Alumni
Past Honorary Doctorate Recipients
The Honorary Doctorate is the highest award Western Illinois University can bestow upon an individual who has made significant contributions in his/her career and to Western Illinois University.
2019
2018
James E. Shipp `64 | Robert and Belinda Ontiveros
2015
Hyuk-Jong Kim MS-Ed `87 | Kirk W. Dillard `77
2014
Sandra Keiser Edwards MS-Ed `74
2010
2007
Dan Webb
2006
Russell Dohner | Norm C. `67 and Carmelilta Teeter
2002-2003
C. Robert Leininger `60 | Dot Richardson
2001-2002
Robert Nardelli `71 MBA `75 | Eric Gleacher
1999-2000
Jim Edgar | Lynn Martin
1997-1998
Douglas L. Whitley | William O'Toole, Jr. `68
1996-1997
Josephine Johnson `55 MS-Ed `58 | Paul Vallas `76 MA `80
1995-1996
Floyd A. Swink
1994-1995
Director General Lu, Yu-Jium `91 | Laurent Walpen
1992-1993
Robert L. Crowe `59 | Donald Dexter
1991-1992
Ray E. Carmer | Marvin O. Bagby `57 MS-Ed `57
1990-1991
C. Richard Shoemate `63
1989-1990
George M. Irwin
1988-1989
Howard D. Silberer | James L. Johnson
1987-1988
Stanley R. Johnson `61
1986-1987
C.T. Vivian `14
1985-1986
Jack A. Laughery
1984-1985
General Jarl Wahlstrom | John William Chancellor
1983-1984
In-Kon Kim
1982-1983
Robert Wedgeworth
1981-1982
John R. Block
1980-1981
Adlai Ewing Stevenson, III
1979-1980
Lee Lavern Morgan
1978-1979
Harold Baker Steele
1977-1978
Robert B. Hulsen
1977-1978
Tomiji Ogawa
1975-1977
John Code Mowbray `40
1974-1975
Earl Lauer Butz
1973-1974
Abbas Aryanpur (Kashani) | Frank C. Bellrose, Jr.
1972-1973
Frank William Gay
1971-1972
T. Mac Downing | Burl Ives
1970-1971
Gwendolyn Brooks
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