ELMHURST COLLEGE BLUEJAY BACKERS TO HONOR
CHAMBER PRESIDENT ON COMMUNITY DAY
ELMHURST, Ill., August 21, 2002 – Elmhurst College will honor alumnus John Quigley, President of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry since 1999, as the 2002 recipient of the Bluejay Backers Community Service Award during halftime of the football team’s Community Day season opener in early September.
The Bluejays will kick off their 10-game season versus non-conference archrival Benedictine University at the renovated Langhorst Field on Saturday, September 7, at 1:00 p.m. Elmhurst residents and their guests are invited to attend free of charge.
“I am truly humbled to be recognized by my Alma Mater in this way,” said Quigley, 46, “and greatly honored to join the distinguished list of award recipients.”
Past honorees include Elmhurst Mayor Thomas D. Marcucci, Community Bank of Elmhurst Chief Executive Officer William C. “Bill” Gooch Jr., former Managing Partner Joel Herter (EC Class of 1959) and Administrative Partner Jim Hallberg of Wolf & Company, LLP, retired Sears Roebuck executive Jack Cashman and legendary York High School boys’ cross country coach Joe Newton.
Quigley is an 11-year member, Chairman of the Hall of Fame Subcommittee and former Secretary (1991-99) of the Bluejay Backers Executive Committee, the College’s athletic booster organization. He also is a longtime member of the WRSE Advisory Board for the College’s student-run FM radio station.
Prior to the Community Day game, the College will rededicate Langhorst Stadium following a $1 million renovation project to install a state-of-the-art AstroPlay turf field inside the all-weather running track, new scoreboard and new fencing.
Quigley, who will be celebrating his 25th College Reunion at Elmhurst’s Homecoming on October 26, recently made a challenge pledge to encourage his classmates to pay for the new iron fencing around Langhorst Stadium.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Quigley, a 1977 graduate of Elmhurst College, served his Alma Mater as Associate Director of Public Relations from 1991-99.
As the College’s liaison to the Chamber, Quigley served on the Board of Directors and Elmfest Steering Committee, chaired the Golf Outing and Annual Meeting committees, and was Past Chairperson of the green-coated Ambassadors. The Chamber honored Quigley for his distinguished service with its prestigious Duke of Elmhurst Award in 1997.
During Quigley’s tenure, the Chamber has increased its membership to 550—making it the city’s largest business organization by far.
The Chamber also moved into more visible offices in Elmhurst City Centre, installed new computer and telephone systems, developed internet sites to promote its members (www.elmhurstchamber.org) and community festival (www.elmfest.org), and improved and expanded products and services. The Elmhurst Community Directory and Elmhurst Street Map were redesigned and upgraded as well.
The Business Ledger honored the Chamber with its 2001 Business Achievement Award in the Business Association category.
The Nationwide Register named Quigley as a “Who’s Who in Executives & Businesses” for both its 2002-03 and 2001-02 editions.
Prior to EC, Quigley enjoyed an award-winning 15-year career in journalism, including a six-year stint as Sports Editor for the Elmhurst Press and Press Publications (now part of Liberty Suburban Chicago Newspapers).
While serving as Porter County Editor for the Northwest Indiana-based Herald Newspaper Group in the late 1980s, Quigley was elected to the Board of Directors of the Portage Chamber of Commerce, marking the start of his chamber career.
Established in 1918, the Elmhurst Chamber is a voluntary organization of business and professional men and women who have joined together to promote the civic and commercial progress of the community.