By Jeff Wilson

CARBONDALE – As Southern Illinois University Carbondale celebrates Homecoming, it will also celebrate the first major campus construction project in nearly 12 years.

The SIU Foundation will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Tedrick Welcome Center at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at the construction site, 1255 Lincoln Drive in Carbondale. The event will take place inside the construction fencing. A reception will follow at the site immediately after the ceremony.

Named for Roger and Sally Tedrick, whose $6 million leadership gift was instrumental in helping fund the project, the state-of-the-art welcome center will be the first stop for prospective students. Open houses, campus tours, orientations, and other events will begin at the welcome center.

“Construction of the Tedrick Welcome Center is 100 percent funded through the SIU Foundation. It will require no taxpayer dollars and no tuition or student fee monies,” said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. “The Foundation prides itself on maintaining a strong partnership with the university, and the welcome center is its gift to this spectacular campus.”

The building, scheduled to be completed in May of 2026, will include a visitor center capable of hosting conferences, lectures, seminars and catered events for up to 300 people, and the philanthropy center, which will be the new home of the SIU Foundation. It will also serve as a hub for donor visits, alumni activities and campus and community events.

As the SIU Foundation continues the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign – which has raised more than $360 million toward its $500 million goal – its offices will move into the southern wing of the new building and be known as the Philanthropy Center. In its most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation provided $5.4 million in scholarships to 1,842 students, impacting more than 16 percent of all SIU students.

“Aligning with the Imagine SIU 2030 strategic plan, the Tedrick Welcome Center is going to help the university increase enrollment, engage with alumni and friends, and provide a laboratory for SIU to solidify its role as a philanthropic leader,” Chancellor Austin Lane said.

Currently, the SIU Foundation is housed in Colyer Hall, the last active building in the area which is the former home of Greek Row. The university has informed the SIU Foundation that it must vacate that location as the dilapidated building is scheduled to be razed.

In recent years, the power of philanthropy has been on display around campus. Fundraising efforts and major gifts solicited by the Foundation have led to new construction and major improvements in multiple areas, including:

• The revitalization of the Ralph E. Becker Pavilion at the boathouse
• The building of the SIU Credit Union Pavilion at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center
• A new, improved sign at the entrance of Touch of Nature
• The Mike Hanes Marching Salukis Band Tower and practice field on East Campus
• Improvements to the Fermentation Science Institute at McLafferty Annex
• A planned fountain to be added to Campus Lake
• Numerous other yet-to-be-announced projects across campus

“The philanthropic support of our alumni and donors is transforming campus in an incredible way,” Kupec said. “There are many opportunities for enhancements and new construction. SIU is a university on the move. Beyond the construction of the Tedrick Welcome Center, the Foundation will continue to have strategic impact on many improvements across campus.”

For more information about the Tedrick Welcome Center, visit siuf.org/twc.

Dedication ceremony taking place Oct. 11  

By Jeff Wilson

CARBONDALE – Southern Illinois University Carbondale is calling all current and former Marching Salukis and the group’s supporters to come together and honor the legacy of Mike Hanes.

The SIU Foundation will host a dedication ceremony for the Mike Hanes Marching Salukis Band Tower from 4 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, at Sam Rinella Field on East Campus. There will be light refreshments and a special performance by the SIU Marching Salukis.

Hanes came to SIU in 1965 and served as director of bands until his retirement in 2005. He remained involved with the Marching Salukis until he passed away in 2022.

“Mike Hanes is one of the most revered Salukis, and his impact on our beloved Marching Salukis is unequaled,” said Kupec. “The band tower honors Mike’s legacy by supporting the future of the Marching Salukis, which meant so much to him.”

Construction of the tower was partially funded by a generous gift from SIU alumni, Drs. Phil and Pam Pfeffer. The Pfeffers met while attending SIU in the 1960s. Pam was the head majorette, and Phil was field announcer.

To cover the remaining costs of the band tower construction, the SIU Foundation is asking others to make a similar investment. Donations can be made by searching for the “Mike Hanes Memorial Naming Fund” at siuf.org/give.

Hanes became a promising percussionist in his hometown, Salem, Illinois, where his father was the high school band director. He graduated from Milliken University where he majored in radio/television. He enrolled at SIU as a graduate student in music education.

During a stint in the U.S. Army, Hanes conducted the Army band during stops in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Wurzburg, Germany. In Fort Collins, he volunteered to work with high school music departments, giving private lesson to young musicians. After the Army, he returned to Carbondale and completed his master’s degree.

Beyond his influential work with the Marching Salukis, he also led the SIU Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and served as conductor for both the university’s Summer Playhouse and Opera Theater.

“Before the West Coast” created by Saluki Hall of Famer Oyd Craddock

By Jeff Wilson

Some stories demand to be told, and sometimes they just need the right storyteller. Such was the case for Oyd Craddock and his film, “Before the West Coast: A Sports Civil Rights Story.”

A free screening of the film will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 8, in Morris Library’s Guyon Auditorium. The event will last from 4 to 6 p.m., during which the 1-hour, 6-minute film will be shown followed by a Q&A session with Craddock and reception, including refreshments. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the film and hear the story behind the documentary.

The event is sponsored by the SIU Foundation in collaboration with the College of Arts and Media, Department of Athletics, and Vice Chancellor for Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Craddock, a 1980 alumnus of SIU’s College of Business and Analytics, Saluki Hall of Fame football player, and member of the SIU Foundation Board of Directors, attended New Orleans’ St. Augustine High School in the 1970s. The school’s football team famously integrated the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) in 1967.

“This film is really a part of my life story,” Craddock said. “It tells the story of the trials and triumphs of the all-Black, boys’ Catholic high school that integrated the all-white athletic league in Louisiana. It was a breakthrough event to have integrated competition in sports in high schools back then.”

The film also highlights the leadership of the school’s iconic coach, Otis Washington, and follows the team’s journey throughout the 1970s. Craddock enrolled in St. Augustine in 1972 and was co-captain of the school’s 1975 undefeated state championship team.

“Otis Washington was an innovator, transformative leader, and incredible head coach,” Craddock said. “He was ahead of his time. He went on to be the first Black coach hired by LSU (Louisiana State University).”

Making a movie was not originally on Craddock’s mind when he attended the 2012 LHSAA Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Coach Washington.

“I got to the point where I felt like I was called to tell this story,” Craddock said. “It could not die with us. I felt it would inspire the current generation. It evolved from a photo library with some video clips to doing interviews with players from that era to actually telling the full story.”

More than a football story, “Before the West Coast” showcases the leadership, integrity, and perseverance that was required during such a historic time.

“You can excel in the face of adversity,” Craddock said. “At that time, racism was very prevalent in the Deep South, but leadership matters, integrity matters. The students’ journey help transform the city of New Orleans from the era of segregation. The deck was not stacked equally, but we had to find a way to overcome, and we did.”

After a 31-year career with IBM, the now-retired Craddock credits much of his success to his experience at SIU.

“It wasn’t as much about the athletic accomplishments at SIU as much as the total experience,” he said. “The rigor of business school and demands of football helped prepare me for the real world. SIU propelled me to my career. I forever love SIU, the experience, and the help and guidance I received.”

For more information about “Before the West Coast: A Sports Civil Rights Story” and to watch the trailer, visit beforethewestcoast.com. To register for the free screening and reception, visit siuf.org/craddock. Registration is preferred but not required.