Decked out in Illini gear and loving it

Though he’s just a year old, Drew Lamb sure knows how to show off his Illini spirit, thanks to his Illini-loving grandparents, several alumni within the family and his parents, Greg, MS ’01 ENG, and Karen Lamb of Decatur, Ill. The Lambs enjoy following UI athletics as much as they can, and it appears little Drew is using the book “University of Illinois 101: My First Text-Board-Book” to see for himself what all this Illinois fuss is about.

Illini Reading 101

Two-year-old Dale E. Doogan is already an avid reader, and one of his favorite books is “University of Illinois 101: My First Text-Board-Book.” If everything goes as planned, Dale’s mom, Kelly M. Doogan, EDM ’96 ED, will watch with pride as Dale receives his UI undergraduate degree in 2027. A master’s degree and Ph.D. could also be in the cards, but for right now, little Dale is happy just to check out campus photos and other Illinois information in his handy UI 101 book.

Dog’s “I” View

This family of faithful alumni even got the dog into the Illini-wearing act. Dixie, a Chinese Pug, is adorning a hip blue sweater, lined with a furry white collar and capped off with the ever-popular “I” that any true Illinois fan must sport. Looking on is Jennifer A. Halvorson ’06 FAA, Roger S. Kesner, MS ’58 ED, and Scott A. Halvorson ’74 LAS, MD ’78 COM. This shot was taken right before the Illinois-Missouri Braggin’ Rights game on Dec. 19, 2006, which Illinois won 73-70. Dixie was a happy dog that night.

Love Near the Library

Willard ’44 LAS and Ruth Miller Lane ’44 LAS, who have been married for 62 years, first met at the steps of the Main Library as students in the 1940s. Thanks to their children and the Student Alumni Ambassadors, the Lanes returned in a special visit to the place where it all began for them.

“[It was] love at first sight,” said David Lane, the couple’s son. “My brothers and sisters have heard this story for all our lives. [We] wanted to get them back to the scene of the crime.”

As a special anniversary gift from their five children, Willard and Ruth were given a tour of the campus by two SAA members, who escorted the Lanes around the University of Illinois campus in a golf cart. Surely much has changed at the U of I since Willard and Ruth first met, but it appears “the scene of the crime” was a good place to start for this loving Illini couple.

Artfully Illini

Archer Bane of Greenville, N.C., knows good art when he sees it – or designs it. For a school project, the 15-year-old die-hard Illini fan, who hopes to attend Illinois someday, painted this colorful picture with an “I” for creativity. His parents, Art, MS ’97 AHS, and Susan Bane, MS ’89 AHS, PHD ’95 AHS, MD ’97 (UIC), hope their young son will one day become a proud Illinois alumnus, just like them.

Marriage Coaching

While two ceremonies might seem quite enough, one further nuptial encounter with an official awaited John Guerrera ’95 ACES and Jyoti Mediratta ’97 AHS on their (second) wedding day – a chance meeting with Illinois basketball coach and well wisher Bruce Weber. Married in a Catholic ceremony on Nov. 24, the couple then re-tied the knot the following day in a ritual traditional to her native India. They were enjoying a reception number 2 at the Marriott in Hoffman Estates, when who should appear but Weber and some of his players, the team having booked into the hotel for the Chicago Invitational Challenge (where the Illini defeated Miami of Ohio and Bradley). The affable Weber poses between the newlyweds, still garbed in traditional Indian wedding attire.

Illini Poses

Travis Kleinschmidt ’02 LAS could not be outdone by his brother. When he and his wife, Noël Evenson Kleinschmidt ’04 ED, got an e-mail photo of Justin Kleinschmidt ’03 ENG and his wife, Laura Peterson Kleinschmidt ’06 ACES, posing with Dee Brown ’05 AHS, they set out to get the same photograph. Justin and Laura (left) have men’s basketball season tickets and spotted Dee during halftime of the Illinois-Northwestern game Feb. 18 at the Assembly Hall where the Illini trounced the Wildcats 48-37; the couple was also able to snap a photo with former Illini star Luther Head ’06 AHS. Travis and Noël (right) attended the Portland Trailblazers-Utah Jazz game in Portland, Ore., Feb. 20 with the Portland Illini Club. The couple snatched former Illini players Brown, Roger Powell ’05 LAS and Deron Williams ’05 for a photo opportunity during pregame warm-ups before the Jazz fell 103-100.