Jim Belushi Selected to Wheaton Hall of Fame

Submitted press release

Actor and comedian Jim Belushi was one of three persons elected to the Wheaton Community High Schools Hall of Fame this month. The others were national restaurateur Ron Magruder and banker Jack Hutchinson.

Jim Belushi, a 1972 graduate of Wheaton Central (now Wheaton Warrenville South) High School, joins his late brother John, also an actor and comedian and 1967 graduate of the same school, in the 53-member Hall of Fame.

The selection was made by a vote of the 59-year-old club’s membership and announced at the organization’s annual Sept. 4 at Arrowhead Golf Club.

The Hall of Fame includes Wheaton schools graduates distinguished in the fields of science, sports, law, business, philanthropy, the arts, government, and journalism. Among those inducted are astronomers Edwin Hubble and Grote Reber, football star Red Grange, former Illinois Supreme Court Justice S. Louis Rathje, Watergate journalist Bob Woodward, Medal of Honor winner James Monroe, and former U.S. Transportation Secretary Sam Skinner.

Also inducted into adjunct Honorary Hall of Fame for Wheaton faculty members who were not products of that school system were football coach Bob Horsley, who coached the then Wheaton Community High School to five undefeated seasons and ran a chain of clothing stores in Du Page County; Wheaton North High School football coach Jim Rexilius, whose teams won two state championships; and Ed Ewoldt, whose Wheaton Central team placed second in the state in 1966. Also selected to the honorary hall was former elementary teacher Bernie Hurley.

Jim Belushi, was a star of the Second City comedy review in Chicago and the Saturday Night Live television show (1983-85). He also starred in various the movies and television shows.

Magruder, a 1966 graduate and wrestler while at Wheaton Central, later headed the Olive Garden and Cracker Barrel restaurant chains and was general chairman of the United Negro College Fund (1994).

Hutchinson, a 1962 Wheaton graduate, was a three-sport athlete in high school and a member of Bradley University’s NIT champion basketball team. He is chairman of a bank holding company in east-central Illinois former president (2001) of the Illinois Banker’s Association.

The Alumni Club, which has 150 members, was founded 1954 at the suggestion of Judge William Atten (class of 1925) to promote comradery among alums of Wheaton High School, over the years has awarded $169,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors.

This year’s scholarship awardees from Wheaton Warrenville South High School include Grace McGuan, Elizabeth Nicole Belling, and Austin Chu, all Wheaton residents.

The Wheaton North High School winners, all Wheaton residents, include Yazmin Alpizar Evangelista, Trevor Speranske, and Jessalyn Kieta.