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The 2017 Founders' Day Celebration began on the front steps of Sherman Hall with the ceremonial bell ringing by Lana Myers, a retired University employee and granddaughter of Edwin DeCamp, who first rang the bell Sept. 23, 1902 to signal the start of classes at Western Illinois State Normal School.
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WIU Founders' Day Sept. 24

August 27, 2018

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL -- In 1899, a bill to establish Western Illinois University (then called Western Illinois State Normal School) was passed by the state legislature. Macomb was selected in 1900 as the location for the new normal school in west central Illinois, and on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 1902, Western Illinois State Normal School opened its doors for the first official day of classes on the new campus.

Faculty, staff, students and community members are invited to celebrate the founding of Western at the 25th annual Founders' Day Celebration Monday, Sept. 24 at Sherman Hall, where history was made 116 years ago.

The 2018 Founders' Day Celebration will begin at 1 p.m. on the front steps of Sherman Hall with the ceremonial bell ringing by Lana Myers, a retired University employee and granddaughter of Edwin DeCamp, who first rang the bell Sept. 23, 1902 to signal the start of classes at Western Illinois State Normal School.

Following the bell ringing, the program will continue at 1:15 p.m. in the Sherman Hall Auditorium (third floor), with guest speaker WIU Alumna Rep Tony McCombie of Savanna (IL). A post-event reception will be held immediately following the program. The Sept. 24 program is open free to the public.

"Each year, we gather to pay tribute to the founders of Western Illinois University and civic leaders whose foresight brought this world-class institution to our community. One hundred and nineteen years ago, Western Illinois State Normal School was established, and three years later, the school opened its doors to the first class of students," President Jack Thomas said. "We look forward to hearing from our keynote speaker WIU Alumna and State Representative Tony McCombie, as we commemorate the history of Western Illinois University. I invite our University and community members to join us for the 25th annual Founders' Day Celebration."

McCombie has served as the 71st District representative since January 2017. McCombie, who was born and raised in Savanna, owns and operates Blue Appraisals and is self-employed in the real estate industry as a broker with Mel Foster Company. She also served the mayor of Savanna from 2013-2017 and as a member of the Savanna City Council. McCombie's committee assignments include serves on the Business and Occupational Licenses, Business Incentives for Local Communities, Cities and Villages; Elementary and Secondary Education: School Curriculum Policies, Tourism, Hospitality and Craft Industries and Transportation: Regulation, Roads.

A Founders' Day Celebration will also be held at the WIU-QC campus at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25 in the Rock Island County Board Community Room (Rms. 103/104) in Riverfront Hall on the WIU-QC campus. The program will begin with a breakfast at 7:30 a.m., with the program to follow at 8 a.m. McCombie will also speak at the WIU-QC event. Additional information regarding the WIU-QC Founders' Day event will be posted in a separate release.

The Founders' Day event, which began in 1994, celebrates the beginning of the University that evolved from the Western Illinois Normal and Training School with 229 students to today's University, which offers a comprehensive curriculum to nearly 10,000 students.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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