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.”
Tim McCarthy
Former Secret Service agent
Police chief, Orland Park
MariJo Kohler
Football operations
New York Jets
Richard Keene
3 NCAA trips as Illini
Director, MRC Global
Sarah Baumgartner
Deputy athletic director
Rutgers University
Dick Butkus
UI retired his No. 50
Pro, College Football HOF
Tayler Onion
Assistant director
U of South Florida athletics
Rod Lovett
Director of championships
National Junior College Athletic Assn.
Alex Burge
Agent
Excel Sports Management
Ross Guignon
Global client strategy
Creative Artists Agency
