Illinois State Society of Washington, DC

Illinois Hall of Fame: George Beverly Shea

By Mark Rhoads

The recent death of Ruth Bell Graham, wife of Rev. Billy Graham, recalls a very early entry in summer 2006 to this Illinois Hall of Fame feature series in Illinois Review.  Billy and Ruth met at Wheaton College in Du Page County when both were students there during World War II.  There is a legend in my family that on their honeymoon night, Billy and Ruth only drove as far from Wheaton as my grandmother's house in Western Springs because gas rationing severely limited their radius. 

My grandparents were wonderful people but if the story is true, it would not seem like the most romantic venue for a honeymoon.  My grandparents Burton and Amanda Clark Rhoads were a deacon and deaconess of the Village Baptist Church in Western Springs and they were among those who made the decision to hire Billy Graham for his first and only job as a regular associate pastor and then a pastor of a local church.  He served in Western Springs about a year and a half before moving on to Campus Crusade for Christ, radio ministries, and other activities in late 1945.

Because of the worldwide fame of Billy Graham, we sometimes overlook the independent fame, great musical talent, and recording success of Graham's close friend and associate---and a Western Springs, Illinois resident for 62 years---who is now 98 years old.  George Beverly Shea was born in Winchester, Ontario, Canada on Feb. 1, 1909.  He has become one of the most popular and long-lived gospel singers in the world.  Bev's father was a minister of the Weslyan Church and Bev sang in the church choir in Ottawa. The family moved to upstate New York and Bev supported himself with insurance sales and tried his hand as a commercial radio announcer.  Bev eventually moved to Chicago to announce and sing for Radio Station WMBI, owned by the Moody Bible Institute.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Burr Tillstrom

By Mark Rhoads

Chidren's television pioneer and puppet master Burr Tillstrom was born in Chicago on Oct. 13, 1917. He attended Senn High School and the University of Chicago where he became interested in puppetry.  In 1936 he created a puppet with a mostly bald head and a large round nose.  A Russian ballerina named Tamara Toumanova called the puppet "kukla" which is the Russian word for doll.

In addition to Kukla, Burr created other puppet characters including Oliver J. Dragon, Fletcher Rabbit, and Beula Witch.  The ensemble cast was later called the Kuklapolitan players.  In 1939 Burr was invited to have the Kuklapolitan players perform at the World of Tomorrow World's Fair at Lake Success in New York. In the late 1940s, Burr went looking for "a girl who could talk to a dragon" and auditioned a singer from the Don McNeill Breakfast Club called Fran Allison.  Fran has just the sparkling personality Burr needed to host an improvised show with his puppets.  Based in Chicago, from 1947 to 1957, Burr produced and directed the Kukla, Fran, and Ollie Show. The show appealed to both children and adults since the humor was directed to both audiences at a time of day when both groups could tune in.  The Kulapolitan Players continued to appear sporadically in various TV formats both with and without Fran Allison until Burr died on Dec. 6, 1985 in Palm Springs, California.

Click here for a tribute to Burr Tillstrom from the Chicago-based Museum of Broadcast Communications.

For more information on Fran Allison, see her profile below by clicking on The Illinois Hall of Fame series at right or click here.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Jack Brickhouse

By Mark Rhoads

Award-winning sports broadcaster Jack Brickhouse (Hey Hey!!) was born in Peoria, Illinois on Jan. 24, 1916.  He announced for more sports events than any other American broadcaster.  Jack attended Peoria public schools and was only 18 when he started working as an announcer for WMBD radio in Peoria in 1934. He briefly attended Bradley University and covered Bradley sports teams on radio.  After six years of radio work in Peoria, Jack was hired by WGN radio in Chicago in 1940.  With the exception of military service, he worked for the next 41 years for both WGN radio and television.  In fact, Jack was the first broadcaster face to be seen on WGN-TV when it went on the air in 1948.

Jack missed covering the only championship season in the last sixty-one years for the Chicago Cubs in 1945 because he was on duty with the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II.  The only league championship he ever covered was the American League Pennant for the Chicago White Sox in 1959.  He also was the announcer on the audio track for the 1954 World Series Game 1 and described the famous catch of Willie Mays at the Polo Grounds in New York.  He also announced Chicago Bears games on radio with former Chicago Sun-Times columnist and NFL player Irv Kupcinet for 24 years.  He announced White Sox games for 27 years and Cubs games for 40 years. 

By Mark Rhoads

Award-winning sports broadcaster Jack Brickhouse (Hey Hey!!) was born in Peoria, Illinois on Jan. 24, 1916.  He announced for more sports events than any other American broadcaster.  Jack attended Peoria public schools and was only 18 when he started working as an announcer for WMBD radio in Peoria in 1934. He briefly attended Bradley University and covered Bradley sports teams on radio.  After six years of radio work in Peoria, Jack was hired by WGN radio in Chicago in 1940.  With the exception of military service, he worked for the next 41 years for both WGN radio and television.  In fact, Jack was the first broadcaster face to be seen on WGN-TV when it went on the air in 1948.

Jack missed covering the only championship season in the last sixty-one years for the Chicago Cubs in 1945 because he was on duty with the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II.  The only league championship he ever covered was the American League Pennant for the Chicago White Sox in 1959.  He also was the announcer on the audio track for the 1954 World Series Game 1 and described the famous catch of Willie Mays at the Polo Grounds in New York.  He also announced Chicago Bears games on radio with former Chicago Sun-Times columnist and NFL player Irv Kupcinet for 24 years.  He announced White Sox games for 27 years and Cubs games for 40 years. 

Illinois Hall of Fame: Georgie Anne Geyer

By Mark Rhoads

Georgie Anne Geyer is one of America's foremost columnists on foreign affairs.  Now with the Universal Press Syndicate, "Gigi" or "Gee Gee" Geyer began her journalistic career on the South Side of Chicago.  Gigi was born in Chicago on April 2, 1935. She was salutatorian of her class at Calument High School in 1952 and graduated from the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in 1956 where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority.  After Northwestern, Gigi attended the University of Vienna on a Fullbright Scholarship. Gigi's first job as a reporter was for The Southtown Economist.  From 1959 to 1974 Gigi was a reporter for The Chicago Daily News where she started out on society news but progressed to general news assignments and finally was stationed overseas as a foreign correspondent.  Gigi left The Chicago Daily News in 1974 to become an independent nationally syndicated columnist.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Mel Torme

By Mark Rhoads

Mel Torme was one of the best American male jazz singers and composers of the 20th Century. He wrote or co-wrote more than 250 songs including a Christmastime standard that opens with the lyrics "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire." It was recorded by fellow Chicagoan Nat King Cole in 1946.  He was also a movie star, radio and TV star, and an author.

Notwithstanding his fame for seasonal songs of Christmas, Mel Torme was born on the south side of Chicago to a family of Russian Jewish immigrants on Sept. 23, 1925.  From about the age of four he was recognized as a child prodigy. While barely in grade school he was singing as a child star for the Coon Sanders Orchestra at the Blackhawk Restaurant at 139 N. Wabash.

Mel was only age seven in 1933 when he won a talent competition for child singers at the Century of Progress World's Fair.  The competition led to his work as a child star on two of the most famous radio serials of the time, The Romance of Helen Trent and Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy.

By Mark Rhoads

Mel Torme was one of the best American male jazz singers and composers of the 20th Century. He wrote or co-wrote more than 250 songs including a Christmastime standard that opens with the lyrics "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire." It was recorded by fellow Chicagoan Nat King Cole in 1946.  He was also a movie star, radio and TV star, and an author.

Notwithstanding his fame for seasonal songs of Christmas, Mel Torme was born on the south side of Chicago to a family of Russian Jewish immigrants on Sept. 23, 1925.  From about the age of four he was recognized as a child prodigy. While barely in grade school he was singing as a child star for the Coon Sanders Orchestra at the Blackhawk Restaurant at 139 N. Wabash.

Mel was only age seven in 1933 when he won a talent competition for child singers at the Century of Progress World's Fair.  The competition led to his work as a child star on two of the most famous radio serials of the time, The Romance of Helen Trent and Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Stephanie Pace Marshall

By Mark Rhoads

Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall has served as the founding president of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) in Aurora, Illinois since the school started in 1985. She has announced recently that she will retire from that post in June.

A former Superintendant of Schools in Batavia, Dr. Marshall is one of the most respected high school educators in the nation. She attended Queens College in New York and received her MA from the University of Chicago and her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Industrial Relations from Loyola University of Chicago. She also has been given honorary doctorates from North Central College, Aurora University, and Illinois Wesleyan University.

By Mark Rhoads

Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall has served as the founding president of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) in Aurora, Illinois since the school started in 1985. She has announced recently that she will retire from that post in June.

A former Superintendant of Schools in Batavia, Dr. Marshall is one of the most respected high school educators in the nation. She attended Queens College in New York and received her MA from the University of Chicago and her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Industrial Relations from Loyola University of Chicago. She also has been given honorary doctorates from North Central College, Aurora University, and Illinois Wesleyan University.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Pat Sajak

By Mark Rhoads

Emmy Award-winning TV host Pat Sajak is anchor of Wheel of Fortune, the highest-rated and longest-running syndicated game show in American TV history. Pat was born in Chicago to Polish-American parents on October 26, 1946 and is the oldest of three brothers. Pat attended Goethe Elementary School and Gary Elementary School.  He graduated from Farragut High School at 2345 S. Christiana Avenue in 1964.  In 1965 Pat won a contest to be a "guest teen deejay" on the Dick Biondi Show on WLS Radio. Biondi was sick the night Pat was to appear so Pat went on the air for one hour on a Saturday night with Biondi's replacement guest host Art Roberts.  Pat read news and commercials and was inspired by that experience to pursue broadcasting.

By Mark Rhoads

Emmy Award-winning TV host Pat Sajak is anchor of Wheel of Fortune, the highest-rated and longest-running syndicated game show in American TV history. Pat was born in Chicago to Polish-American parents on October 26, 1946 and is the oldest of three brothers. Pat attended Goethe Elementary School and Gary Elementary School.  He graduated from Farragut High School at 2345 S. Christiana Avenue in 1964.  In 1965 Pat won a contest to be a "guest teen deejay" on the Dick Biondi Show on WLS Radio. Biondi was sick the night Pat was to appear so Pat went on the air for one hour on a Saturday night with Biondi's replacement guest host Art Roberts.  Pat read news and commercials and was inspired by that experience to pursue broadcasting.

Illinois Hall of Fame: John Peter Altgeld

By Mark Rhoads

John Peter Altgeld was the first foreign-born governor of Illinois.  He was also the only Democrat to be elected during a long era of Republican dominance in the governor's office over fifty-six years between 1856 and 1912. Altgeld was born in the village of Nieder Selters in the state of Hesse in Prussia (now part of Germany) on Dec. 30, 1847. His parents brought John to America when he was a child and they settled on a farm near Mansfield, Ohio.

John lied about his age to join the Union Army in 1864. He almost died of fever while on a campaign with the Army of the Potomac in Virginia.  After his war service he worked on his father's farm, got additional schooling at a seminary in Ohio, and read for the law while working on a railroad gang in Missouri.  In 1874 John was elected district attorney of Andrew County in Missouri but only served a year before resigning to move to Chicago in 1875 where he was the founder of a prosperous law firm that included Clarence Darrow. He returned to Ohio briefly in 1877 to marry Emma Ford.

By Mark Rhoads

John Peter Altgeld was the first foreign-born governor of Illinois.  He was also the only Democrat to be elected during a long era of Republican dominance in the governor's office over fifty-six years between 1856 and 1912. Altgeld was born in the village of Nieder Selters in the state of Hesse in Prussia (now part of Germany) on Dec. 30, 1847. His parents brought John to America when he was a child and they settled on a farm near Mansfield, Ohio.

John lied about his age to join the Union Army in 1864. He almost died of fever while on a campaign with the Army of the Potomac in Virginia.  After his war service he worked on his father's farm, got additional schooling at a seminary in Ohio, and read for the law while working on a railroad gang in Missouri.  In 1874 John was elected district attorney of Andrew County in Missouri but only served a year before resigning to move to Chicago in 1875 where he was the founder of a prosperous law firm that included Clarence Darrow. He returned to Ohio briefly in 1877 to marry Emma Ford.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Bob Balaban

By Mark Rhoads

Movie actor Bob Balaban comes from a show business family famous in both Chicago and nationally.  Bob was born in Chicago on Aug. 16, 1945.  His father Elmer and four of his six uncles created the Balaban and Katz (B&K) movie theater chain in the 1920s. The chain eventually had about 100 theaters in Chicago and suburbs.  The landmark Chicago Theater at 175 N. State Street was the crown jewel of the B&K chain that was built as the first lavish theater palace designed speficially for movies when it opened on Oct. 26, 1921. The famous Uptown Theatre near Broadway and Lawrence was also a landmark B&K Theater in the Depression era. The Balaban family also created Chicago's first commercial television station, WBKB on Channel 4, (Balaban & Katz Broadcasting) in the 1940s.

Illinois Hall of Fame: Scott Turow

By Mark Rhoads

Scott Turow has lived in the Chicago area most of his life.  He is currently practicing criminal law in Chicago and is also one of America's most popular novelists who specializes in intricate crime mysteries. Three of his books have been made into feature films starting with Presumed Innocent in 1990 starring Illinois-native Harrison Ford. Scott was born in Chicago on April 12, 1949 and raised in the northern suburbs. He graduated from New Trier High School in 1966.  In 1970 Scott graduated with honors with a B.A. in English from Amherst College.  He went on to study writing at Stanford University where he received an M.A. in 1974.

Scott taught at Stanford from 1972 to 1975 and attended Harvard Law School from 1975 to 1978 when he received his Juris Doctor degree. He became a trustee of Amherst in 2002.  From 1978 to 1986, Scott was an Assistant U. S. Attorney for the Northern District in Chicago. He was one of the prosecutors in the tax fraud trial of former Illinois Treasurer and Attorney General William J. Scott and was also a prosecutor of Cook County judges in the Operation Greylord cases. In addition to two non-fiction books, he is the author of seven best-selling novels including Presumed Innocent (1987), The Burden of Proof (1990), Pleading Guilty (1993), The Laws of Our Fathers (1996), Personal Injuries (1999), Reversible Errors (2002) and Ordinary Heroes (2005).

By Mark Rhoads

Scott Turow has lived in the Chicago area most of his life.  He is currently practicing criminal law in Chicago and is also one of America's most popular novelists who specializes in intricate crime mysteries. Three of his books have been made into feature films starting with Presumed Innocent in 1990 starring Illinois-native Harrison Ford. Scott was born in Chicago on April 12, 1949 and raised in the northern suburbs. He graduated from New Trier High School in 1966.  In 1970 Scott graduated with honors with a B.A. in English from Amherst College.  He went on to study writing at Stanford University where he received an M.A. in 1974.

Scott taught at Stanford from 1972 to 1975 and attended Harvard Law School from 1975 to 1978 when he received his Juris Doctor degree. He became a trustee of Amherst in 2002.  From 1978 to 1986, Scott was an Assistant U. S. Attorney for the Northern District in Chicago. He was one of the prosecutors in the tax fraud trial of former Illinois Treasurer and Attorney General William J. Scott and was also a prosecutor of Cook County judges in the Operation Greylord cases. In addition to two non-fiction books, he is the author of seven best-selling novels including Presumed Innocent (1987), The Burden of Proof (1990), Pleading Guilty (1993), The Laws of Our Fathers (1996), Personal Injuries (1999), Reversible Errors (2002) and Ordinary Heroes (2005).