Distinuished Alumni

Five Arcola High School graduates were honored as Distinguished Alumni during the association’s banquet at the Kaskaskia Country Club on Saturday, October 14, 2023.

The honored Arcola High School alumni and their year of graduation are:

William Robert "Bob" Fortney, deceased (AHS 1944)
Virginia L. Fortney (AHS 1952)
John V. "Jack" Fishel, deceased (AHS 1956)
John G. "Corky" Clark (AHS 1962)
Dennis R. "Denny" Thompson (AHS 1968)

Highlights from the 2023 Banquet

2018 Distinguished Alumni Honorees

The 2018 honored Arcola High School alumni and year of graduation are:

Lt. Col. Edmund P. Smart, deceased (AHS 1952)
John Douglas “Doug” Mullikin (AHS 1958)
Charles “Skip” Lee (AHS 1968)
Steven Earl Bumpus, deceased (AHS 1978)
John VanGundy “Van” King (AHS 1979)

Highlights from the 2018 Banquet

2017 Distinguished Alumni Honorees

The 2017 honored Arcola High School alumni and year of graduation are:

Capt. John D. Kibler, deceased (AHS 1932)
Raymond Arthur “Art” Beazley, deceased (AHS 1959)
John Andrew “Andy” Walton, Jr. (AHS 1962)
Cheryl S. Holaday Hilgenberg (AHS 1966)
Gail Chaney Kalinich (AHS 1980)

Highlights from the 2017 Banquet

2016 Distinguished Alumni Honorees

The 2016 honored Arcola High School alumni and year of graduation are:

Dr. Robert E. Smith (AHS 1955)
Thomas F. (Tim) Monahan (AHS 1957)
Dr. Charles Edward (Ed) Harshbarger, Jr., deceased (AHS 1958)
Capt. Benjamin J. (Jim) Binford (AHS 1959)
Dr. David J. Ellison, deceased (AHS 1959)
Dr. Nancy K. VanCleave (AHS 1971)

Highlights from the 2016 Banquet

2015 Distinguished Alumni Honorees

The 2015 honored Arcola High School alumni and year of graduation are:

Edward M. Finfgeld, deceased (AHS 1920)
Thomas F. Monahan, deceased (AHS 1927)
Bob Curry (AHS 1957)
Roger Shields (AHS 1961)
Larry B. Rollings, deceased (AHS 1963)
Karen Conlin Faler (AHS 1966)
Don Paul Portugal (AHS 1969)
Michael A. Clark (AHS 1972)

Highlights from the 2015 Banquet

2014 Distinguished Alumni Honorees

The 2014 honored Arcola High School alumni and year of graduation are:

Dr. E.S. Allen, deceased (AHS 1927)
Bobby Gene Ghere, deceased (AHS 1943)
Russell S. Ghere, deceased (AHS 1943)
James Edward "Ed" Fidler (AHS 1951)
Larry Bushu (AHS 1955)
Dean Sanders (AHS 1956)
Patrick Monahan (AHS 1958)
Terry Miller (AHS 1964)

Highlights from the 2014 Banquet

2013 Distinguished Alumni Honorees

The 2013 honored Arcola High School alumni and year of graduation are:

Robert N. Arrol, M.D. (AHS 1957)
Thomas Blagg, deceased (AHS 1938)
Byron Bradford (AHS 1956)
Robert C. Coombe, deceased (AHS 1933)
DeLane “Dee” Lindenmeyer, deceased (AHS 1956)
Nancie King Mertz (AHS 1970)
Carol Pullen (AHS 1949)
Robert “Popeye” Pullen, deceased (AHS 1938)
Modesta Scott, deceased (AHS 1919)
Eunice Collins Sourla, deceased (AHS 1927)
John Philip “Phil” Wesch, deceased (AHS 1947)

Highlights from the 2013 Banquet

Distinguished Alumni
By Last Name

Allen, Dr. E.S.
Arrol, Dr. Robert
Beazley, Art
Binford, Capt. Jim
Blagg, Tom
Bradford, Byron
Bumpus, Steve
Bushu, Larry
Carson, Dr. Marty
Clark, John "Corky"
Clark, Michael
Coombe, Robert C.
Curry, Bob
Ellison, Dr. David
Faler, Karen Conlin
Fidler, Ed
Finfgeld, Edward
Fortney, Dr. Robert
Fortney, Dr. Virginia
Ghere, Bobby
Ghere, Dan
Ghere, Russ
Harshbarger, Dr. Ed
Hilgenberg, Cheryl Holaday
Kalinich, Gail Chaney
Kibler, John
King, Van
Lee, Charles "Skip"
Lindenmeyer, Delane
Mertz, Nancy King
Miller, Terry
Monahan, Margaret
Monahan, Pat
Monahan, Tim
Monahan, Tom
Moody, Bill
Mullikin, Doug
Olson, Diane
Pullen, Carol
Pullen, Robert "Popeye"
Ridenour, Eva Monfort
Rollings, Larry
Sanders, Dean
Scott, Modesta
Shields, Roger
Smart, Ed
Smith, Dr. Robert
Sourla, Eunice Collins
Thompson, Dennis
Van Cleave, Dr. Nancy
Vyverberg, Beth Hull
Vyverberg, Ron
Walton, Andy
Wesch, Phil

Questions/Comments to arcolaalumni@yahoo.com
Last Revision December 31, 2025