Distinguished Alumnus
Class of 2026

Professor Phillip Michael “Mick” Howrey

AHS Class of 1966

Mick Howrey found success as an entrepreneur, executive and educator. His achievements in business and education may only be surpassed by his commitment to leadership, service and volunteerism in the communities he has served over the decades.

Mick, the seventh of seven children of Clyde Jackson and Martha Tyrrhene Howrey of Kemp, IL, was born September 2, 1948. His father was a Panhandle Eastern Pipeline equipment operator as his mother worked at home. Mick attended Kemp Grade School before entering Arcola Junior High School, where he played basketball. At Arcola High School, he played football and was in Industrial Arts Club his freshman and sophomore years, but discontinued all extracurricular activities after his father’s passing in November 1963, when he began work after school and on weekends. His classmates selected Mick to be their junior class Homecoming attendant.

Education has guided Mick throughout his life. Following his 1966 high school graduation, he attended Mt. Vernon Community College before his marriage to Alice Nanette Harrison in September 1967. Their son, James Michael, was born the following September. Mick served as datacenter manager, then vice president/general manager, at First National Bank of Mt. Vernon (1969-1978) and became president of Systems Resources of Illinois (1979-1983) when his newly formed company purchased First National Bank’s datacenter. He furthered his education in 1971-72 at IBM Systems Science Institute and completed his BS in Business at Tarkio College in St Louis in 1988. Mick attended evening and weekend classes at Lindenwood University, St. Charles, MO, completing his MBA in 1992. His education continued at Executive Studies Institute at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in the summers of 1993 and 1994 and he completed post- graduate studies at Hillsdale College (2012 -2019). Mick completed student pilot training, although final certification was halted by COVID, and also graduated from The Dale Carnegie Institute and Citizen’s Police Academy.

As an entrepreneur, Mick founded Systems Resources of Illinois, Auditec Computing Services, The Total Difference, Valley Consulting and Marketing Direct and, as an executive, was vice president of TALX Corporation and Vestcom International. In 2010, Mick partnered with Aisle411, Inc., a St. Louis technology company, and became partner and business/marketing manager for Creative Construction by Design in 2013. He is currently senior business advisor for Small Business Development Center at EIU and president of Howrey Enterprises LLC.

Mick devoted many years as an educator in numerous classrooms during his business career, beginning at Rend Lake Community College in 1978-1979. He was adjunct professor at Southern Illinois University (1982-1991) and at Lindenwood University (1997-2011). Mick was honored to serve on Lindenwood’s Accreditation Preparation and Presentation Committee for Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), the national university accrediting organization. He served as substitute teacher for Arcola, Arthur and Oakland High Schools. His work with high school students continued as facilitator for the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) program in Douglas/Moultrie Counties.

Mick has consistently volunteered throughout his career. He was president of the Southern Illinois Data Processing Management Association, member SIU Computer Information Advisory Board and member Shimkus Congressional Small Business Committee. Mick chaired the education committee for Systems Management Association in Missouri, the committee for St. Louis Leukemia/Lymphoma Society Man of the Year and was also vice president of the Fighting Illini Quarterback Club.

His ardent commitment to area economic development continues as Mick chairs the Small Business Development Center Advisory Board at EIU, serves with East Central Illinois Development Corporation, Douglas County Economic Development Corporation and Arcola Community Economic Development.

Mick is an active participant as he works to support and lead local organizations in the Arcola community. He is executive director of Arcola Chamber of Commerce, where his focus is economic development, attracting/retaining businesses and helping them succeed, membership growth and activation. Now in his second term as Rotary Club president, Mick led Rotary’s Arcola business symposium, organized the collection and donation of over 2,000 pairs of shoes for the “Shoes For Orphan Souls” campaign and presided as Arcola Rotary hosted the district-wide End Polio Fundraiser that generated a $33,000 donation to the Polio Foundation. During his first year as president, the club was honored with the very prestigious Small Rotary Club of the Year award for Rotary District 6490 that encompasses 22 counties and 45 clubs. His cumulative donations to the Rotary Foundation earned his recognition as Paul Harris Fellow +2. Additionally, Mick organized the Raggedy Ann Rally Committee, serves as deacon for First Christian Church and was recognized by Peoples Bank & Trust as Volunteer of the Quarter for his continued leadership and service in the community.

With a passion for volunteerism related to Alzheimer’s disease and the elderly, Mick is a leader for Douglas, Moultrie and Coles County Caregiver Support Groups and serves on Coles County Council on Aging Caregiver Advisory Committee. His fundraising has earned Champion Club status with Alzheimer’s Association and he is frequently invited to speak about the disease at symposiums. He is a faithful volunteer at Carriage Crossing Senior Living of Arcola as he visits with residents and leads Bible study and prayer groups.

Mick resides south of Kemp, enjoys time with son Jim, daughter-in-law Christina, grandson Michael and other family members. He enjoys concerts, occasionally travels, plays golf and attends football and basketball games at University of Illinois, Eastern Illinois University and Lindenwood University.