CARBONDALE, Ill. — A $2.25 million estate gift from alumnus Roy D. Franke will support every corner of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Charlotte Thompson Suhler School of Journalism and Advertising, sustaining hands-on learning experiences that prepare students for careers in journalism, advertising and media.
The gift ranks among the largest private contributions in the school’s history. Franke, who earned his bachelor’s degree from SIU in 1966, designated the gift through his estate to support the school within the College of Arts and Media.
“This amazing and wonderful gift will help support our entire school,” said Jan Thompson, director of the Charlotte Thompson Suhler School of Journalism and Advertising. “The faculty will benefit from this gift, but also our students. The gift will help sustain our professional labs, including The Daily Egyptian, AdLab, River Region, Saluki Sports View, The Gateway Journal, the Saluki Local Reporting Lab and weekend photojournalism workshops.”
The school anchors its curriculum in a network of professional, student-run labs that provide hands-on experience across journalism, advertising and media. Students produce real-world work through the Saluki AdLab, a student-operated advertising agency serving local, regional and national clients; The Daily Egyptian, a nationally recognized student newspaper and digital newsroom founded in 1916; Saluki Sports View, an award-winning student-produced television program; and River Region Evening Edition, a live WSIU-TV newscast in which students perform every role of a professional newsroom. Through the Saluki Local Reporting Lab, students report alongside faculty and professional journalists on underserved communities across downstate Illinois. Students and faculty also contribute to the Gateway Journalism Review, one of only two journalism review publications in the nation, and participate in immersive weekend photojournalism workshops and Pulitzer Center–supported reporting projects across the United States and around the world.
“All these labs prepare our students for the real professional world of journalism and advertising,” Thompson said. “These labs are what make the Charlotte Thompson Suhler School of Journalism and Advertising unique from other programs.”
“We are deeply moved by this extraordinary act of generosity and profoundly grateful for the trust Mr. Roy Franke placed in CAM’s Charlotte Thompson Suhler School of Journalism and Advertising,” said Hong Cheng, dean of the College of Arts and Media. “This gift establishes a powerful and lasting legacy — one that strengthens the Suhler School’s academic mission and expands its opportunities for future generations. I have no doubt he will always be remembered as an integral part of the school’s story.”
Franke died Oct. 27, 2024, at age 80, in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Born in Centralia, Illinois, he remained closely connected to the region throughout his life. After graduating from Centralia High School in 1962, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from SIU Carbondale and later completed a Master of Arts degree from the University of Missouri in 1968.
He worked for 13 years as a distributor for Carpenter Body Works in Mitchell, Indiana, and remained active in his community. Franke was a member of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association for 42 years and competed in the World Horseshoe Pitchers Tournament for 19 years. He also remained involved in church life throughout his adulthood.
Franke is survived by four cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Paula Leipold Franke, and his parents.
The gift also advances SIU’s mission as a national leader in both research and student access. SIU holds a rare distinction as one of only 21 universities nationwide — out of nearly 4,000 — recognized by the Carnegie Classification for both Research 1 status, the highest level of research activity, and as an Opportunity College and University, which honors institutions that expand access and foster social mobility. This dual recognition reflects SIU’s commitment to advancing knowledge while opening doors for students from all backgrounds.
Philanthropic support plays a critical role in sustaining that commitment. In the most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation awarded more than $5.6 million in scholarships to 2,111 students, representing 17 percent of the university’s student body.
Franke’s estate gift also contributes to the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which has a goal of $500 million. To date, the SIU Foundation has raised more than $460 million, making Imagine SIU 2030 the fifth-largest fundraising effort in Illinois higher education.
Learn how you can support the College of Arts and Media at siuf.org/cam.