ARCOLA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Amazing ARCOLA, ILLINOIS

Distinguished Alumni
By Graduation Year

1919

Modesta Scott

1920

Edward Finfgeld

Eunice Collins Sourla
Dr. E.S. Allen
Tom Monahan

John Kibler

Robert C. Coombe

Tom Blagg
Robert "Popeye" Pullen

Bobby Ghere
Russ Ghere

Dr. Robert Fortney

Phil Wesch

Carol Pullen

Ed Fidler

Ed Smart

Dr. Virginia Fortney

Larry Bushu
Dr. Robert Smith

Byron Bradford
Delane Lindenmeyer
Dean Sanders

Dr. Robert Arrol
Bob Curry
Tim Monahan

Pat Monahan
Dr. Ed Harshbarger
Doug Mullikin

Jim Binford
Dr. David Ellison
Art Beazley

Beth Hull Vyverberg

Roger Shields

Andy Walton
John "Corky" Clark
Ron Vyverberg
Eva Monfort Ridenour
Dan Ghere

Larry Rollings

Terry Miller

Karen Conlin Faler
Cheryl Holaday Hilgenberg

Bill Moody

Charles "Skip" Lee
Dennis Thompson

Don Portugal

Nancy King Mertz

Dr. Nancy Van Cleave
Dr. Marty Carson

Michael Clark

Steve Bumpus

Van King

Gail Chaney Kalinich
Robert Reese

Diane Olson

Margaret Monahan

2025 Distinguished Alumni Honorees

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

Dan Ghere (AHS 1962)
William "Bill" Moody, deceased (AHS 1967)
Dr. Martin Carson, deceased (AHS 1971)
Diane Olson (AHS 1981)

Reception - 5:00 PM
Buffet Dinner - 6:00 PM
Program - 7:00 PM (approximate)
Banquet Reservations may be submitted through October 11, 2025
Sponsor Donations are greatly appreciated to continue the Arcola schools projects underwritten by the Arcola Alumni Association.

For more information, contact:

Sue Stout (217) 840-6605
Judy Thomas (217) 259-3493
Kendall Moore (217) 246-4515

2024 Distinguished Alumni Honorees

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

Beth Hull Vyverberg (AHS 1960)
Ronald G. "Ron" Vyverberg (AHS 1962)
Eva Monfort Ridenour (AHS 1962)
Robert Reese, deceased (AHS 1980)
Margaret Ann Monahan, deceased (AHS 1983)

Highlights from the Banquet

2023 Distinguished Alumni Honorees

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Banquet