Episode 82: Steve Vinovich
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with Steve Vinovich, an actor who has appeared on Broadway, in the movies, and on television.
Steve Vinovich, a professional actor, has appeared on Broadway in 'Loose Ends', 'Lost in Yonkers', 'The Magic Show', 'The Robber Bridegroom', Jerry Herman's 'The Grant Tour' and David Hare's 'The Secret Rapture'. In the LA area, Steve has played the leads in 'The Foreigner' and 'Special Occasions' at the Pasadena Playhouse, 'The Price and Art' at the Laguna Playhouse, 'On Golden Pond' with Charles Durning, 'The Robber Bridegroom' at the Mark Taper, as well as 'Bells Are Ringing', 'Strike up the Band' and 'Babes in Arms for Reprise', and at Pacific Resident Theater - 'The 60's, Awake and Sing, Golden Boy, Divorcons' and 'All My Sons'. He did Broadway Tour of Neil Simon's 'The Dinner Party'. At the Nevada Conservatory Theater, George in 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf', Uncle Peck in 'How I Learned to Drive' and Mathew H. Brady in 'Inherit the Wind'. Steve's films include 'The Santa Clause', 'Awakenings', 'Mannequin' and he was the voice of Puffin in the animated feature 'The Swan Princess'. He has done hundreds of commercials and TV shows, including 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine', 'Everybody Loves Raymond', 'Cold Case' and 'Malcolm in the Middle' and many many more.
He grew up on the South side of Peoria, graduated from St. John's Grade School, Spaulding Institute and graduated from and majored in Broadcast journalism at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and received a Master's at the University of California in Los Angeles. Steve received a full scholarship at Juilliard Acting School under John Houseman of the 'Paper Chase' movie. He is a three-time winner of the LA Drama Logue Awards. Steve's greatest "near miss" by one person the role of Cosmo Kramer in 'Seinfeld' now occupied by Michael Richards. Steve is married to coach/teacher Carolyn Mignini and they have two sons.
Episode 81: Robert Wilson
Robert W. Wilson, a Peoria native, was frequently cited in Gregory A. Freeman's book, The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked all for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II, as the B-17G radar/navigator/bombardier on the "point plane" which delivered tons of bombs over the Ploiesti/Romanian oil fields during his 20 missions. During his 21st mission, his plane was shot down; he, along with others, was finally rescued from via a C47 cargo plane which landed on a short air strip constructed by his colleagues and Yugoslav guerillas under the command of General Draza Mihailovich, a royalist Serb who supported the Allied cause, and others.
The 1944 Operation Halyard was concluded without detection by the Germans mostly in broad daylight. The mission was a complete success -- the kind that should have been trumpeted in news reels and on the front page. By comparison, the famed escaped of allied prisoners from a German POW camp portrayed in the movie, "The Great Escape," involved 200 men and only 76 were successful. It is a little known episode that started with one edge-of-your seat rescue in August 1944, followed by a series of additional rescues in the following months. American agents from the OSS, the precursor of the CIA, worked with General Mihailovich to carry out the huge, ultra-secret rescue mission; he was executed by Tito's government in 1946. In 1948, President Harry Truman posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit to General Mihailovich for his contributions to the Allies' victory in Europe. The award was delivered to his daughter, Gordana, by Bob and several of his surviving colleagues.
Before enlisting at age 19, Bob completed one semester in the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. While in the service, he received special training as a radar/navigator/bombardier. After his service, he returned to the University of Illinois, earned a degree in mechanical engineering, then was employed by Caterpillar for a period of time and thereafter, retired and managed his investment portfolio. He currently resides in Dunlap, Illinois.
Episode 80: George Edward Stelluto
American conductor George Edward Stelluto, Music Director for the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, is the Resident Conductor at the Juilliard School, the Assistant Conductor of the Ravinia Festival with the Chicago Symphony and an advisor to Sinfonia por La Vida in Ecuador - a new orchestra based on Venezuela's Il Sistema program. A versatile conductor comfortable in many styles and genres, George Stelluto gives frequent performances at Lincoln Center with the Juilliard Orchestra and has collaborated with the Dance, Vocal, Pre-College, and Jazz divisions at Juilliard in projects ranging from Spring Dances@Juilliard to the Juilliard Opera Center's "Trilogy" production of operas by Mussorgsky, Krenek, and Fleischman.
He made his Avery Fisher Hall debut with the Juilliard Orchestra in May 2008 in an all-symphonic program of Bernstein's Candide Overture, Beethoven's Symphony No. 4, and Brahms' Symphony No. 2. His international debut was at the Kiev International Music Festival in 2000 where he gave the Ukrainian premiere of Samuel Barber's Second Essay for Orchestra. Subsequent acclaimed premieres there include William Schuman's Symphony #5, Barber's First Essay, and Ewazen's Chamber Symphony.
Maestro Stelluto's performances, interviews, and recordings have been broadcast on radio and television throughout the United States and Europe. He has collaborated with solo artists such as Sarah Chang, Hilary Hahn, Edgar Meyer, and Samuel Ramey. His numerous contemporary premieres include works by Philippe Bodin, Virko Baley, Huang Ruo, Paul Desenne, and Theodore Antoniou. The Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony and the Juilliard Orchestra have performed his orchestral reduction of Schreker's overture to the opera Die Gezeichneten and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will perform it this season.
George Stelluto is Juilliard's first Artist Diploma recipient in conducting, the first Resident Conductor at the Juilliard School, and the first ever Assistant Conductor at the Ravinia Festival. He also holds two Master's Degrees (Violin & Conducting) from the Yale School of Music, and a Bachelor's Degree in Violin from West Virginia University, summa cum laude. Among his numerous awards are the State of Nevada Regents Creativity Award and The Bruno Walter Memorial Fellowship at Juilliard. He has participated in many summer festivals both as a conductor and chamber musician, including Ravinia, Aspen, Peter Britt, Focus!, The Quartet Program, Kiev International, Long Beach, and Ukrainian Summer.
Episode 79: Thomas S. Bagley
Thomas S. Bagley is the Founder and Senior Managing Director of Pfingsten Partners, L.L.C., a private equity fund. Since founding Pfingsten in 1989, Tom has been involved in all aspects of the firm's private equity investment and management activities and had experience working with middle market companies for many years before founding the firm.
Pfingsten is an operationally-driven private equity firm focused on long-term value creation. From its headquarters in Chicago and its representative offices in ChangAn, China and New Delhi, India, Pfingsten helps businesses in ways few private equity firms can by applying its unique operational and global resources. Pfingsten invest a minimum of 50% equity into the capital structure of each portfolio company, providing the flexibility to create value through operational improvements, professional management practices, global capabilities and profitable business growth, versus financial engineering. Its operating professional comprise more than half of Pfingsten management and work in partnership with company management.
Prior to the formation of Pfingsten, Tom was the Midwest Area Head of the Leveraged Capital Group at Citicorp North America, Inc. in Chicago. In that position, he was responsible for leveraged acquisition activities in 12 Midwestern states. Before Citicorp, he held various management and lending positions at Continental Bank, N.A. in Chicago and Cleveland.
A Chicago native, Tom holds a BA degree in Economics, with honors, from North Park College and an MBA degree in Finance from DePaul University.
Episode 78: Thomas J. Day
Thomas J. Day (Dziengelewski), the President and founder of Bugles Across America, was born and raised in Chicago, served in the United States Marines and for 30 years was active in the financial industry. Bugles Across America consists of approximately 7,500 volunteers who play taps at the funerals of any honorably discharged Veteran. Tom was featured in the Wall Street Journal, the September 16, 2013 issue of The Weekly Standard, has appeared on the Tom Brokaw show, the Chris Wallace show, the Glenn Beck show. He received numerous awards for his role in coordinating the efforts of the volunteers and has played taps at more than 1,000 funerals. Tom tells about his experiences as a small loan company collector and other experiences associated with the bringing to closure the death of some of the Nation's finest.
Episode 77: George A. Schaefer
Host Ed Sutkowski interviews the CEOs of Caterpillar Inc. who led the company out of its most difficult financial years to help it become one of the most successful companies in the world. In this episode, Ed talks with George Schaefer, Chairman and CEO from 1985-1990.
George served as Caterpillar Inc.'s Chairman and CEO from February 1985 to mid-1990. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, he earned an accounting degree from Washington University and joined Caterpillar at age 27 in 1960. George rose from a Decatur, Illinois, plant manager to Chairman and CEO. He also served as a board member of Aon Corporation, Helmerich & Payne, Inc., McDonnell Douglas, and Morton International.
During George's tenure, he orchestrated a de-centralized business structure, emphasized return on investments, closed Cat's plant in Glasgow, England, faced a strike in global recession, higher production costs, outdated plants and equipment and low heavy equipment demand. In 1987, he oversaw $1.8 billion plant modernization program, the termination of 6,000 Cat employees in fewer than 30 days (total company-wide reduction of 32,000 employees), reduced manufacturing space by 6.7 square feet, and implemented a new product design strategy which decreased design time from 10 years to as little as 27 months.
George characterizes himself as "not the most charismatic person" but prides himself on being a good listener and his philosophy that "a lot of people can do a lot of things better than I and so let them do it." He oversaw Cat's entry into the capital venture area and compared and contrasted the tragedy of General Motors and Ford. His most difficult decision related to the sea of change in Cat's direction from a $600 million loss to a profitable organization. He views bad news as an opportunity.
Episode 76: Glen A. Barton
Host Ed Sutkowski interviews the CEOs of Caterpillar Inc. who led the company out of its most difficult financial years to help it become one of the most successful companies in the world. In this episode, Ed talks with Glen Barton, Chairman and CEO from 1999-2004.
Born in Alton, Missouri, Glen remembers riding a tractor at age 5 and dreaming of machines and construction equipment. He served as Caterpillar Inc.'s CEO and Chair from 1999 to 2004. A Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Missouri was followed by a certificate from the Stanford University Executive Program.
During the period Caterpillar experienced a weakened demand for its products, Glen redirected Cat's initiatives and focused on production of machines for construction, electric power generation, electronics, energy, financing, forestry, logistics, mining and transportation. At the close of his term, Caterpillar products were manufactured in 50 U.S.-based facilities and 65 world-wide facilities.
Glen orchestrated Caterpillar's emphasis on Six Sigma - a discipline, data-driven approach to process improvement aimed at the near elimination of defects from every product, process and transaction.
Among his many appointments, Glen has served as a director of Firefly Energy, Inc., founder of Peoria NEXT, Trustee of Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award Foundation, and on the University of Missouri-Columbia Dean's Engineering Advisory Council, Illinois Business Roundtable, President's Export Council, Civic Federation, Bradley University Board of Trustees, and Tri-County Venture Capital Fund.
Episode 75: Donald V. Fites
Host Ed Sutkowski interviews the CEOs of Caterpillar Inc. who led the company out of its most difficult financial years to help it become one of the most successful companies in the world. In this episode, Ed talks with Donald Fites, Chairman and CEO from June 1990 until his retirement in February 1999.
Don hails from a 90-acre farm in Tippecanoe, Indiana. As a senior, he graduated first in his high school class of 8 students. A degree in Civil Engineering from Valparaiso University was followed by the MIT Sloan Fellows Program and honorary degrees from Wabash College and Purdue, Valparaiso and Bradley Universities. Don was named CEO of the Year by Financial World (1995) and Executive of the Year by the Executives' Club of Chicago. Don looks at his past and shares his future goals with Ed.
As Caterpillar Inc. CEO and Chair from June 1990 to his retirement in February 1999, Don implemented strategic initiatives that strengthened Caterpillar's global industry leadership, led to record revenues and profits and positioned the company for growth and continued financial success. Under his direction (year-end results 1990 through 1998), sales and revenues increased 83% to $20.98 billion and profits increased more than seven-fold to $1.51 billion.
Don served as a member of the President's Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations under Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush and Bill Clinton.
Episode 74: General Wayne A. Downing
Recorded in 2006, host Ed Sutkowski talks family, career, and values with General Wayne Downing, U.S. Army (Retired). A Peorian and highly decorated combat veteran, General Downing retired after a 34-year career in the U.S. Army and served the White House as National Director and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism. General Downing died July 17, 2007.
A West Point graduate (Class of 1962), General Downing received a Masters of Business Administration from Tulane University. He served in Okinawa, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and many other areas of global conflict and crisis. Among his more than 13 decorations and badges, General Downing was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. General Downing recounts his military and business ventures along with his near-death battlefield experience.
Episode 73: Jim Brickman
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with internationally known piano virtuoso Jim Brickman while on location in Peoria. Jim details the joy, rewards and exhaustion of his creative outpourings. Jim earned his combined business/music degree from Case Western. As one who did not enjoy accounting, he secured a second degree in Piano from the Cleveland School of Music. Expecting a career in the business of music, Jim instead authored jingles for McDonald's, scripted parts of the Muppet Show, authored books, and composed songs for Disney. He is credited with the song "Beautiful," an original composition inspired by Disney's Cinderella.
Today, Jim performs his original compositions and those of others -- worldwide -- in more than 125 cities annually. Listen as he reveals the solitude and "head spinning" of his creative process, and characterizes his performances, not as destinations but instead as his personal introspective journeys. He details the joy, the rewards and exhaustion of his creative outpourings.
While Jim barely admits to the potential immortality of his works, including holiday performances, three PBS specials, being part of Disney's 50th Anniversary Celebration, numerous wedding compositions, four Gold Records, a Songwriter of the Year Award and a 60-station syndicated radio show, they all suggest the everlasting influence of his creativity upon the hearts and minds of millions!
Episode 72: Bob Skoronski
Host Ed Sutkowski talks football, business, life, integrity and what it was like to play for Vince Lombardi with Bob Skoronski, Co-Captain of the Green Bay Packers for Super Bowls I and II.
Bob Skoronski is a grandson of Polish immigrants and the son of parents who worked in a rubber factory. Bob's parents encouraged him and his brothers and sisters to attend college. Though he could have entered Notre Dame, Bob would only go to a school that offered a scholarship to his brother as well. Bob's two younger brothers went to Harvard and his sister earned a Ph.D. At Indiana University, Bob earned a B.A. in marketing, was co-captain of the football team, never missed a college game, and was voted the Hoosier's Most Valuable Player as a senior. He has been inducted in Indiana's athletic Hall of Fame and earned All Big Ten and All American honors. Bob played in the North-South All Star Game in 1955, and the College All-Star Classic in 1956.
Post-Indiana, Bob, then 6'3'' and 250 pounds, was drafted in the 5th round by the Green Bay Packers where he received a $5,000 signing bonus and not more than $7,000 per year during his 13 years at Green Bay. "Ski," as he was called by his teammates, earned All Pro honors and Co-Captained Green Bay's victorious Super Bowl I and II teams.
Bob was a Packer during the reign of the great Vince Lombardi. Bob describes Green Bay's conversion from loser status to winner status, Lombardi's coaching style, and complex, driven and tormented personality; Lombardi became the subject of the David Maraniss book, When Pride Still Mattered, and is memorialized by dozens of his motivational urgings e.g.,
"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor." Like his coach, Bob led by example on and off the field. Green Bay Packer teammate, Jerry Kramer, wrote in Distant Replay, "Skoronski's formidable energy and enthusiasm carried him, like so many others who played for Lombardi, from an impoverished childhood to remarkable success on the football field to equal success in the business world.
Post-Green Bay Packers, Bob and other teammates founded and grew a sales organization from zero to $16 million in revenues. He is now retired but remains an avid hunter and fisherman, and, along with some of his Super Bowl teammates called the "Green Bay Legends," presents motivational speeches country wide. The Legends donate all proceeds to charity.
Episode 71: Marion Blumenthal Lazan
Host Ed Sutkowski interviews Marion Blumenthal Lazan—a Holocaust survivor, 1953 Peoria High School graduate, and author of the memoir Four Perfect Pebbles.
Marion Blumenthal Lazan's success is one of survival - her own and her family's - mother, father and brother, Albert. Trapped in Hitler's Germany, they eventually fled to Holland but were soon caught in the Nazi web. For 6-½ years, they lived in refugee, transit and prison camps, including Holland's Westerbork and Germany's Bergen-Belsen. The latter is where Anne Frank and her sister, Margot, died.
While incarcerated with her family and all the while deprived of food, clothing and living essentials, Marion imagined her loved ones as what is now the tilte of her book, The Four Perfect Pebbles. If the pebbles did not die, her family would likewise endure. As a 10-year-old who weighted 35 lbs., Marion recalls stepping over the dead and dying, deprivation, oppression, indescribable sadness, and, finally, the ultimate joy of freedom. Six days before the British captured Bergen-Belsen, the family was placed above the "death train" destined for Auschwitz. Before reaching Auschwitz, the war ended and Russian troops freed the Blumenthals.
Marion has dedicated her life to communicate a message of love, respect and tolerance for all people. She has reached more than 200,000 individuals in the United States, Germany and Israel.
Episode 70: Todd A. Smith, Esq.
An interview with Todd Smith, Esq., a trial lawyer.
Born in Chicago, Todd's maternal grandfather was William Jennings Bryan, famous orator, politician and attorney. Todd graduated from Evanston High School, received a B.S.B. from Kansas University, an M.B.A. from Northwestern University and a J.D. from Loyola Law School in Chicago. He is a member of the Inner Circle - an organization comprised of only the top 100 trial lawyers in the United States, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and began his career as a public defender in the city of Chicago. His CV reflects Todd's 12 pages of trials to verdict and three pages of settlements. During the 17-year period ending 2005, Todd secured more than $300 million in recoveries for aggrieved plaintiffs.
Todd details the potential cures for the medical liability system, the role of medical "caps", the compensation of corporate executives, the selection of cases, the trial process and the intellectual rush of a trial.
Episode 69: Seattle Sutton
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with Seattle Sutton, founder of Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating, about her thriving business and committment to excellence.
An RN and mother of four daughters, Seattle was born in Gackle, North Dakota. She is founder and president of Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating, a preparer and distributor of heart healthy meals. With sales of more than $16 million, the company is located in Marseilles, Illinois.
Seattle details the beginning and current status of her business, its ups and downs, the overall mission and its unwavering commitment to excellence.
Episode 68: Robert W. Parsons
In this 2005 interview, host Ed Sutkowski interviews Bob Parsons, founder of Parsons Manufacturing. The Roanoke plant—destroyed by a tornado in July 2004 as employees remained safe in the company's storm shelters—has been rebuilt and is back to full production.
"Farm boy," Bob, with a penchant for "building things" first became a U.S. Navy ship fitter, then a welder in 1972, and then a self-taught engineer and custom parts manufacturer.
He grew his business from a one-man single-stall-garage operation to a 260,000 square foot facility; in early 2004, Parsons Company, Inc. employed more than 180 people.
An F-5 level 30-mile-an-hour tornado "pancaked" the facility in July of 2004. Thankfully, no one was injured and it was rebuilt and fully-operational within 12 months.
In this conversation, see, hear and feel Bob Parsons' definition of "character" as well as his view of the world and his place in it!
Episode 67: Linda B. Washkuhn
In anticipation of this year's Race for the Cure, WTVP presents an interview with Linda Washkuhn, a driving force in the fight against breast cancer since the early 1980s—and in creating and building the Race for the Cure in Peoria.
Born in Springfield, Illinois, Linda grew up in Buffalo, New York. The daughter of a Special Agent for the FBI and Special Education teacher, Linda received her Bachelor's Degree from Millikin University. She is the mother of two grown sons.
Linda and Susan G. Komen became close friends living in Peoria, Illinois. They met when Susan returned to her hometown and Linda moved back to the Midwest. With many shared interests and goals, they participated in Junior League activities and numerous charity fashion shows.
When Suzy was diagnosed with breast cancer, Linda stayed by her side. Suzy lost her battle in 1980 at age 36. Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was founded by Nancy Brinker, Suzy's sister, to fund awareness, education and research in the international fight against breast cancer. Linda discusses the life of her best friend, Susan G. Komen; her own involvement in the fight against breast cancer on a local, national and international level and the humble beginnings of Peoria's Race for the Cure.
Episode 66: Richard L. Weisman
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with art collector Richard Weisman, who brought his collection of Andy Warhol sports paintings to the Peoria Art Guild for a special weekend exhibition.
Richard, the son of Fredrick and Marcia Weisman, embraced the arts at an early age. His business beginnings, however, related to his employment by City National Bank in Beverly Hills as a registered stock broker and later as a trainee with Wertheim & Company. During his tenure, the organization grew from four to 30 brokers. In 1979, he was with Lerand Securities as an asset manager specializing in high net worth individuals and pension plans.
Richard's family is actively involved in the arts. His uncle, Norton Simon of Hunt Foods Inc. was reputed to own the most significant private collection of art, consisting of more than 12,000 paintings including works by Picasso and Raphael. Richard's own collection includes the Andy Warhol Athletes Series featuring silkscreens of sports icons Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicklaus, Chris Evert, William Shoemaker, Pele, Tom Seaver, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, O.J. Simpson, and Dorothy Hamill.
Richard has served on the boards of Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Art Museum, National Board of United Cerebral Palsy, UCLA and the University of Colorado.
Episode 65: Dr. Glyn E. Jones
An interview with Dr. Glyn Jones, internationally recognized plastic surgeon.
Dr. Jones came to Peoria from Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, with intermediate stops in England and Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Jones, a Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, previously served as the Chief of Plastic Surgery at Emory University; he has presented more than 75 lectures and more than 65 papers at various seminars worldwide. He describes the sights, sounds and feelings of the operating room, the relationship of his painting, guitar and skiing to his profession and his view of America's health care crisis. Dr. Jones responds to the question, "How do you teach compassion?"
Episode 64: Gerald D. Stephens and Jonathan E. Michael
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with Jerry Stephens, founder and chairman of the board, and Jon Michael, president and chief executive officer of RLI Corp., a specialty insurance company.
Gerald D. Stephens, founder and now chairman of the board of RLI Corp., a New York Stock Exchange corporation, began RLI Corp. in 1965. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin and began his business career in association with his father, H.O. Stephens as a property and casualty insurance agent. Initially, RLI and its subsidiaries were engaged in the business of marketing contact lens insurance. In 1969, RLI "went public" and raised $880,000 by selling 110,000 of its shares at $8.00 per share. Its net income before extraordinary items rose from $41,323 in 1968 to $136,698 in 1969. At the end of year 2003, the market cap of RLI shares exceeded $1 billion and its earnings for calendar year for 2003 exceeded $71 million.
Jonathan E. Michael is president and chief executive officer of RLI Corp., a Peoria-based New York Stock Exchange company with assets exceeding $2.2 billion, insurance premiums in excess of $750 million and market capitalization of approximately $1 billion. Prior to joining RLI as a chief accountant in 1982, Jon was associated with Coopers & Lybrand; he was named to his current position in 2001. Jon is a graduate of Ohio Dominican College in Columbus, Ohio. He is a member of the Boards of RLI Corp.; Maui Jim, Inc., a distributor of sunglasses; Fieldstone Investment Corporation, a mortgage investment and banking company; and Peoria-based First Capital Bank. In addition, he is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Insurance Accounting Systems association and the National Association of Independent Insurers Federal and State Tax Committee.
Episode 63: Honorable Joe Billy McDade
Interesting People's Ed Sutkowski interviews Hon. Joe Billy McDade, District Judge, U.S. District Court for Central Illinois.
Judge McDade was born in Raccoon Bend, Texas, population less than 100, received a $1,000 academic from Bradley University where he majored in Economics and ultimately received a Master's of Arts in Psychology. As a sophomore member of the Bradley Braves, Judge McDade scored 220 points. He was a starter on three Bradley basketball teams ranked among the top 10 in the United States, and he was named to the NIT basketball team in 1959.
After Bradley, Judge McDade was drafted in the 9th round by the NBA's Cincinnati Royals; instead, he chose to attend the University of Michigan Law School from which he graduated in 1963. He served as an attorney with the Anti-Trust Division of the United States Department of Justice, worked as the Executive Director of the Greater Peoria Legal Society and then engaged in private practice until 1982 when he was first elected to the bench as an Associate Circuit Court Judge. He was later a Circuit Court Judge and was appointed as a Federal District Court Judge in 1991. Judge McDade is the father of four children - an attorney, a physician, a high school science teacher and a pharmaceutical representative.
Among Judge McDade's 25+ honors are the following: 1990 distinguished Alumnus Award from Bradley, Leadership Award from First Presbyterian Church Youth Retreat in 1966, City of Peoria Service Commendation from the Library Board in 1977, Service Award, UPGRADE - a non-profit housing corporation in 1982, Recognition Award from African-American Hall of Fame Museum, Inc. in 1991 and Award of Appreciation from Share Food Program of Central Illinois, Inc. in 1992.
Judge McDade recounts his motivational speech at the 20th Annual Illinois Basketball Coaches All-Star Game/Banquet and in particular, his suggestion that "Nobody plans to fail; but some schoolboy heroes fail to plan." In addition, he exposes his adolescent dreams and feelings, including a poignant story about a door to door broom salesman visiting his grandmother's home, and the landscape and the mechanics of his journey from Raccoon Bend, Texas to the Federal bench.