District 202 Hall Of Fame: Five Plainfield Central Grads To Be Inducted

PLAINFIELD, IL -- Five distinguished Plainfield High School (now Central Campus) graduates will be inducted into the Plainfield Foundation for Excellence Alumni Hall of Fame at a special ceremony at the Foundation’s annual dinner and auction on Thursday, April 20, 2017.

The event, which serves as the Foundation’s main fundraiser, will be held at the Bolingbrook Golf Club, 2001 Rodeo Drive, Bolingbrook. Tickets are $75 each. The social hour and silent auction will begin at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7 p.m.

Tickets can be ordered from the front page of the Foundation for Excellence web site: www.d202foundation.org/202/. Click on the “Purchase Tickets” tab at the top of the page.

The Foundation for Excellence Alumni Hall of Fame was founded in 2011 to recognize and showcase graduates from District 202 to recognize those individuals who have created a legacy for current and future students.

All inductees must have graduated at least 20 years ago. Therefore, all inductees attended (then) Plainfield High School.

Those selected for induction have both achieved much in their chosen profession, and given back to District 202, their community or society. All inductees are nominated by community members.

“Once again we are very proud to induct a wonderful, talented group of people who have served our community and the bigger community with dedication and integrity,” said Foundation for Excellence Chairman Matthew Starr.

The Alumni Hall of Fame Class of 2017 comprises (in alphabetical order):

· 1978 graduate Barbara (Anderson) Barrows (Education and Humanities)

Barbara Barrows is Nequa Valley High School’s first and only athletic director, serving in that role since 1997. In all she has worked for Indian Prairie School District #204 for 33 years as a teacher, coach and administrator.

She is credited with helping to build the school’s athletic program. In the process her teams have won 37 state trophies in 13 different sports and 10 state championships in seven different sports.

Professionally, Barrows has mentored, directed and helped develop 120 coaches serving over 2,000 student athletes annually.

Barrows is a member of the Illinois Athletic Director’s and the National Interscholastic Athletic associations. She has also served on and chaired numerous professional committees.

So great is her achievement and legacy in District 204 that the Nequa Valley High School sports stadium was renamed in her honor last fall.

· 1972 graduate Greg Chapman (Business and Commerce)

Greg Chapman is the founder of AeroTek Design Labs, LLC in Plainfield, which creates and designs equipment on aircraft used to connect travelers to WiFi service.

Chapman started his professional life at Commonwealth Edison, then worked for six years as a Plainfield Police officer.

He later earned his pilot’s license and worked for Air Phone, a company that tested cell sites around the country. Chapman then started a charter flight service which served both public and private figures and celebrities.

Chapman also serves as a Police Commissioner for the Village of Plainfield.

He also supports numerous charities including the March of Dimes, the YMCA, the Plainfield Lions and the Plainfield Interfaith Food Pantry among others to which he donates anonymously.

· 1974 graduate Terry D’Arcy (Philanthropy and Non-Profit)

Terry D’Arcy owns and has built several very successful car dealerships in Joliet and Morris since graduating high school.

However, his philanthropy far exceeds even his business success.

D’Arcy’s businesses have been recognized for their extraordinary commitment to the United Way of Will County; Joliet Park District Foundation; University of St. Francis; Joliet Franciscan Learning Center; Joliet Historical Museum; and Provena St. Joseph Medical Center, among many others.

In Plainfield, D’Arcy has directly supported or been involved with the Plainfield Winter Guard; Plainfield South High School spring musicals; the Plainfield East High School Eastside Shuffle 5K Run; the Plainfield High School—Central Campus cheerleading program; the athletic programs at all four high schools; and the PHSCC Hall of Fame.

· 1967 graduate Dr. Allen Saxon (Medicine and Health)

Dr. Allen Saxon is an accomplished and highly successful medical doctor and inventor who also loves playing the drums.

Saxon graduated cum laude from Washington University in 1971, got his medical degree in 1975 from Tulane University and interned at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. He completed his residency in general surgery at Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, and then served there from 1980-81 as chief administrative resident.

Saxon served on 21 medical committees during his 35-year career as a general surgeon. He also served as an officer for both the Chicago Surgical Society and the Illinois Surgical Society, including a term as president of the ISS from 2013-14.

He co-authored four papers that were published in medical journals, and invented an innovative hernia repair mesh that received two United States patents.

Meanwhile, Saxon continues to play the drums, having sat in with members of several well-known bands. He published an article in Modern Drummer magazine, and played for more than 20 years with the Rockin’ Docs.

The band of physicians raised several thousand dollars for a child with anemia, and performed for 20 years at a Valentine’s Day dance to benefit the developmentally disabled.

Saxon now teaches surgical techniques part-time at Midwestern University, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, and Northwestern University School of Medicine.

· 1982 graduate Charles “Chuck” Willard (Government and Military)

Charles “Chuck” Willard’s long firefighting and public safety career has earned him many accolades for his community service, leadership and dedication.

Willard served the Joliet Fire Department from 1992-2014, rising through the ranks from firefighter to paramedic, to apparatus operator to lieutenant. He also served on the department’s Hazardous Materials Team for 16 years.

Willard focused much of his professional career on training and education for both himself and others. His unparalleled professional achievement earned him the position of Joliet’s Emergency Medical Services Coordinator. In that role he led outreach and education efforts with the community, scouting groups, churches and more.

He then volunteered to be the first Emergency Coordinator for Plainfield Township, and has worked locally, regionally and at the state level to organize rescue and recovery efforts. He served three terms as a Plainfield Township trustee, and is currently serving as Township Clerk.

Willard also realized a lifelong dream when he recently earned an Associate’s Degree from Kaplan University – and made the Dean’s List.

The Plainfield Foundation for Excellence Alumni Hall of Fame comprises:

The Class of 2016

· Nursing Professor Dr. Amber Kujath (1993), for achievement in Medicine and Health

· Retired FBI trainer and administrator Catherine Fletcher (1974), for achievement in Government and Military Service

· Retired District 202 educator and high school principal Tom Hensel (1967), for achievement in Education and Humanities

· Plainfield Central Elementary School Principal Linda DiLeo (1980), for achievement in Education and Humanities

· Scientist Dr. Lee Gehrke (1970), for achievement in Science and Technology

The Class of 2015:

· Business owner John Berst (1959) for achievement in Business and Commerce, Community Service and Volunteerism and Philanthropy and Non-Profit Service.

· Communications Designer Justin Ahrens (1990) for achievement in Arts and Entertainment and Philanthropy and Non-Profit Service.

· Retired Air Force Lt. Col. and United States Air Force Bands Conductor Roger Sebby (1964) for achievement in Arts and Entertainment.

· Maria College (New Jersey) President Dr. Lea Johnson (1968) for achievement in Education and Humanities.

The Class of 2014:

· Plainfield Mayor Mike Collins (1964) for achievement in government and military

The Class of 2013:

· Architect Cliff Bender (1969) for achievement in science and technology

· Bonnie Lutter (1954) for her community service and volunteerism

· Dr. Jeff Ryan (1989) for achievement in medicine and health

The Class of 2012:

· Judy Avery (1959) for her outstanding accomplishments in community service and volunteerism, and

· Dr. Burt Saxon (1965) for his professional achievements in education.

The Class of 2011:

· Karen Hamilton (1958) for her community service and volunteerism

· Dr. Bradley Barnes (1977) for his work in the field of dentistry

· Lt. Col. Christopher Cozzi (1988) for his service in the U.S. Air Force, and

· Dr. Julie Ruddy (1988) for her service as a clinical psychologist for the U.S. Navy.

Since 1983 the Plainfield Foundation for Excellence has raised and contributed about $500,000 to support District 202 students and staff in the form of grants, scholarships and special funding.

The Foundation has also supported special programs including a District Art Gallery, the Great Read community reading program and the 1847 Schoolhouse Restoration.

Submitted by District 202