St.Jude Children’s ResearchHospital, visits to localnursing homes, honoring of local veterans and dozensof other civic-mindedprojects.

In reflecting on theseactivities, he asks, “Wheredo students learn theseexamples of giving? I wouldsubmit the answer lies inwhat they see in their ownhomes, in our schools and inour community. Studentsseem to have a keen sense ofunderstanding of whathelping others truly means.”

In the future, Kelly willcontinue to look for ways toimprove things for thestudents and the communityin general.

“We were able to build anew K-8 school 11 years ago,”he reports. “We have been onthe list for a new high schoolsince 2002, and we are stillawaiting state funding. Iwould definitely like to see anew high school facility. Itwould be very beneficial forthe students.”




MILLERMILLERTOM

round the corner and down the hall from the WJPF-AMbroadcast studio is Tom Miller’s office. The room is nondescript: Neutral paint, no plants, no pictures on the wall and very little to mark more than 30 years in

radio. There are few things in the office that would spurmemories, except for the folder. It’s a manila folder that meansa great deal to the big-voiced broadcaster who hosts the station’s ‘Morning News Watch.’

AAThe folder has sat in the same spot

for almost a year. On the tab is asimple description — words that holda deep meaning for Miller andthousands of Southern Illinoisans.The label simply reads, “May 8Storm.”

Inside is a collection of cards,letters and e-mails from around theregion, each one expressing gratitudefor what Miller did after the derechoswept through the area. The folder isfull, yet there are hundreds of pieces ofcorrespondence still to be added to it.

Miller says he didn’t realize it at thetime, but the second week of May 2009was the defining moment in hisbroadcasting career.

“I had just left the station because wehad already dealt with two storms. Iwas tired, and I really wanted to gohome,” he recalls. “As soon as the bigstorm stopped, I went back to thestation. We weren’t on the air becauseour generator hadn’t come on yet. SteveFalat, the general manager of RiverRadio, asked me what I thought weshould do.”

Miller’s answer showed the simplework ethic of the self-described farmboy from Saline County. He told Falatthat they should do everything theycould as fast as they could and not stopuntil they couldn’t do any more.

Falat agreed, and Miller took to theairwaves, becoming a primary sourcefor people throughout the region,telling listeners what had happened,where to turn for help and reassuringthem that everything was going to beOK. He was a voice in the darkness forSouthern Illinois. Miller personallyanchored storm and recovery coverageon River Radio’s stations day after dayfor nearly a week.

“Personally, I don’t know how manyhours I was on the air,” he says. “Ididn’t count, but it was a lot. The firstday I left here after a minimum of 22hours on the air, and then I was backagain at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning.”

Throughout the coverage, Miller wasable to call upon years of experience tocomfort and assist listeners.

“I think everything that I had everdone prepared me for that — living inMurphysboro, living in Harrisburg,knowing Carbondale, knowing thelakes, the forests, the points, knowingthe people. My entire life was inpreparation.”

Miller said he had to help; after all,the area is his home.

“I live here. I consider this all mineand feel that I’m responsible. Maybe it’sidealistic or naïve, but if somethingbad happens in ‘my town,’ I’m going todo something about it,” he says.

The broadcasts gave Miller anopportunity to give updates on effortsto restore electricity and to help peoplefind basic necessities. He also helpedpeople pass the time and keep calm in atough situation.

“Don’t forget that the way peoplebehaved after the storm wasremarkable, and I’d like to think thatwe were partially responsible for that. Iwanted the messages to be very well

DID YOU KNOW?Tom Miller got his start in radio in theparking lot of a barbecue restaurantin Harrisburg. That’s where MackieNichols, owner of radio station WEBQ,found the 16-year-old and asked himif he’d like to work weekends at thestation. He’s been behind amicrophone ever since.

tuned, ‘This too shall pass; you’re OK; itis only a house. Yes, the truth is you’renot going to be happy for a while, but itwill be OK.’”

More than at any other time since hefirst went on the air at age 16, theaftermath of the storm allowed him tomake personal connections with hisaudience.

“If there’s anything that I try to do, itis to develop eye contact with a listener,”he explains. “I don’t know if it canactually be done, but that’s what I’mtrying to do — to communicate directly with one person, only I have to



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carry the conversation.”He holds these conversations every

weekday morning, arriving at thestation by 5:15 a.m. and going on the air45 minutes later. Even though his showis just 180 minutes, Miller never stopsdiscovering and sharing information.

“I’m on the air just three hours andspend about 45 minutes getting readyfor it, but for me, I spend virtually all ofmy waking time trying to learn newthings. I’m always gathering. I havepiles of books and I spend a minimumof 45 minutes every day doing what Icall ‘free range’ reading just trying to

find out what other people are doingand thinking because the idea is to beable to communicate with them in ameaningful way.”

Miller calls his approach “stockingthe library.” He reads at least fourbooks at a time, visits countless Websites each week and pours overnewspapers.

“It’s a lot of retention and knowingand taking things that are connected,then finding the connection,” he says.“That’s when you get the big picture. Ithink it makes you better in a tightsqueeze. In my life, I spend all of my

time getting prepared for what happensnext.”

When the next thing was a massivestorm that devastated an entire region,Miller was ready.

“Once you realize that it’s not aboutyou, the world changes,” he says. “A lotof people needed help. Helping people— that’s very rewarding to me.”

Judging by the pile of cards andletters in the manila folder, Millershould feel good because he helped anentire region.

– Les O’Dell


ays ofsunshinestream in thewindows of

Jamie Nash-Mayberry’sclassroom at ShawneeHigh School in WolfLake. Some of thosesunbeams make theirway through an apple-shaped prism on herdesk, sending aspectrum of colorscascading from theceiling down the wallslike a rainbow. Asstudents enter, they aremet with music andinspirationalquotations on the wall.The ambience of theroom matches thepersonality of theteacher.

In her first full year ofteaching, Nash-Mayberryteaches everything fromworld geography topsychology, but what herstudents really learn goesbeyond concepts and dates.Every day, her positiveapproach to teaching andliving permeates her lessons,her classroom and the livesof her students.

“I try to teach studentsthat we have to live our livesto the fullest, whileappreciating the smallthings,” she says.

Nash-Mayberry calls herclassroom the “happy room,”where she encourages herstudents to think big, leading by example.

“We recently talked aboutall that we couldaccomplish. That spurredthe idea of writing bucketlists — things we wanted toaccomplish before we die,”she says.

Fridays becamebrainstorming days whenstudents would dream andplan and share their goals.One student’s list includeda rather simple entry: Save alife.

“We all immediately putthat on our own lists, too,”Nash-Mayberry added. “Itdoesn’t have to mean giveCPR to a drowning victim. Itcould be something as simpleas a little miniscule actionthat could make a differencein a person’s life.”

Nash-Mayberry shares herbucket list, too. One week, astudent tried to give theteacher a reality check.

“I can’t remember exactlywhat was on my list that day,but one of my students toldme that it was unrealisticand impossible,” she recalls.“I asked why she would wantto crush my dream like that.That was the beginning ofthe dream-crusher tickets.”

Dream-crusher tickets arecitations students can giveone another, as well asteachers and administrators,for dashing the hopes of adreamer. The ticketsthemselves state, “Yourpunishment shall be that youwill have to live in a worldwith one less dreampursued.”

So far, Nash-Mayberry hasavoided receiving a ticket.

“I have to be very careful,”she says. “I haven’t gottenone yet, but the studentshave threatened me.”

A graduate of Cobden

High School, Nash-Mayberryearned a bachelor’s degreein 2008 from SouthernIllinois UniversityCarbondale with a perfect 4.0grade point average.

A long list ofachievements and honors atSIUC shows that dreamerscan accomplish a great deal. It’s a mindset thatNash-Mayberry says shelearned in a Union Countygarden.

“My grandpa always had apositive outlook on life. Helived right next door, and I’dhelp him in the garden,” shesays. “He’d share stories, butmostly he taught me byexample. Everything heraised, he’d give away up anddown the road. We’d sit onthe back of his truck andenjoy the close of a prettysummer day. He taught me toenjoy the simple things.”

Outside of the classroom,Nash-Mayberry and herhusband, Kevin, are bothmembers of the Little EgyptSearch and Rescue team, avolunteer organization thatworks to locate and savevictims involved in anythingfrom plane crashes to hikingmishaps. She says she’sgained some of her outlookfrom her training for thisrole.

“In search and rescue, theNo. 1 necessity of


NASH-MAYBERRYNASH-MAYBERRYJAMIE

RR DID YOU KNOW?Despite her young age, JamieNash-Mayberry is fanaticalabout classic television,especially ‘I Love Lucy’ and‘The Lone Ranger.’ Her careven testifies to her devotion. On her back bumper is asimple bumper sticker thatreads, ‘Hi, ho, Silver, Away!’

life — even before air orwater — is a positivemental attitude. You haveto have a will to survive.”

She maintains herpositive attitude throughthe things around her.

“I love to read positivequotes and books, and I tryto surround myself withpeople who are optimistic,”she says.



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Even on down days, Nash-Mayberry tries to brightenher students’ days. She’seven come up with asolution, thanks to astudent’s suggestion, to makesure there are rainbows inthe classroom on gloomydays. Borrowing from anadvertising slogan, shepasses around a bag ofSkittles candy on sunless

days so students can at least“taste the rainbow.”

So what’s at the end of therainbow for Nash-Mayberry?She says years from now, shehopes to still be doing whatshe’s doing now, as well aschecking off items from herbucket list.

“I hope I’m still teachingyears from now. I want tostill be teaching high school

and having the feeling thatI’m making a positivedifference. That’s why I’m init now. I want to feel likewhat I am doing matters.”

Just as she encourages herstudents to look beyond theirown lives, Nash-Mayberrysees the big picture forherself.

“I like to think that I ammore than just a social

science teacher who wantsher students to learn thecontent, but rather someonewho also encouragesstudents to think criticallyabout the world around them and who encouragesthem to believe that theytruly can change the world,”she says.

– Les O’Dell


ebecca “Becky” O’Neillis an attorney andclinical law professorwith the Southern

Illinois University School ofLaw Legal Clinic. She grew upin Johnston City, went to John A. Logan College, SIUCand then SIU School of Law. Shepracticed law for three years,starting in 1988, and has been atthe legal clinic since 1991.

While O’Neill teaches students thefiner points of law, her passion in herposition at the legal clinic is to help theless fortunate with legal assistance,particularly the elderly, and to impressupon her students the importance ofdoing the same, now and in the future.

O’Neill established and continues tosupport the Bessie Engram CommunityService Award at SIU School of Law,which provides an annual monetaryaward to the SIU law student whodemonstrates the most communityservice to the elderly.

Mary Rudasill, former director ofclinical programs at SIUC, in hersupport of O’Neill as the 2004-2005winner of the Lindell B. Sturgis PublicService Award at SIUC, noted that, inONeill’s approach with elderly clients,she “sets a great example for our lawstudents. She demonstrates that youcan be an extremely ethical, competentand successful attorney while stilltreating everyone involved withrespect.”

Rudasill went on to note that, “Forseveral years, she took students to thesoup kitchen in Marion and providedshort-term legal services to those whocame for the daily free meal. Thesespecial activities relate to one ofBecky’s main teaching objectives — toimpress upon law students the greatneed for pro bono legal serviceactivities after they graduate and starttheir practice.

“It does not take too many road trips

through rural Southern Illinois todemonstrate to law students that many,many people cannot afford to hire anattorney to address their legalproblems. Becky’s students willcertainly be among those lawyers whounderstand this need.”

O’Neill routinely volunteers to makepresentations on legal issues ofconcern to the elderly. Thesepresentations, which are not part ofher employment duties, usually takeplace outside of regular work hours,and she travels all over SouthernIllinois to make them. Through thepresentations, she shares legalinformation with agency personnel,organizations for the elderly and otherswho may serve the elderly throughtheir employment.

However, O’Neill’s passion for helpingextends beyond just legal services forthe elderly. In fact, some might say it isat the opposite end of the spectrum.

“When my son was in junior high, hewas in a musical at school,” she recalls.

The company that produces musicalsfor rental at schools hosted aninternational theater festival in Atlanta that year.

“The school district couldn’t afford tosend the kids, so a group of five of usmothers took our children there toparticipate,” she continues. “We won,so we then started thinking about waysto give other children in SouthernIllinois the same opportunities toparticipate in the arts.”

The next summer, O’Neill drafted thepaperwork to get a 501(c)(3) nonprofitorganization established to do just that.It is called ArtStarts. She recruited aboard of directors and began locatingvolunteers to help with theorganization — to bring the vision ofArtStarts to life. She is currentlypresident of the organization.

The goal of ArtStarts, which servesthe southern 14 counties of Illinois, isto provide opportunities in the arts foryouth ages 5 through 18, particularly tothose who might not otherwise be ableto participate because of economicbarriers.

The organization sponsors a number

of events. Theseinclude putting onsummer theatercamps, hosting artcompetitions andofferingscholarships forstudents ofunderservedpopulations whoplan to pursue anart-related field incollege.

ArtStarts alsoproduces springmusicals.

“These are hugeproductions, whichare held at theMarion Culturaland Civic Centereach year, and ourshows usually sellout,” O’Neill says.These springshows will usuallydraw 4,000 to 6,000people each year.

The organizationalso produces alarge dance showin the fall.

“About ninecharitiesparticipate,” sheexplains.

They havecouples who dance,similar to“Dancing with theStars,” and theparticipants earnfunds for their charities.

“During these shows, we have hugeproduction numbers that the childrenput on,” she adds.

Last year, that event raised about$95,000 for charities.

During these various events, theyouth members manage the stages,assist with costuming andchoreography, sell ads for the programs,manage the box offices, work as ushers,sell merchandise, handle the lightingand music, manage the sound and


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perform in the plays.While O’Neill does a lot

of the work, sheemphasizes thatArtStarts really relies ona huge network ofvolunteers who do so muchwork, and patrons whocontribute financial support.

“These individuals helpmake the organization whatit is today,” she states.

For example, ArtStartsengages professionals andstudents in the art, designand constructiondepartments of SIUC andJohn A. Logan College to

help with the managementand creation of art contestsand stage play productions.

While O’Neill hasaccomplished a lot in her laweducation career and art

promotion activities, shesays that she is most proudof her three children. Andwho has been the mostinspirational person to her?

“My mother, BarbaraMaroscher,” she replies. “Sheis extremely talented, agifted musician and artist,and she has been veryinspirational to me. For

SEE O’NEILL / PAGE 38

DID YOU KNOW?Though not part of her job, Rebecca O’Neill travels throughoutSouthern Illinois helping with legal issues concerning the elderly.


OXFORDOXFORDAMY

DID YOU KNOW?Amy Oxford and her motherlaunched SI Yellow Ribbonto support troops and theirfamilies. Today, it is anational organizationsupporting more than2,000 soldiers.


SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL 33

my Oxford ofHarrisburg suffersfrom lupus, adebilitating auto-

immune disease. She alsosuffers from fibromyalgia, aswell as a necrotic bonedisease, which cuts off theblood supply to her bones,causing bone tissue deathand ultimate bone collapse.The combination of theseafflictions leaves Oxford insevere pain most of the time.

Because of her disabilities,Oxford is unable to work full time.She tries to make ends meet as asubstitute teacher in theHarrisburg school system. Thereare some days, though, when she isso exhausted and wracked withpain that she can do nothing but layin bed.

“I have good weeks and badweeks,” she explains. “Some weeks,I can work five days. Other times, Ihave to stay in bed all week long.”As a result, she frequently strugglesto pay bills and buy groceries.

One might think that, with all ofthese adversities and challenges,Oxford spends her free time tryingto find out what others can and willdo for her. Actually, the opposite istrue. She spends virtually all of herspare time helping others.

Oxford began the first lupussupport group in the region,spending time talking withorganizations about this disease,and setting up displays in malls andat health fairs.

“Lupus is in the field of arthritis,and people just really don’tunderstand what it is,” she notes.

Earlier this year, she and herdaughter began raising money to beable to present a check at thetelevised arthritis telethon thisspring. She is also a team captainand is walking in the arthritis walkfor lupus research. Later thissummer, she will be a member of ateam for the annual cancer walkand has already begun fundraisingfor this effort.

This year, Oxford is PTOpresident at East Side School inHarrisburg. In this role, she helpedto coordinate Fall Fun Day, Grinch

Day and a fundraiser. She is also aroom mother for her daughter’sclass.

“As a volunteer at school, I amalways taking pictures of thevarious events so that I can givethem to the parents who had towork that day and couldn’t see theirchildren participating in theevents,” she reports.

Oxford is a volunteer for GirlScouts, and she has her own 4-HClub. She is also active in herchurch, delivering homemademeals to shut-ins and bakingcookies that will be distributed atthe correctional center inHarrisburg.

In December, she worked withlocal police officers on the ShopWith a Cop program, helpingchildren pick out shoes, clothingand toys for Christmas. Then, inJanuary, she worked at the localbloodmobile registration table andalso donated homemade cookiesthat would be served to donors.

Enough? Not even getting started.Oxford is most known for headingup SI Yellow Ribbon, anorganization she and her mother,Kathy Williams, launched in 2003 asa way to show support for thetroops overseas and lend support tothe families of those troops. SIYellow Ribbon started out with thenames of seven soldiers. Today, it isa national organization with thenames of 2,300 soldiers fromaround the country in its database.

“When we started, we just wantedto provide a way for our communityto show their patriotism,” Oxfordrecalls. “We started by sellingyellow ribbons for people to hangoutside, to show their support. Wedidn’t want to make a profit, so westarted looking for ways to use themoney.”

They decided to take the names oflocal soldiers who were deployingand create care packages.

“We never intended for it tobecome a national organization, butit just sort of took off after ourefforts hit the national wireservices later that year,” shecontinues. “We ended up on FoxNews and CNN, and things justsnowballed from there.”

Oxford and her mother spendtime conducting fundraisers,speaking at schools and churches,organizing items, packing boxesand mailing the boxes. They also

stay in contact with the soldiersand their families via e-mail andregular mail. Each care packagealso receives a handwritten notefrom Amy or her mother.

For her efforts with SI YellowRibbon, Oxford was chosen toreceive the National VFW MemberVolunteer Service Award in 2006.She received the award inWashington, D.C., where she spoketo thousands of attendees,including the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The next year, Oxford was a gueston the “Montel Show,” one of fivewomen from around the countryselected for their communityservice while also dealing withpersonal adversity. And, in 2008, shewas honored in person at the WhiteHouse by President George W. Bushfor her efforts, where she received apresidential coin.

Oxford received the RosemaryBerkel Crisp Award in 2005 for hervolunteerism in Southern Illinois,and Illinois State Treasurer JudyBaar Topinka selected her as one of15 women in Illinois to receive the“Woman to Woman Making aDifference Award.”

Why is Oxford so committed tohelping others?

“I don’t want a handout,” shereplies. “I just want to help people.”

Oxford emphasizes that her momraised her that way.

“My mom has a lot of healthproblems, too, and I realized thatshe could have just laid down andgiven up,” she states. “However, shewas always an avid volunteer.”

While her mom is the mostinspirational person Oxford knows,the person of whom she is the mostproud is her daughter.

“Callie frequently comes to meand says she wants to volunteer,and it just makes me feel reallygood,” Oxford says. “For example,with the arthritis telethon, she said,‘Mommy, I see how sick you are. Iwant to help you raise some money.’She is only 9 years old. In fact, sheis the reason I keep going.”

Oxford recently lost her home andhad to move in with her parents.

“That was a particularly roughweek,” she recalls. “However, that was the week I found out that Ihad won the Leaders Among Usaward. That really helped methrough things.”


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ason Shadowen rememberswarning his oldest son aboutpicking on his little brother.

“Someday he’ll be able to give itback to you,” Shadowen recalls sayingover and over again.

Even though the youngest member ofthe family is only 3, he’s already “givingback.” It’s not surprising, though; givingback is what the boys’ father is all about.

“I think the theme of leaders is givingback,” Shadowen says. “I believe trueleaders are people who give back to theircommunities. It comes with leadership.”

He says he’s marked passages in BobProsen’s book, “Kiss Theory Good Bye,”about superior leaders.

“I will be honest. I’ve never really seenmyself as a superior leader,” he admits.“I’ve underlined a lot of where the booktalks about the qualities of superiorleaders. It really defines a leader and, afterreading it, I thought I was on the way, but Iknow I’ve got a long way to go.”

Shadowen is the owner of ElectricalDetectives, a Herrin-based electricalcontractor. For his company, he saysleadership and giving back meansproviding excellent customer service.

“Customer service to me is a win-win-win,” he explains. “First, the customer hasto win. It’s something we pride ourselveson. Once the customer wins, that meansthe individual technician wins and, thenfinally, the company wins.”

For him, a customer’s win means havinga client who understands what thetechnicians are doing.

“We try to be very customer-focused,” hesays. “We try to educate people about theirelectrical systems and make sure thatcustomers are both safe and comfortable.”

The giving back goes beyond work forShadowen. In fact, the list of hisinvolvements and memberships is almostas long as the ladder he uses. He’s involvedin a number of chambers of commerceand volunteers at the annual HerrinFesta

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Italiana. He has been involved in BigBrothers Big Sisters, serves on theboard of directors of SouthernIllinois Home Builders and is past

president of Southern IllinoisNetworking Association.

“SINA has been really good for usin business and it works extensivelywith charities,” he says. “One of thethings I really like about theorganization is that you have otherbusiness leaders promote you andyour business for you. It’s like havingother salesmen working for you.”

For Shadowen, one of the biggestadvantages of his involvement ingroups like SINA goes beyondbusiness.

“I’ve developed a lot of personal

DID YOU KNOW?Jason Shadowen is a huge musicfan. He says his portable musicplayer contains ‘everything butopera.’ It includes a range of musicfrom praise and worship artistChris Tomlin to 1980s heavy metalhair bands.



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relationships and made a lotof good friends,” he says.

He’s also trying to developrelationships with thosemuch younger. Shadowen isinstrumental in thedevelopment of a neworganization patterned afterBig Brothers Big Sisters. Hesays he’s doing whatever hecan to help launch the newgroup called Mentors 4 Kids.

“It’s going to be a reallyawesome thing,” he says.

With so much going on inhis life, Shadowen is a bigproponent of planning. HisBlackBerry is never far fromhis side.

“I’m always putting dateson it. Someone will ask mesomething and the first thingI’ll do is go to my calendar,”he says.

Planning to him meansmore than schedulingappointments.

“My motto is, ‘Plan or be

planned for.’ In our business,you have to plan,” he says.“We have to get things in linefor marketing and we have toplan for the slow seasons andfor the busy seasons, and Ithink you have to take theplanning into your personallife, too.”

His personal life alsoinvolves a commitment toCornerstone Church, wherehe plays in the worship bandand works with youth at the

church’s West Frankfortlocation.

“I love how our churchsupports its communities.That’s a really importantpart of life for us. Thechurch doesn’t stay withinits walls. It’s in thecommunity and it’s givingback,” he says.

For Shadowen, everythingseems to come back to giving

SEE SHADOWEN / PAGE 38


octors may say BillVandergraph has aproblem with hisheart. After all, the

pastor of Full GospelPentecostal Church of AltoPass has had a couple of openheart surgeries and a fewstents placed in arteries.

Sure, his anatomical heart mightnot be as strong as it used to be, butreferring to the center of emotion,the spirit of a man and the capacityfor sympathy, there’s absolutelynothing wrong with his heart.

For nearly all of his 72 years,Vandergraph has been caring forother people. Born and raised in AltoPass, he says he knew as a child thathis calling would be in ministry.

“I always wanted to be a preacher. Iremember at 9 years old tellingpeople that’s what I wanted to be,” hesays.

After working for Caterpillar inPeoria for about five years, hefollowed through on his promise topastor. For nearly 50 years, he’s beenin ministry with his wife, Shelba,whom he married only months aftergraduating from high school. Theirlife together has been one of service.As missionary pastors, mostly inMissouri, they started daycares andpreschools in churches throughoutthe state.

The couple returned to SouthernIllinois in the early 1990s whenVandergraph’s father was ill. He wasstill serving as a pastor, but he alsotook on a job driving a school bus forthe Cobden school district. He sayshe loved the job because it offeredincome without taking a great deal oftime.

“I learned to enjoyit,” he says. “As aschool bus driver, youlearn a lot about anarea, its families andits status just by beingaround the children. Itwas very enjoyable andrewarding.”

It’s obvious theVandergraphs enjoychildren. They havefour biological childrenand, throughout the years, have hadsome 40 foster children.

“We saw the need and fosteredchildren ranging from newborn toalmost teenagers,” he says.“Eventually, we adopted two anddropped out of fostering, butrecently we’ve gotten back in forsome very special reasons.”

He says when they adopted the twochildren, they were already great-grandparents. The couple has a totalof 17 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Eventually, he was asked to pastorFull Gospel Pentecostal Church ofAlto Pass. It’s a position he’s had foreight years and one he enjoys.

“I really get fulfilled with teachingin the local church. I enjoy thewriting and the preparation ofsermons,” he says. “I appreciateevery day that I live. I’m notsupposed to be doing all of this atthis age. I get energy from doingthings. I have to be busy, and I haveto find areas that will occupy mytime.”

The area of his ministry that haskept him busy for the last couple ofyears is leadership of Friends of theCross. The organization is a non-profit group working to raise moneyfor the restoration of the 111-footcross on Bald Knob.

“I remember being here as a kidand going to sunrise services on BaldKnob as a kid,” he recalls. “The crosshas always played a part in our lives.Unfortunately, I think people gotused to it, and there was a lack ofinterest in taking care of it.”

Vandergraph and his group havealready raised more than $325,000 forthe project. He says the goal is toraise an additional $300,000 in thenext three years.

He says the organization rose fromconflicts within the cross’ governingorganization and the state ofdisrepair of the monument.

“I was really bothered by that and Irealized I had to do something to getthe cross fixed. It is a symbol of myfaith; it’s common to all Christians.”

Vandergraph said he reached outto individuals, businesses and otherchurches to work together.

“This team got on board, and neveronce have we had any division. Ouronly objective is to raise money forthe cross; that’s all we do. Everythingfocuses on the needs of the cross,”Vandergraph says.

He said he hopes to raise enoughmoney not only for the restoration ofthe cross, but also for the continuedupkeep of the site and to add someadditional services, including a


DD DID YOU KNOW?As a Cobden bus driver, Bill Vandergraph oftentook Appleknocker teams to other schools forgames. The host school would often serve ameal for officials, coaches and bus drivers.One night on a trip to Ullin, he followed the‘Welcome’ signs, filled up a plate and satdown to eat — the only uninvited guest at aShawnee High School alumni dinner.

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back. He says he enjoysworking with youth for thatreason. It’s also why heworks with business andtrade associations — sort ofa way of repaying what he’sgained.

“While I’ve not really hadtoo many mentors, I’ve beena part of many electrical andcontractor organizations,and many of thosecontractors have been asmuch of a mentor to me asanyone else in my life. I’velearned so much from othersin my industry,” he says.

“Look at all of the bigleaders in any industry or inthe world. They are huge ingiving back,” he adds.

Every day, Shadowendraws on the knowledge he’slearned from others in hisindustry as well as thosepeople he thinks are leaders.Yet, he doesn’t call them hisheroes. He saves that title forone other individual: hiswife Shayna.

“She’s probably the biggesthero in my life,” he says.“She is so busy all of thetime with our kids andworking. She does so much. Iwouldn’t have the energy todo what she does.”

It’s probably true. After all,the Electrical Detectiveknows all about energy andabout doing things forothers.

– Les O’Dell

example, she always pushedme to go the extra step whenit comes to helping otherpeople, as well as toemphasize the importance ofbuilding character.”

Despite her manyachievements, O’Neill stillhas some dreams, most ofwhich revolve aroundwriting.

For one thing, she wouldlike to write a production,such as a play or a musical,

that ArtStarts studentswould perform.

“I have a lot of stories totell, and I would like to putthem down someday,” shestates.

She would also like towrite some of the interestingstories that she hears whenshe is doing free legal workfor the elderly.

“Some of the stories thatthese people have really needto be shared,” she concludes.


was his mother.“She raised three boys by

herself in Alton,” he states.“She dropped out of highschool, but went back and gother GED. She eventuallymoved us out of the projectsand made sure that none ofus were stuck there.”

According to Henry, hismother never used thewords, “I can’t.” To her, hesays, that was just anotherterm for being lazy.

Another particularlyimportant person in his lifewas Barb James, who was anEnglish instructor at John A.Logan College.

“I knew her when I wasliving in Carbondale,” herecalls. “She would sit medown and talk to me. Ilearned a lot from her.”

Another thing that gotHenry thinking about thepossibilities that life could

offer was that James’ househad a carpet.

“I had grown up in a placewith concrete floors,” heexplains. “I decided that Iwanted a home like herssomeday.”

More recently, Henry hasfound that he has learned alot from George Trammell ofthe Marion Chamber ofCommerce.

“I love his leadershipskills,” he states. “He reallyknows how to get thingsdone.”

Another is Gail West, theMarion city administrator.

“Physically, she is a smallwoman, but when she speaks,she can enlighten a wholeroom,” he states. “I often talk with her one-on-one, and I think I have picked upanother associate’s degree just from listening to her.”



Cherry still is involved inhis birth family’s life, eventhough he is now married.His wife, Tara, is expectingtheir second child.

His siblings still seek himout for help and advice. Notonly does he administer hisparents’ church, he also iskey among other familyministries, as well ashelping brothers and sistersfind their own place.

“I love my family, and Ifeel that there are so manymessages that God has in us— in all 10 children. All ofus are in different seasons oflife, and we’re working tocapture those differentseasons. I’ve been spending alot of time with them justplanting visions,” Cherrysays.

He has some visions of hisown for his own life, hischurch and SouthernIllinois.

“Several years ago, God

gave me a vision that this iswhere I was called to be. Somany times we all get tiredof being in one place oranother, but I feel that Godhas me here for a long time.I’ll probably grow old here,still making friendships andtrying to cultivate thecommunity while being ableto be in ministry. My heart iscommunity. My heart is withpeople and helping people.That’s who I am.”

If Cherry sounds like he’sgot a single focus, it’sbecause he does. And that’sjust the way he wants it.

“Church is my life. It’s allI’ve known, and it’s the life Ilove. I really don’t feelfulfilled if I’m not workingtoward accomplishingsomething for Christ. That’sthe ultimate goal, and itmakes the day-to-dayworthwhile because of thepower of just one changedlife.”

– Les O’Dell

CHERRYFROM PAGE 11

HENRYFROM PAGE 19

O’NEILLFROM PAGE 31

SHADOWENFROM PAGE 35

VANDERGRAPHchaplains program.

Vandergraph says his workwith Friends of the Crossand being a pastor are justabout loving people.

“I’ve always been a peopleperson. I love children tothose in nursing homes ... I know that hurting peopleneed to be listened to and Ienjoy listening. It gives meenergy. I know there is aneed, and I want to be whereI’m needed,” he says.

“I just cannot be isolated.There’s plenty to do and so

much that’s not being done,”he adds. “We, as Christians,tend to worry about thingsthat are not essential. Thewhole church movement issupposed to be about otherpeople.”

As work on the crossprogresses, there’s a chancepeople will look on it asVandergraph’s legacy. That’snot what he wants.

“If anything, I’d rather beremembered as a faithfulpastor than anything else,that’s very important to me.”

– Les O’Dell

FROM PAGE 36



GUY ALONGI IIIMIKE ARMSTRONG

LARRY CARTER

NATHAN CHERRY

BARBARA BOCK DALLAS

LINDA FLOWERS

TERANCE HENRY

MICHAEL J. HOPKINS

GARY KELLY

TOM MILLER

JAMIE BROOKE NASH-MAYBERRY

REBECCA O’NEILL

AMY OXFORD

JASON SHADOWEN

PASTOR BILL VANDERGRAPH

2010 LEADERS AMONG US

SPONSORED BY:


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CARBONDALE, IL


leaders among us

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