ou Liay Spirit Award for Extraordinary Alumni Service

Established in 1997, this award is named after Lou Liay, Executive Director of the University of Illinois Alumni Association from 1983 to 1998. It is bestowed upon alumni of the University of Illinois who have consistently demonstrated extraordinary loyalty, commitment, dedication and service to the University of Illinois Alumni Association and/or its constituent and affiliated groups for the betterment of the University of Illinois, and whose name and achievements have become synonymous with their alma mater. The award is presented annually during Homecoming weekend.

2007 Recipients

Norman ’58 DSSWV and Mary Jane Beasley have shared a love of music and the Illini since they met and married in Champaign in 1980. When they retired to Tucson in 1991, the couple revived a dormant Illini alumni club, serving as co-presidents for four years. The Beasleys continued on the Board until 2005 and remain active participants. Mary Jane served as membership chairperson from 2002-05, and in 2004 the club received a 110 Percent Award for Best Club Membership Campaign. Norm received his bachelor’s degree in music education, and was a big-band leader of the Bob Norman Orchestra and an investment broker. Mary Jane had a 30-year career in basic research at the U of I.

The Beasleys have attended many alumni leadership conferences held on the campus on Homecoming weekends. In 2004, Norm and Mary Jane presented a Bob Norman musical show at The Park Inn for over 200 alumni, faculty and friends. When the jazz ensemble Medicare 7, 8 or 9 made its final West Coast tour ten years ago, the Beasleys attended the club events happening with the Orange County Illini Club and Illini Club of San Diego County. In August 2007, the couple joined the San Diego alumni club in welcoming the Illini 4000 bicyclists upon completion of their cross-country ride, which raised money for and awareness of pediatric cancer and cancer research. Norm provided the musical entertainment, singing and playing the trombone.

Previous Recipients

2006
John S. Ellison ’64 ACES

2005
Carol Keiser Long '68 ACES

2004
David G. Powless '75 BUS

2003
Marie L. Johnson '54 LAS, MS '58 ED

2002
Dan Perrino '48 FAA, MS '49 FAA

2001
Larry L. Fischer '74 ACES

1998
William Branom '54 COM
Henrietta Branom Knecht '27 LAS