University News
Honorary Doctorate Degree to be Awarded to Former Student, Alumni
September 27, 2002
MACOMB, IL -- An Olympic gold medal winner, the former superintendent of education for the state of Illinois and Frasier Crane's "father" have been selected as recipients of Honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters to be awarded at Western Illinois University's commencement exercises in May 2003 and December 2003, respectively.
Dot Richardson, a nationally recognized sports medicine orthopedic surgeon and two-time Olympic gold medal winner, will be honored at the May 10, 2003 commencement. After spending a year at Western, Richardson, a softball standout, transferred to the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) to pursue her dream of a career in medicine. Richardson is currently working on the development of a medical center that will focus on sports-related injuries.
While at UCLA, she was named a five-year collegiate All-American and the NCAA Player of the Decade for the 1980s. She completed her bachelor's degree at UCLA, her master's degree at Adelphi and her medical degree from the University of Louisville. As a member of the Amateur Softball Association, Richardson was a 14-time All-American and seven-time winner of the Erv Lind Award for the best defensive player in the national championship game. She was a member of two Olympic gold medal softball teams, serving as the captain of the 1996 team in Atlanta, where she scored the winning home run in the gold-medal final. She is the founder of the national Dot Richardson Softball Association in Orlando, FL.
C. Robert Leininger, a 1960 WIU graduate, will also be honored at the May 10, 2003 ceremony. Leininger, a former Western trustee, was superintendent of education for the state of Illinois from August 1988 to March 1994. He was instrumental in developing technology programs as well as distance education programs. He also served on the Illinois State Board of Education as assistant superintendent for governmental and community relations and chief of staff; was the president of the Illinois Association of School Administrators; the chair of the Northwest Region of the Illinois Association of School Administrators; and retired from the Magna Group, Inc. in St. Louis where he was executive vice president of administration. Leininger currently is chair of the Education Funding Advisory Board which has recommended funding reform for Illinois elementary and secondary schools.
Leininger earned his master's degree from the University of Illinois. He worked as a teacher, principal and superintendent at Centerville Grade School District in Prophetstown and served as superintendent for Lyndon Grade School and High School districts and River Bend Unit District in Fulton. He was declared an Outstanding Education Alumnus by the University of Illinois in 1987, received the WIU Distinguished Alumni Award in 1990 and received an Honorary Doctorate from McKendree College in Lebanon.
Emmy Award Nominee John Mahoney, a 1976 English graduate, will be recognized at the Dec. 13, 2003 commencement exercise. Mahoney portrays Frasier Crane's widowed father, Martin Crane, in the top-rated NBC comedy "Frasier." His most recent feature film appearances include the 1996 release of "Primal Fear" with Richard Gere and Laura Linney, and "She's the One" with Ed Burns, Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz.
Mahoney immigrated from England to the U.S. after high school and joined the Army. He received his bachelor's degree from Quincy College and his master's degree from WIU. His first job after graduating from Western was as an editor of medical trade publications. At the age of 37, Mahoney pursued his lifelong love for the theatre as a career. He enrolled in classes at St. Nicholas Theatre, where he performed opposite John Malkovich who in turn invited Mahoney to join the renowned Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. Since that time, he has appeared in more than 30 Steppenwolf productions.
Mahoney has received a Tony Award, a Clarence Derwent Award, two Drama Desk nominations, and the Theatre World Award. He made his directorial debut at the Steppenwolf Theatre with a production of "Talking Heads," a play made up of a series of monologues.
"Dr. Richardson's, Mr. Leininger's and Mr. Mahoney's contributions and dedication to medicine and sports, education and the theatre, respectively, should be given appropriate recognition," said Western Illinois President Al Goldfarb. "It is especially appropriate to honor a former Western student and two graduates who have had such productive and meaningful careers in their respective fields."
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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