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Welcome to a series of stories celebrating SIU\u2019s 150th anniversary.<\/em><\/p>\n By Rebecca Renshaw<\/p>\n Thomas Edison once quipped, \u201cOpportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.\u201d Fortunately for SIU, 1971 alumnus Dave Baer never missed an opportunity to work.<\/p>\n In fact, he started early. Whether he was cutting other people\u2019s grass or shining shoes, Baer closely followed his mother\u2019s advice as she instilled a work ethic in him that few others could emulate.<\/p>\n Baer\u2019s strong work ethic enabled him to come to SIU in the mid-1960s fully equipped to pay his own way. Upon leaving the military, he arrived on campus not certain which direction he wanted his career to take. He recalls walking by a building with a huge banner strung across the front welcoming students to learn more about what is now known as the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Curious, he stepped inside and met the dean, who helped pave the way for his entrance into the brand-new program.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a great fit,\u201d Baer says. \u201cI already had many friends who were in law enforcement \u2013 and, coming fresh out of the military, it just felt comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n While at SIU, Baer met the love of his life, Cheryl, at the university\u2019s bowling alley. Together, they shared more than 37 years of marriage \u2013 and also an abiding connection to the university that brought them together.<\/p>\n As one of the first graduates from SIU\u2019s Administration of Justice program, Baer went on to a fulfilling 37-year career with Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, as its chief of police. His memorable achievements include working with the FBI to provide valuable information on a 9\/11 attack collaborator who was later sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.<\/p>\n Perhaps Baer\u2019s most notable achievement was his work with several state legislators to help get a law passed for private Illinois universities to create their own police departments, making Bradley the first private Illinois university to do so. Baer also served as a president of the Illinois Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and as the secretary for the Peoria County Association of Chiefs of Police. He is also a lifelong member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Beta Eta Chapter, at SIU.<\/p>\n After the passing of his wife and his mother, Baer retired from his position with Bradley. With time to reflect on his life and what is most important to him, he remembered the positive influence SIU had upon his life. He and Cheryl had always spoken of starting a scholarship fund but had never gotten around to doing so.<\/p>\n Baer realized the time was right.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile my wife and I both received an outstanding education at SIU, my mother \u2013 who was one of the brightest women with an intelligent mind \u2013 never had the opportunity to go to college, he says. \u201cSo I wanted to help enable a young person to have that chance. My mother raised me to work hard and to give back to others. That\u2019s why I felt so strongly about including her name in the $25,000 scholarship.\u201d<\/p>\n Its full title is the David A. Baer, Cheryl A. Walker Baer and Naomi D. Baer Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship supports students in the criminal justice and criminology program.<\/p>\n Baer has plans to establish three more endowed scholarships in the near future. One scholarship will go to the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice and the other two will go to the Department of Sociology in honor of Baer\u2019s wife.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Engage with us on\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Welcome to a series of stories celebrating SIU\u2019s 150th anniversary. By Rebecca Renshaw Thomas Edison once quipped, \u201cOpportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.\u201d Fortunately for SIU, 1971 alumnus Dave Baer never missed an opportunity to work. In fact, he started early. Whether he was cutting … Continue reading 150 Stories of Philanthropy: Hard Work Pays Off<\/span>