One day, Stan Deal’s photo could hang in the hallowed halls of the Illini Union, where the future president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes spent so much time as an engineering undergrad in the 1980s.
“The Illini Student Union Hall — at the heart of campus — was the intersection for all colleges and students and showed the rich history of the university and distinguished alumni,” says Deal (BS ’86, aerospace engineering).
“I was always inspired by being in the hall. The basement was pretty cool, as well, as I took a class in pool, perfecting my algebra skills with all the bank shots I made.”
The Seattle-based Deal was honored by the Grainger College of Engineering in 2021 with an Alumni Award for Distinguished Service. The honor came two years after he was bumped up to his current role after leading Boeing Global Services.
Deal also serves on the College of Engineering’s board of visitors and on the board of directors of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
