Alumni

2011 Hall of Fame Inductees

School of Business

Larry can claim the title “first person to graduate from SIUE with an MBA,” quickly putting the degree to work with the company called Tubular Steel. Over the next 18 years, Larry would hold positions ranging from assistant to president to CEO. A corporate transition moved him into a board position and eventually an owner and acquirer of companies.

Over the course of the last 20 years, he has looked at literally hundreds of companies, to acquire them for himself or others. He currently owns small manufacturing firms in Colorado Springs; firms with international sales. Larry is also invested in a culinary school geared to training veterans, and the Institute of California, which brings medical professionals from Mexico to work with Spanish speaking populations in critical care applications.

In addition to his many achievements in business, Larry has made a significant commitment to his community. He worked with St. Louis inner city churches to create scholarships and housing opportunities for grade school and college students. After a move to Arizona, he became a board member and director of volunteer programs for Tumbleweed Youth Services. The organization serves homeless youth through 12 different programs designed to get clients off the streets, into education, and a job. Larry is a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

Gail Liniger moved to Denver, Colorado in 1973, becoming the first employee to join RE/MAX, and unaware that she would become a co-founder of one of the premier real estate companies in the world. She currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of RE/MAX.

Liniger was recognized in 1988 as one of the top ten U.S. women for her outstanding achievements in business, the arts, and public service. A year later, Ernst & Young and Inc. Magazine named Gail "Entrepreneur of the Year" for the State of Colorado in the real estate and construction category. In 2006, Gail was inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame and the International Franchise Association Hall of Fame in 2006. She is also the recipient of the 2007 Joy S. Burns Women of Enterprise Award. As a licensed Colorado real estate broker Gail holds several designations, including Certified Residential Broker (CRB), Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), and Quality Service Certification (QSC).

An avid golfer, Gail is co-owner of Sanctuary Golf Course where numerous charity golf tournaments have raised millions of dollars. She is also co-founder of the Denver-area conservation center, The Wildlife Experience, which promotes wildlife, its conservation, the many forms of art which celebrate it and a variety of educational tools to learn about it. Gail is a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

John H. Martinson had a lifelong passion for all things related to math and science. He was a Distinguished graduate at the U.S. Air Force Academy, earning a B.S. in aeronautical engineering before going on to earn an M.S. in astronautics from Purdue University. While Martinson was in the Air Force, he enrolled in SIUE’s weekend off-campus MBA program at his military base in California, earning an MBA after two years.

“I was so pleased with the education that I received through SIUE’s weekend off-campus MBA program,” says Martinson. “The program is truly comparable to any ranked business school program in the country. Plus, the two- to three-day immersion program was an ideal format to better learn and retain the teachings.”

With the support of his incredible educational accomplishments, Martinson began a career in management and marketing at American Cyanamid. He got his first taste of entrepreneurial ventures working at Exxon Enterprises. In 1979, Martinson joined InnoVen Group, a national venture capital firm in Saddle Brook, N.J., which boasted three major St. Louis-based corporate investors — Monsanto, Emerson Electric and Anheuser-Busch. In 1986, he decided to start his own venture capital firm, Edison Venture Fund, in Lawrenceville, N.J. with a little encouragement from one of his neighbors. Martinson liked the idea of working with multiple companies.

Martinson has been working as a venture capitalist for the past 31 years. Edison Venture Fund has experienced tremendous growth and success, investing more than $620 million in 155 companies throughout the East Coast. The company specializes in software, communications and information technology, helping companies grow from $5 million to anywhere between $25 and 100 million in five to eight years. Additionally, Martinson has served as the Chairman of the National Venture Capital Association for three years, where he headed the membership and research committees. He also has served on the Board of Directors of 45 companies in diverse business industries.

John was Chairman and award recipient of National Venture Capital Association, Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance and New Jersey Technology Council. He was selected to the inaugural NJBIZ and NJTC Hall of Fames.

John was recognized as 18th distinguished graduate of US Air Force Academy and flew more than 500 combat missions. He received an MS in Astronautics from Purdue University and an honorary Doctorate of Science from Rowan University.

Martinson Family Foundation supports dedicated programs at 20 colleges to advance K-12 instruction in technology, engineering, science and mathematics. John is a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

College of Arts & Sciences

Internationally acclaimed pianist, Stan Ford, graduated with high honors from SIUE with a bachelor degree in music in 1982, and completed a master of music degree a short time later. He studied under world-renowned pianist Dr. Ruth Slenczynska.

A Fulbright scholarship afforded him study to the prestigious Universität Mozarteum Salzburg in Austria, where in 1986 he accepted an appointment as professor of piano. Many of his students celebrate careers as prominent musicians themselves.

Professor Ford is also in demand as a recitalist and guest artist, and has performed solo and chamber music concerts across the United States, South and North America, Europe and Asia. He performed at several eminent international music festivals including Bregenz and Salzburg. In addition to regularly being invited to conduct international master classes for aspiring pianists and teachers alike, he is in great demand as an adjudicator at international piano competitions.

His performance repertoire spans the Baroque period to the 21st century, and he has premiered several pieces that have been commissioned on his behalf. In 2009, he received the International Achievement Award from the National Association of Negro Musicians, Great Minds of the 21st Century Award 2010, listed under 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century Award 2010, Who’s Who in the World 2010, and International Profiles of Accomplished Leaders 2011. He is also a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

Robert “Bob” Gibson is a nationally recognized authority on coal mine subsidence. He is the Supervisor of the Emergency Section of the Abandoned Mines Land Reclamation Division for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and has been with the agency for more than 25 years. He helps local governmental entities and land owners deal with the immediate and long-term effects of mine subsidence. His ability to easily explain complex problems make him a popular expert sought out by both media and government agencies across the country.

Bob pioneered digital preservation methods of historical mine maps, and established engineering models to predict the intensity and duration of mine subsidence occurrences. He has presented his findings at numerous conferences and authored dozens of articles and publications.

Bob’s efforts have greatly benefitted SIUE. He incorporates geography students in his research and mapping efforts, and has helped contribute more than $3.5 million in outside funding for the University’s geography and engineering programs. These efforts have directly contributed to the establishment of SIUE’s outstanding GIS program.

Bob’s community activities include working with the Edwardsville School District, Boy Scouts, and the local Special Olympics. Bob is also a lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association and a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

The late Richard “Dick” Alan Goodwin channeled a debilitating condition into a life of advocacy for those with disabilities. After being paralyzed in an automobile accident at age 21, Dick entered SIUE and earned a bachelor’s degree in American studies/sociology in 1973, followed by a master’s degree in sociology six years later.

As a quadriplegic, Dick found a tremendous need for advocacy and support programs for the disabled. He worked in the private sector for a decade, then founded IMPACT CIL in Alton in 1985. He served as the organization’s executive director for 19 years, advocating for reform and helping countless individuals with disabilities move toward independence. Dick was a leader in the disability rights movement and provided training across the state of Illinois. He was a spokesman for the Madison County Committee on the Rights of the Disabled and a board member on the National Paraplegia Foundation, the Equal Housing Opportunity Commission, the SIUE Disabled Students Association and the SIUE Alumni Association.

Dick received the Justin Dart Award from the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois, the Paraquad CIL of St. Louis Spirit of Independence Award, and the YWCA of Alton Man of Distinction Award. He died June 13, 2011, at age 65. Richard was inducted posthumously into the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

Paige St. John reached the pinnacle of achievement in the field of journalism when she was awarded the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting. This recognition was the result of a two-year examination of disaster insurance in the state of Florida for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Her exhaustive series, entitled “Florida’s Insurance Nightmare,” ran in the Herald-Tribune throughout 2010 and exposed the hidden risks and secret profits of the state’s hurricane insurance industry. During her investigation, St. John analyzed property coverage of millions of Floridians while navigating a labyrinth of international deals, corporate shells, and altered computer programs.

St. John received her bachelor of science degree in mass communications from SIUE in 1986, at the campus her father helped construct. She has been an investigative reporter for more than three decades, joining the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in 2008. She previously served as the capital bureau chief for Gannett News in Florida, an environmental reporter for The Detroit News, and an Associated Press correspondent.

In addition to the Pulitzer Prize in 2011, St. John also received the William Brewster Styles Award from Scripps Howard for Business/Economics Reporting, a National Headliner Award, three Green Eyeshade awards, and awards from Investigative Reporters and Editors and Sigma Delta Chi for “Florida’s Insurance Nightmare.” St. John is a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

For decades, retired Major General Randal E. Thomas successfully blended his military and civilian lives. He served with the United States Army Special Forces from 1966-1969, and was awarded a Bronze Star for valor and a Purple Heart for his combat efforts in Vietnam.

He re-entered military life in 1983 when he joined the Illinois Army National Guard. He received a series of promotions, and commanded infantry units, regiments and brigades across mid-Illinois. From 2003-2007, he served as the adjutant general for the Illinois National Guard — the highest National Guard post in the state. General Thomas was responsible for more than 13,500 personnel in both the Illinois Army and Air National Guard units, and oversaw the largest mobilization of these troops since World War II to support military efforts in the Middle East.

He also had a 30-year career at Hillsboro (Il.) High School, where he taught English for seven years, followed by 23 years as the school’s librarian and media director. Besides his SIUE degrees, Thomas has a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College, and is a member of Illinois’ Executive Ethics Commission. He also is a lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association and a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

School of Dental Medicine

Dr. Lynch is founder, president, chief executive officer and director of BioMimetic Therapeutics, a publicly traded biotechnology company. After earning his D.M.D., Dr. Lynch continued his education at Harvard University, earning a Doctorate of Medical Sciences (D.M.Sc.) and Specialty Certification in Periodontology. Dr. Lynch served on the faculty of Harvard and later on the faculty of Stony Brook University. While at Harvard, Dr. Lynch also served as Executive Director of R&D at the Institute of Molecular Biology. Subsequently he worked at Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Sankyo Pharmaceuticals as Vice President, responsible for a division focused on bone and tissue regeneration. In 1999, Dr. Lynch founded BioMimetic Therapeutics, which specializes in the development of products to promote the healing of musculoskeletal injuries and diseases involving bone, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. He is a co-inventor of BioMimetics technologies, and has more than 150 U.S. and foreign patents for his work.

In this era of complex regulatory environments, Dr. Lynch is one of a handful of scientists and doctors internationally to have made a breakthrough discovery and overseen its entire development process through all phases of FDA approval and commercialization. He has more than 100 publications, has lectured extensively worldwide, and has earned numerous research grants from the National Institute of Health. Dr. Lynch is also a board member of the American Red Cross and together with his wife is the co-founder of BioTN, a not-for-profit foundation whose mission is to promote science education and career preparation for underprivileged youth and adults. Dr. Lynch is a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

School of Education

After graduation, Scott was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. His impressive 22-year-long service career began at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. While assigned to Air Force ROTC at Clarkson University, Scott served as an Examiner for the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award (MBNQA) Board of Examiners, Department of Commerce. In 2000, Captain Foley moved into the Security Forces career-field serving as the 90th Security Forces Squadron Training and Logistics Officer, F.E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyo., later Operations Officer at Hanscom AFB, Mass, and the Force Protection/Antiterrorism officer in Qatar. The Department of Defense recognized Scott in 2006 as the Best Antiterrorism Program Manager of the Year. He deployed numerous times in support of Operation Desert Shiled/Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lt. Col. Foley now serves as the Commander of the 633d Security Forces Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va., who provide Law Enforcement and Security for the Base, Headquarters, Air Combat Command, Air Force’s premier F-22 Raptor Fighter Jet, $4.5 Billion in DoD assets, and more than 70,000 base personnel, family members and retirees. Prior to his current assignment, Scott was the Commander of the 96th Security Forces Squadron at Eglin AFB, Fla.

Scott has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during combat operations in Iraq, several Air Force Meritorious Service and Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War of Terrorism Medal and Kuwait Liberation Medal. Scott is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and a Lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association. He also is a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

The late Cleveland Hammonds Junior spent more than four decades in education with 27 of those years serving as a school superintendent for four different districts. In 1987, 1990 and again in 1993, Cleveland was selected as one of “The Executive Education 100,” described as North America’s best and brightest superintendents. He retired in 2003 after serving as the superintendent of the St. Louis Public School District. In his seven years with that district, he was credited with reducing the dropout rate from 21.1% to 7.8%, improving the graduation rate and student attendance, and improved ACT scores. During his period as superintendent, the district was removed from the financially distressed designation by the State of Missouri. Cleveland was also named Administrator of the Year by the North Carolina Association of Education Office Personnel. He received the University Council of Educational Administrators Excellence in Education Award in 2003. Dr. Hammonds served as the president of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators and has been widely recognized for his service to organizations like the Boy Scouts of America, The United Way, and Junior Achievement. He was serving as an adjunct professor of education administration at SIUE when he was fatally stricken in September 2010 while doing what he loved to do: educating students. He was inducted posthumously into the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

Dr. Harrison began her career as a speech-language pathologist in the public schools in 1974. Her 30-year involvement with SIUE began in 1979 when she worked as an off-campus supervisor. She would achieve the rank of Associate Professor and eventually become Chair of the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders. She retired from that position in 2010. Dr. Harrison has been routinely recognized for her commitment to her students and her profession. In 1990, Jean received the SIUE Special Research Initiative Award. The SIUE Teaching Recognition Award was presented to her in 1995. She was twice recognized with the SIUE Excellence in Graduation Education Award, and seven times awarded the SIUE Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education.

Jean bridged her work in education with leadership roles in professional organizations on local, state, and national levels. She has been a frequent presenter on topics ranging from auditory processing disorders to narrative language in children. Her efforts on behalf of these professional organizations have also been routinely recognized. She is honored as a Fellow of the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association and of the Southwestern Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She received the Southwestern Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association Distinguished Service Award in 2008. Jean is a Lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association and a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

School of Engineering

After graduating from the Urban and Environmental Engineering Program at SIUE, Ed Grady began his impressive career as the City Engineer and Director of Public Works for the city of East St. Louis, Ill. He would then begin a 14-year career at Monsanto, which would see him move from project engineer to vice president of worldwide sales.

With Monsanto, Ed moved to Silicon Valley. He was recruited to and successfully led Hoya Micro Mask and separate business units in KLA-Tencor to significant growth and profitability, before his retirement in 2000. In 2003, Mr. Grady became COO of Brooks Automation and retired in 2007 as President and CEO.

Ed is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of REEL Solar, an early-stage company that has developed a unique low-cost technology to produce solar panels. His expertise in the solar energy field extends beyond his current position. He serves on the boards of Advanced Energy, Evergreen Solar, Electro Scientific Industries, Molecular Imprints, and Verigy. Ed also holds an MBA from the University of Houston, and an Executive MBA from Stanford University. Mr. Grady served as the Keynote Speaker for 2011 School of Engineering Annual Awards Banquet. He has consistently shown dedication and support to the School of Engineering and its students. Ed is a Lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association and a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

Rollie Thouvenot has contributed to the local field of engineering and the wider community for nearly 40 years. He has served as president and principal owner of the civil engineering and land surveying firm Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen, Inc. since 1987, growing the firm from a small company primarily serving the Belleville area to the largest engineering firm in southwestern Illinois, and the 11th largest in the St. Louis metropolitan area, serving clients in Illinois and Missouri. In 2002, he became president of TWM’s sister company, Testing, Analysis & Control, Inc., which operates water and wastewater treatment facilities in Illinois and Missouri.

Mr. Thouvenot is also dedicated to his community, serving as the Chairman of the Board for Memorial Foundation, Inc., and as 1st Vice Chair of the Board for Protestant Memorial Medical Center, Inc., which operates Belleville Memorial Hospital. He is also a member of the Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois and the Regional Commerce & Growth Association’s Leadership Circle.

Rollie holds Professional Engineering licensure in Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Nebraska. He is a member of the Illinois Municipal League Public Works Committee, the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, and the Society of American Military Engineers. He was named SIUE Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 1984 and is a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

School of Nursing

Ms. Wehrle received her SIUE Nursing degree in 1966, making her a member of the first graduating class. She achieved an MSN from the University of Missouri Columbia in 1973. After beginning her nursing career with direct bedside care in Galesburg, Illinois, she would spend the next 33 years serving in Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers.

When Mary Anne Wehrle retired in 2001, she had achieved the highest nursing position as the Senior Nurse Executive for the St. Louis VA Medical Center. During her extensive professional career she was promoted from Staff Nurse up through the ranks due to her commitment to excellence in the nursing profession and to our country’s veterans. In addition, Ms. Wehrle was part of the Clinical Faculty for St. Louis University School of Nursing from 1986-20001 and has published numerous articles. She is also active in several professional nursing organizations, including the SIUE School of Nursing Advisory Board, and maintains her RN licenses in Illinois and Missouri. Mary Anne was quoted recently as saying, “The Veterans Administration was built upon the concept to serve; there is a noticeable difference in the way nurses practice there. I came to the VA with the same concept — to serve.” Mary is a member of the SIUE Alumni Association and the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.