Western Illinois Recognizes Hedblade with Town & Gown Award, Balsamo as Honorary Alumnus
During the annual Town & Gown celebration in October, Larry T. Balsamo, WIU Department of History Chairperson Emeritus, was named the 2024 Honorary Alumnus and Jock Hedblade, Executive Director of Macomb Convention and Visitors Bureau, was named the 2024 Town & Gown Award recipient in recognition of their service to WIU and the Macomb community.
Larry T. Balsamo: Honorary Alumni Award
Balsamo, who served as Professor and Chair of WIU’s Department of History before his retirement in 2007 after 40 years of service, received his Ph.D from the University of Missouri and was a traditionally trained specialist in U.S. History with emphasis on the Civil War Era and Abraham Lincoln. In 1990, he received WIU’s Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award.
Balsamo has served on the WIU Foundation Board of Directors for nearly 30 years, having been first appointed in 1985, and served on the executive committee from 2003-2005. He directed the WIU History Conference from its beginning in 1975 until 2002. From 1985-1994 he was also the WIU Coordinator of On-Campus Admissions and of the Discover Western programs. He is a longtime member and former board member of the Performing Arts Society.
Since the inception of PAS, he and his wife Charlene Callison have contributed their time and energy to the work of PAS, improving access to the arts for area schoolchildren and enhancing the arts at WIU and the Macomb community. They are among PAS’ most generous contributors, leading by example with their steadfast philanthropic support of PAS earning them the William E. Brattain Distinguished Service Award from PAS in 2017 to recognize their special service to the arts.
In addition, they were also the first donors to philanthropically commit to naming opportunities in the Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts, naming both of the GPCA’s Green Rooms as well as the Wardrobe Room, all honoring past WIU faculty. He has also supported many other areas of the University and established the Larry T. Balsamo Endowed scholarship in History.
Balsamo will be officially presented with the award in April at the annual Purple and Gold Day Celebration.
The Honorary Alumni Award is presented to an individual who is not a WIU graduate but who has provided exceptional service to the WIU community. Previous recipients include Steve Silberer (2023); Tate Lindahl (posthumously, 2022); Bill Howard (2021); Dr. Kenneth Wright (2019); LaVern McEntire (2018); C. Don Weston (posthumously, 2017); Jeff Mabrey (2016); Garry Johnson (2015); John Biernbaum (2014); Dan O’Neill (2013); Lisa Ward (2012); Al Goldfarb (2011); Gil Belles and Marion Blackinton (2010); Bob Anstine (2009); Jack Stites (2008); Bill Brattain (2007), Marilyn Johnson (2005); Donald Dexter (2004); Mark Martin (2003); Mel and Judy Kerr (2002); Charlene Callison (2001); Ed Holzwarth (2000); Donald S. Spencer (1999); Laura Kent Donahue (1998); Cathy Early (1997); Dick Miller (1995) and Dennis Iversen (1994).
Jock Hedblade: Town & Gown Award
Hedblade, a 1983 WIU graduate in Mass Communications, has served as Executive Director of the Macomb Convention and Visitors Bureau since 2017. He grew up in Macomb, and after attending Western Illinois University, went on to a successful 35-year career as a producer, writer, director and actor.
The four-time Emmy Award winner spent years on both sides of the camera. In his early career, he was an actor on stage and screen and was a radio host and disc jockey. He attended Chicago’s Second City; wrote, booked, produced and directed award winning documentaries, television and radio shows; was Field Producer for the award-winning Steve Harvey talk show, Executive Producer for the Roe Conn & Richard Roeper Show, Harpo Studios Producer for “The Rosie Show” starring Rosie O’Donnell, Producer/Director of the Fox TV documentary “Smashing Pumpkins: Full Circle” and the PBS documentary “How Chicago Rocked The 60’s.”
After his career in the Chicago entertainment industry, Hedblade returned to Macomb in 2017 to lead the Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. He is the mastermind behind Macombopoly, the world’s largest Monopoly-style board of its kind, on the Macomb square.
According to his nominator, “he was in the “big city” working in Chicago theater, comedy, TV radio production and documentary opportunities, but his thoughts and dreams always included Macomb and WIU.”
The Town & Gown Award is presented to an individual who has provided exceptional service in continuing the partnership between WIU and the Macomb Community. Previous recipients include Jessica Butcher (2023); John Hallwas (2022); Jeremy Robinette (2021); Stan Clayton (2019); Joe Roselieb (2018); Duke Oursler (2017); John Nelson (2016); Tom Claudon (2015); Todd Lester (2014); Bill Howard (2013); Tom Carper (2012); Mick Wisslead (2011); Lin Stults (2010); Jerry Cremer (2009); John Maguire (2008); and Charles Gilbert (2007).
