2023
Jen Howard '84 - President of the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce
2022
Dr. Judy Mitchell '98 - President Emerita - Joliet Junior College
2020 / 2021
William R. Conte '85 - Senior Portfolio Manager, Senior Vice President - Wealth Advisor
2019
Dr. Dennis Haggerty '66 - Retired Podiatrist
Harry Resis '65 - Private Investor
2018
Jay D. Bergman '68 - President and Ceo - Petco Petroleum Corp.
Ed Czerkies '57 - Businessman and Philanthropist
2017
Rev. Dr. Lester Brown '98 - JJC Criminal Justice Adjunct Professor
Dave Westphal '66 - Agricultural Business Development
2016
Robert Garza '83 - First Sergeant, USMCR, Retired
2015
Dr. Robert Larson '76 - Optometrist
2014
The Honorable Raymond Bolden '53 - Retired Circuit Judge
Bob Zak '81 - Radio Personality
2013
Ronald M. Whitaker '69 - Member of the first BOT; Retired, Ronald M. Whitaker and Company
2012
Beulah Hoffer '32 - Former Chair of Women's Physical Education at JJC
Philip Nelson '78 - President of Illinois Farm Bureau
2011
Dr. Daniel Gutierrez '58 - Internal Medicine Physician; Medical Director
Robert Baca '78 - Professor or Music
2010
Dr. Charles O. Warthen '58 - Former Dept. Chair of Technology at JJC
Charles Morgan '91 - JJC Music Professor, Director of JJC Band
2009
Richard Brandolino '59 - Retired, JJC Administrator
2008
Larry Walsh '68 - Will County Executive, Former Illinois Senator
2007
Rose Mancuso - Pharmacist, Owner REMCO Medical
2006
Katherine Dunham '28 - Award presented posthumous
Revolutionized the world of dance, Dunham's intellectual, artistic and humanitarian contributions were extraordinary.
Edmund C. Puddicombe '34
Returned to JJC in 1938 as a teacher of biological sciences. Sponsored the Students of Medical Sciences for 25 years.
2005
Dr. Thomas Streitz '52
Practicing Dentist, instrumental in Founding the JJC Alumni Association in 1970 and was the Association's first president.
2004
Vera Smith '24
Retired JJC English Instructor
JJC's first Director of Admissions and Records
2003
Anthony Gutierrez '48
Retired Assistant Principal of Joliet Central
2002
John H. Weitendorf, Sr. '42 (deceased)
Owner of Town & Country Realtors
2001
James Stephenson, Jr. '56
Founder of Kinetic Systems Corp., Lockport, IL
2000
Dr. Curtis J. Crawford '71
President and CEO of ZiLOG, Inc.
1999
Dr. Richard Tarizzo '51
Retired Vascular Surgeon, Joliet, IL
1998
Richard L. Joutras '47 (deceased)
Chairman, Bradley Printing & FNW Bank
Bernard J. Kestel '57
Engineering Specialist, Argonne Nat'l. Laboratory
1996
Major General Daniel J. Manning '31 (deceased)
Eng. Executive and WWII Veteran
1995
Joseph Burla '55
Dr. Earle Stellwagen '53
Instructor
1994
Hon. Julian E. Hughes '42 (deceased)
Judge
Dr. Stanley G. Rousonelos M.D. '47 (deceased)
Doctor
1993
Dr. Joseph McFadden '52
St. Thomas University, First Lay President, Houston, TX
Dr. Thomas Peyla M.D. '54
Physician Pediatrician
Russell E. Wunderlich '31 (deceased)
Businessman
1992
James Agazzi '60
Art Director and Emmy Award Winner
Hon. William Caisley '60
Retired Circuit Court Judge
1991
Franklin Brewster, Sr. '36 (deceased)
Int'l. Tech. Adviser for Motorola
John Barnes '41
Retired Vice President Eastman Kodak Company
Dr. John Radke '56
Clinical Professor of Medicine
1990
Dr. Barbara Smith '60
Assistant Professor, Food Science and Nutrition Department
Dr. Edward Schweizer '53
Research Physiologist
1989
Raymond M. Standahar '41 (deceased)
Government Exec. Dept. of Defense
1988
Dr. David Imig '59
College Administrator
Herbert Trackman '31 (deceased)
Businessman
1987
Dr. William Shannon '32 (deceased)
Dr. Wayne Watson '66
President, Kennedy-King College
Hon. Susan Pierson-Sonderby '67
Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Dr. Donald Holt '52
Instructor
1986
Oscar Kreimeier '27 (deceased)
Research Chemist
Alan Kehlet '49
NASA
George Sangmeister '51 (deceased)
Retired Illinois Congressman
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor '53
Author and 1992 Newbery Medal Winner
B. Leighten Wellman '28 (deceased)
University Instructor
Edward C. Zajac '36
Retired Computer Administrator
Dr. John C. Houbolt '38
Chief Aeronautical Scientist, LaRC, NASA, (retired). Best known as developer of the LOR concept for putting men on the moon and returning them safely to Earth.
1985
Dr. Arthur Toy '37 (deceased)
Chemist, holding more than 80 patents