Monmouth College

The best of Monmouth College on display during Homecoming weekend festivities

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, Ill. (10/13/2026) — When she was inaugurated as Monmouth College's 15th president during Homecoming weekend two years ago, Patricia Draves delivered an address titled "Rooted in Legacy, Growing Our Future."

Among several other descriptors of the college that were exemplified during the most recent Homecoming celebration last weekend, that rooted and growing dynamic was on display as a new chapter house for the men of Sigma Phi Epsilon was dedicated.

SigEp's roots, which go back on campus to 1948, were represented at the well-attended ceremony by 98-year-old Donald "Mac" McKinley '50, who was among the fraternity's founding initiates. McKinley helped blaze a trail that more than 1,000 Monmouth students have followed over the past 78 years, and the retired school principal from Quincy, Illinois, received a lifetime achievement award from the fraternity, recognized, in part, for having "the courage and vision" to start the Illinois Gamma chapter just after World War II had ended.

The growth is represented by SigEp's new home at 815 E. Broadway - one block from its original house at 714 E. Broadway, which was the first of four previous homes, including four decades on the fraternity complex's west side.

Lessons that last

Immediately following the dedication, Andy Kerr '73 was one of the honorees at the Alumni Impact Awards.

"There were 5,000 kids in my high school. I knew how to disappear in a crowd," said Kerr while accepting the Distinguished Alumnus honor. His "second education" at Monmouth - the part he said came outside the classroom - included leadership opportunities in his fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau, and two honor societies. Soon, Kerr realized, "I wasn't hiding anymore." Within the classroom, he was learning in his psychology classes what motivates people. Outside his major, a logic class he had with legendary professor Sam Thompson "taught me the tools I've used every single day for 50 years," such as how to separate fact from fiction and the importance of connecting ideas.

Longtime area businessman Bus Kellogg received special "honorary alumnus" status at the ceremony. Kellogg's family once lived at the site of the Scots' current tennis stadium, and he's now lived for half a century across the street from the northeast corner of campus. That proximity - in addition to his near-daily trips to campus with Kellogg Printing - has provided a front row seat to Monmouth's history, which was noted by his children, Lucy Kellogg Thompson '99 and Scott Kellogg, who relayed his remarks: "I've seen Monmouth College change and grow but also stay the same on all the things that matter most."

Other award recipients included Paul White '61, Hall of Achievement; Joi Henry '14, Young Alumna; and art professor Janis Mars Wunderlich Minor, Hatch Academic Excellence Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Wunderlich remarked, "It's easy to be a good teacher when you've got clay as your partner. Working with clay teaches real-life experiences in failure, humility, patience, problem solving and resilience." White said his Monmouth experience prepared him "to work at a large corporation, a small corporation and my own corporation," Nova Scientific, where he's championed breakthrough technologies in neutron detection and imaging. Henry, a successful nurse who came to Monmouth from the suburbs, "knew I needed a small classroom, and I knew I needed professors who knew who I was." She found them in Audra Goach, Laura Moore, James Godde and Tim Tibbetts, as well as lab manager Kathy Mainz.

The Monmouth connection

In addition to McKinley, other "surprise" award winners at the house dedication were SigEp brothers Bill Murschel '75 - who emceed the MC event - and Bill Turner '93. They were both honored for their roles in driving and publicizing the fundraising effort that led to the completion of the attractive home with the red door - a nationwide SigEp symbol of hospitality.

Murschel frequently referred to SigEp's foundational promise to be "different and distinctive," an accurate descriptor of Monmouth College, as well. Emeritus professor of economics Ken McMillan elaborated on that theme as he accepted the Distinguished Service Award during the Alumni Impact Awards ceremony. McMillan taught at Monmouth for 25 years after a career that included serving as chief speechwriter for the U.S. secretary of agriculture and six years as an Illinois state senator.

"None of it holds a candle to the satisfaction and pride of my 'accidental privilege' of teaching students at Monmouth College," he said. "Of all the things I did, this one matters most. At Monmouth, we move our students farther and more ready for success than any college, anywhere."

The Purlee family - this year's Family of the Year - can attest to that statement. In fact, for decades now, 1978 grads Dave and Jodi Blender Purlee have communicated a similar message to youth in their northwestern Illinois community of Mt. Carroll. Accepting the award on behalf of the family, their son, Rob Purlee '04, said, "My mom and dad deserve this moment - here's why."

Purlee then related a fascinating story of the ripple effect of satisfied alumni of the college and of "paying it forward." More than a century ago, Oscar Firth graduated from Monmouth and then sent a steady stream of youth from downstate Murphysboro to his alma mater, including legendary Fighting Scots coach Bobby Woll. In the late 1970s, Dave and Jodi needed a place to live, and Woll provided a bedroom in his home. The cost, reported Rob, was Woll telling the couple, "If you ever get a chance to help a Monmouth kid, do it."

"A small promise was made that day," said Rob, who flashed forward a few years to his father at his dental practice in Mt. Carroll, working on the teeth of a teenaged Ross Richardson '89. Dave asked Richardson about his plans, which didn't include college. He suggested looking into Monmouth, rather than immediately going to work or joining the military, telling Richardson he could make introductions for him with the football staff.

"That night, there was a knock on my parents' door," said Rob. "It was Ross's father. He told my dad that, for the first time, his son was talking about actually going to college."

The decision paid off, not just athletically - Richardson was an All-American in both football and track - but professionally, as his three decades in coaching has included stints in the Ivy League, Big Ten and SEC. Like both Dave and Rob, Richardson was inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame.

That honor was bestowed upon four new inductees Saturday morning, where the ability of parents and coaches to see potential was a recurring theme. Two-time national long jump champion James Wilson '16 said that his late mother "saw my potential before I did," convincing him to finally start track and field as a high school junior. Shannon Turczyn Reschke's mom had her hurdling pizza boxes as a youngster, priming her for a Fighting Scots career that saw the 2009 graduate be an All-American five times in her specialty event.

Presenters Chad Braun and Kari Shimmin both reported they were in need of a special recruit the year they added David Johnson '14 and Chelsey Widdop Blodgett '13, respectively, to their tennis and volleyball rosters. Both recruits delivered - and then some - with Hall of Fame careers. Said Braun, "David had more heart than any competitor I ever coached in my life. I saw him slay giants," just as David did in the Bible. Shimmin, quoting former sports information director Dan Nolan, called Widdop a "devastating attacker," and Widdop's nearly unprecedented success was also fueled by parents, as her mom and dad missed only two of her 122 Fighting Scot matches.

Other Homecoming highlights

That ceremony also included the induction of three teams into Monmouth's Champions Club - the 1981 and 1982 volleyball squads and the 1996 men's cross country team.

Later on Saturday morning, John Carlson '74 (Theta Chi) and Anthony St. Clair '11 (Phi Delta Theta) were inducted into the Fraternity and Sorority Hall of Fame, and a new-look Homecoming parade made its way west along Broadway, ending at the site of the alumni tailgate for the Scots' football game against Luther. In the first-ever meeting between the schools, Monmouth jumped out to a 30-0 lead en route to a 17-point win. Standout running back Nate Wrublik scored the Scots' final TD and rushed for 156 yards, while Braun's son, Silas Braun, threw two touchdown passes and added another on the ground.

The night before in April Zorn Memorial Stadium, seniors Molly Shook and Kade Alumbaugh were named Homecoming queen and king at the conclusion of the high-energy spirit shout. The princess and prince were juniors Kaylee Celus and Zay Kemp.

Led by Celus's 12 kills, Monmouth's volleyball team concluded a busy weekend Saturday with a three-set sweep of Knox, and women's tennis players Ivana Stefanova and Tiah Riggs won their singles matches Saturday afternoon against Cornell.

The theatre department also got in on Homecoming weekend with three performances of Macbeth, starring seniors Robert Robison in the title role and Lindsay Logan as Lady Macbeth.

Media Attachments

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SIGEP HOUSE DEDICATION: Present for the ribbon-cutting were, from left, Dean of Students Karen Ogorzalek, former national president of Sigma Phi Epsilon Brad Nahrstadt '89, founding SigEp initiate Donald "Mac" McKinley '50, chapter president Kent Huth '27, current national president Dave Calderon and Monmouth President Patricia Draves.

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DAVE AND JODI BLENDER PURLEE: "If you ever get a chance to help a Monmouth kid, do it."

halloffamers.jpg

HALL OF FAMERS: Posing with Director of Athletics Roger Haynes (left) at the football game are Chelsey Widdop Blodgett '13, James Wilson '16, David Johnson '14 and Shannon Turczyn Reschke '09.

Kade

Alumbaugh