From Tom Weber, Associate Athletic Director/Communications – Southern Illinois University

CARBONDALE, IL. – Walt “Clyde” Frazier, one of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s legendary alumni, returns to campus next month as “Heroes, Myths and Traditions” are celebrated during Homecoming 2017 festivities, Oct. 8-15.

Frazier, the homecoming grand marshal, will participate in the parade at 10 a.m. on Oct. 14.

Walt Frazier, SIU file photo

A two-time All-American, Frazier led the Salukis to national fame and the 1967 NIT (National Invitation Tournament) basketball championship. The tournament MVP, Frazier, a 1987 selection to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, was a first-round draft pick by the New York Knicks. He was first Saluki to have his jersey (No. 52) retired and he helped the Knicks to NBA titles in 1970 and 1973; enjoying a 13-year career with the Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers. A seven-time NBA All-Star, Frazier was named one of the league’s 50 greatest players in 1996 and his No. 10 Knick’s jersey is retired.

Frazier is a Knicks analyst on the Madison Square Garden Network and he has earned numerous Emmy nominations for his work. Earlier this year, Frazier was selected to the 12-member Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2017. He is involved with efforts and organizations that help children achieve their goals.

Homecoming parade entries are being accepted. Marching bands, small and large floats, walkers, car/truck entries and equestrian units are welcome to join the celebration. Homecoming festivities will include a window decoration contest for Carbondale area businesses along with a door decoration contest on campus. Entry forms and additional information for the parade and other contests are available at homecoming.siu.edu/forms/index.php.

Other plans for Homecoming festivities include a big concert, talent and comedy shows, the Salukis football game against Illinois State, tailgating, and more, as the 50-year Class of 1967 is recognized.

The schedule continues to evolve and grow. Keep an eye on www.homecoming.siu.edu and the SIU Homecoming Facebook event page for the updated schedule and details. In coming weeks, SIU will also be spotlighting university Heroes, Myths and Legends.

by Reece Rutland, Rend Lake College Public Information

INA, Ill. (Sept. 15, 2017) – What do you call a collegiate basketball standout, a United States Army veteran, a doctor with over four decades of serving his community (not to mention delivering around 1,500 babies), a community leader with a boundless passion for improving the area around him and was born on New Year’s Eve no less? We call him an icon and an influencer, but most people just know him as “Dr. Stotlar.”

Dr. Gene Stotlar poses with RLC student Mike Jones of Nashville. Jones is one of the many students that Stotlar helped through college with his scholarship contributions. The pair pose in front of the Rend Lake College Murphy-Wall Pinckneyville Campus, a facility that Stotlar helped cultivate. (Rend Lake College photo.

As a student-athlete at Southern Illinois University, Gene Stotlar was the starting point guard as a freshman for the 1946 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Champions.

He was recognized as the Tournament Most Valuable Player and First-Team All-America.
His heroics were not forgotten. Stotlar was one of 75 individuals (60 players, 15 coaches) named to the NAIA 75th Anniversary All-Star Team in 2012.

After graduating from Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Stotlar started practicing at a city hospital at the age of 23. He served two years in the U.S. Army and moved to Pinckneyville at age 27.

In 1955, he joined his brother, Dr. James B. Stotlar, and Dr. G.H. Edwards in medical practice in Pinckneyville, where he practiced for 36 years, retiring in 1991. During this time he served on the Pinckneyville Grade School Board, the St. Bruno School Board and the Rend Lake College Foundation.

He summed up his chosen endeavors directly, “It’s simple. We do it to help kids get an education.”

Stotlar went on to serve on the RLCF for 15 years, stepping down in 2010.
“We have accomplished a lot of good things . . . but I’ve been there and done that,” he said at a ceremony honoring his service to Rend Lake College and its students. “I feel like it’s time to get some new blood on the board.”

No one could argue with the accomplishments.

For years, Stotlar and his wife Ramona provided scholarships to RLC students.

But, his dedication didn’t end there. Of all the RLCF campaigns Stotlar has been a part of during his tenure, the establishment of a satellite campus in his hometown was the most rewarding for him, he said.

Before there was the Murphy-Wall Pinckneyville Campus, very little RLC presence existed in the community, nestled on the southeastern boundary of the college district. Before Murphy-Wall, night classes were held in the local high school and some individualized training was offered in industrial facilities.

After the completion of the campus, Stotlar wasn’t content to rest on his laurels.

Stotlar’s parting words to the Board included a challenge. He said a lab still stood in the way of students being able to complete a degree at the Murphy-Wall Campus, without ever having to make the long drive to the Ina campus. He said he would like to see that lab become the next project the Board tackled.

The board and the community responded, raising the funds needed for a science/computer wing at the campus. For his part, Stotlar was honored with the Dr. Gene Stotlar Computer Classroom, gracing the halls of the facility he worked so hard to see completed.

“. . . Our country and our well-being is centered on education. If you don’t have education you are kind of going to be out of luck. We are blessed that kids are wanting to get an education and further blessed that Rend Lake is in on it. It’s going to happen. It’s going to happen right here,” Stotlar said.