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Bruce Lederman

Bruce Lederman

President/CEO | Smith Life Communities | Class of 1985

Throw out “more than a few late nights” at Gully’s bar, and nearly all of Bruce Lederman’s most memorable UI moments happened somewhere on the grounds of the Illini Union.

“And more specifically, Union board offices," he says.

"In the '80s, the offices were in the South Building and were still sporting wallpaper and furniture from they early '60s. After joining IUB my sophomore year, my non-academic life revolved around IUB. I smile every time I think about a particular board meeting where the topic of whether a banking machine should be installed inside the Union was discussed. 

“Many feared it would eliminate our profitable check cashing business, but others thought the machine’s wouldn’t catch on.”