Among the discoveries Mike Small made on his way to earning a bachelor’s in business administration three decades ago: One need not be a neat freak to become a difference-making educator.
Exhibit A: Emerson Cammack, the late, legendary dean of what was then known as the College of Commerce and Business Administration.
“Never had I seen such a uniquely unkept office,” says the Danville High grad, son of former Illini basketball star Bill Small and winner of an unprecedented 11 Big Ten Golf Coach of the Year awards.
“Dean Cammack had the messiest office, with hundreds of stacked papers everywhere. You couldn’t see around them. A total mess. Yet he was one of the kindest and most considerate mentors that I had while at the U of I.
“To this day, thoughts of that office bring back unique, yet inspiring memories of his love and respect for his students.”
Donn Pall
Former MLB pitcher
VP, Morgan Stanley
Curt Lovelace
Former UI football captain
Starter on '90 Big Ten champs
Steve Stricker
PGA Tour star
2013 Byron Nelson Award
Mark Hogan
Director, Toyota board
President, Dewey Investments
Bill Small
Illini basketball captain
1963 Big Ten champ
Sarah Baumgartner
Deputy athletic director
Rutgers University
Nancy Thies Marshall
1972 Olympic gymnast
Illini Athletics HOF
Nancy Brookhart Cherin
2 volleyball Final Fours
’87 Big Ten Co-POY
Marcus Liberty
’87 Illinois Mr. Basketball
Now coaching in Florida
