Alumni Achievement Award Winners

A Secret Service agent, a retired Air Force colonel, a hospital CEO, a U.S. Customs agent, and two University administrators were among the Western Illinois University graduates to receive WIU Alumni Achievement Awards at the Dec. 16 Commencement Exercises.

This year's recipients were Lizbeth J. Bishoff '71, special assistant to the dean and head of sponsored programs at the University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries; Derrick A. Golden '88, an assistant to the special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office in Washington, D.C.; John W. Jury '70 '72, former executive director of student development at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; Patrick M. Magoon '76, president and CEO of Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago; Richard R. Weart '70, contract special investigator in Washington, D.C.; and Marinda J. Wood '58, retired United States Air Force colonel.

Bishoff, a 1971 history graduate, is the former vice president of digital collection and metadata services at OCLC, Inc. in Dublin, Ohio. Bishoff has also served as the executive director of the Colorado Digitization Program for five years, and she is the owner of The Bishoff Group, a management consulting firm offering services to the library and information industry. Bishoff has been a member of numerous professional organizations during her career, including serving as treasurer of the American Library Association, president of the Association of Library Collections, and member of the ALA Board of Directors and Technical Services Board of Directors.

Golden, a 1988 law enforcement and administration (now LEJA) graduate, started his career with the United States Secret Service in 1996 in the Chicago Field Office, one of the busiest offices for the United States Secret Service. After four years he was re-assigned to the Vice Presidential Protection Detail, where he served from 2000 to 2003, traveling extensively throughout the world protecting Vice Presidents Al Gore and Dick Cheney and their families. Golden was then transferred to Madison, Wis., where he served as the resident agent of the Madison Resident Agency. He has also served as the lead agent or shift leader for numerous domestic and international visits, including Afghanistan, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Golden has protected former Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, as well as current president George W. Bush. Golden is currently an assistant to the special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office located in Washington, D.C.

Jury, a 1970 physical education graduate and a 1972 college student personnel graduate, retired from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point after a 32-year career. He served in a variety of positions over the years, including executive director of student development for 10 years. During his tenure at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, he helped shape a campus wellness program that has become a model for many other universities. He also was responsible for the development of an integrated student employment and organizational leadership program, the renovation and expansion of the university centers, and the development of a state-of-the art wellness center, and served as adviser to the university's student-shared governance program for 25 years.

Magoon, a 1976 sociology graduate, has served as the president and CEO of Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago since 1997. Prior to that appointment he served in various positions at the hospital including executive vice president and chief corporate officer, vice president of ambulatory and satellite services and vice president of administration. He has also served as director of corporate planning, marketing, public affairs, patient care services and physician services. While at Children's Memorial Hospital, Magoon has helped create a regional network of pediatric specialty centers throughout the metro area and is leading the development of the new Children's Memorial Hospital, a $760 million state-of-the-art-facility on the campus of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is a board member of several organizations including the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council.

Weart, a 1970 English graduate, started his career in 1971 as a special agent for the U.S. Treasury Department, specializing in investigations involving violations of federal firearms and explosives laws. He also investigated international money laundering and illegal narcotics. As a covert operative, he served on organized crime strike forces on the East Coast and was the first treasury undercover agent involved in the "Pizza Connection" case.

Wood, a 1958 business education graduate, retired from the United States Air Force in 1984 as a colonel after 26 years of service. During her tenure in the Air Force, she served as director of budget and deputy chief of staff/comptroller for the Military Airlift Command and as deputy chief of staff/comptroller for headquarters Air Force Communications Command at Scott Air Force Base. She received her MBA from the University of Alabama in 1968 and has served as an instructor of accountancy at Illinois College in Jacksonville for the past 14 years. During her distinguished career in the Air Force, she received numerous awards including the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; the Air Force Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters; the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon; Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; and the Legion of Merit Award at retirement. She has been a strong supporter of Western Illinois University for many years through scholarship support to the Department of Accountancy, and she received the 2004 Outstanding Accountancy Alumnus Award.

 

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