By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Area residents are invited to meet the Distinguished Alumni from Geneseo High School at an Induction Ceremony planned for 7 p.m. p.m. on Monday, March 10, in the Joseph and Marilyn DePauw Theater at GHS, 700 North State St.
The 2025 Distinguished Alumni Inductees:
Molly Hamer
Molly Hamer, a third-generation Geneseoan, has dedicated her career to community recreation and play spaces. She earned her Bachelor's in Leisure Studies from the University of Illinois in 1981 and started her career at the Schaumburg Park District, where she became Superintendent of Recreation. After returning to Geneseo in 1992, she served on the Geneseo Park District Board and became Executive Director in 2007, leading notable projects, including the redevelopment of the town's outdoor pool.
Molly later became Executive Director of the Northbrook Park District in 2016, where she spearheaded the "New Places to Play" initiative, including the Techny Prairie Activity Center and the transformation of Northbrook's golf course into Heritage Oaks Golf Club. Her leadership has earned her several awards, including the 2023 Illinois Parks and Recreation Association's Professional of the Year Award. Through her strategic vision and commitment to community development, she has had a lasting impact on recreation in Schaumburg, Northbrook, and Geneseo.
Cephas B. Hunt
Cephas B. Hunt, born on May 20, 1844, led a diverse and adventurous life across the Midwest and Western U.S. He served as a Union soldier in the Civil War, a U.S. Marshal in Oklahoma, a county sheriff and postmaster in Iowa, an early settler in Kansas, a farmer, and an Iowa State Senator.
Hunt's family traces back to Mayflower passengers, and he grew up in Geneseo, Illinois, before moving to Kansas and later returning to Geneseo. At 18, he enlisted in the Civil War, serving in battles such as the Battle of Atlanta. He documented his experiences in a diary, later published as Bluecoats: The Civil War Diary of Cephas B. Hunt.
After the war, he worked in various roles, including sheriff, state senator, and postmaster, before moving to Oklahoma and later California. After the death of his wife, Sue, in 1918, he returned to Oklahoma, where he lived with his daughter until his death on September 30, 1922.
John Cady Lough
John Cady Lough, born on November 22, 1915, in Geneseo, was an accomplished student and leader, serving as class president at Geneseo Township High School and excelling at Illinois Wesleyan University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1940 and joined the U.S. Naval Reserves in December of the same year, becoming a Navy pilot.
Lough served aboard the U.S.S. Wasp and later with Squadron VT-6 on the U.S.S. Enterprise during World War II. He participated in the Battle of Midway, where he flew a final mission on June 4, 1942, to bomb Japanese carriers. His fate remains unknown, as he was reported missing in action after the mission.
For his bravery, Lough was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, Purple Heart, and other medals. His memorabilia are displayed at the Geneseo Historical Museum. In 1944, a U.S. Navy destroyer escort, the U.S.S. Lough, was christened in his honor by his sister, Rose Anne Lough. The ship saw action in the South Pacific and was decommissioned in 1946.
Ted McAvoy
Ted McAvoy is a dedicated educator and community leader with a six-decade career in vocational education, school administration, and civic engagement. Born and raised in Geneseo, Illinois, he graduated from Geneseo High School in 1960 and earned a degree in Industrial Arts from Illinois State University. He taught at Geneseo High School for 26 years, instructing students in various trades, and helped develop vocational programs like the COOP (Cooperative Occupational Education Program) in 1970.
Ted also served as Vocational Director from 1971 to 1990, introducing innovative programs and earning an Educational Administration Certificate in 1973. He was active on several state and national boards, including the Illinois Vocational Directors Board, where he was president from 1989-1990.
In 1990, Ted transitioned to administration, becoming Dean and later Principal of Geneseo High School until his retirement in 1999. He continued to serve his community by leading the Geneseo Foundation Activity Center, Geneseo School Facilities Enhancement Foundation, and founding the Geneseo Education Foundation. His contributions to education and the community have left a lasting legacy in Geneseo and beyond.
George Pinks
George Pinks, born in Geneseo on July 5, 1921, was a dedicated community leader and entrepreneur. After graduating from Geneseo High School in 1939, where he was active in sports and clubs, he served as a medic in the Army during World War II. Upon returning home, he followed his passion for transportation, founding Pinks’ Bus Service in 1946 with just two buses. His fleet grew to 14 buses by 1948, providing transportation for the Geneseo Community Unit School District, a service that continues today.
Pinks was deeply committed to community service, offering transportation for senior residents and organizing outings for local institutions. He received the Geneseo Jaycees' Distinguished Service Award in 1977 and was involved in several local organizations, including the American Legion, VFW, and Kiwanis Club. He also played a key role in youth programs, including helping to establish the Geneseo Youth Football Program in 1958.
In addition to his local contributions, Pinks served on national and state levels, including as vice president of the National Contract School Bus Association and president of the Illinois Contract School Bus Association. His dedication to transportation and community service left a lasting impact on Geneseo.
Marv W. Peterson
Marv was an outstanding student and leader, excelling as valedictorian, class president, student body president, and a National Honor Society member in high school. He also broke school records in basketball and later participated in theater and vocal performance. At Trinity College, Marv was class president, Student Senate president, and earned Phi Beta Kappa honors, later serving on the Trinity Board of Trustees.
Marv continued his education at Harvard Business School, earning an MBA and later becoming Assistant Dean and faculty member. He went on to complete Ph.D. requirements at the University of Michigan, where he became a full professor and Director of the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE). Under his leadership, CSHPE grew significantly and secured major research grants, making it the top U.S. higher education program.
Marv mentored students who became university leaders, chaired over 110 doctoral dissertations, and authored influential works, including Black Students on White Campuses (1978) and Improving Academic Management (1980). He served as president of multiple educational organizations and consulted internationally on higher education reform.
Upon his retirement, the University of Michigan honored Marv by establishing the Marvin W. Peterson Graduate Student Fellowship and the Marvin W. Peterson Chair of Higher Education. His legacy in higher education and organizational behavior has had a lasting impact.
Larry Schrof
Larry (P.) Schrof, born legally blind and raised in Geneseo, overcame early challenges with the support of his preschool teacher and thrived in the Geneseo public school system. He earned a computer science degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was recruited by the National Science Foundation as an early web developer. His career in tech soared, leading him to a key role at Meta (formerly Facebook), where he contributed to the development of modern Production Engineering and helped establish a global industry standard.
At 24, Larry launched his own tech consulting company and became a sought-after speaker in technology, AI, engineering leadership, and career development. In addition to his tech career, Larry has a lifelong passion for music, playing the electric guitar, performing in bands, and studying at Berklee College of Music, where he became an accomplished session guitarist and wrote a groundbreaking guitar method book.
Larry’s adventurous spirit extends beyond tech and music, holding a black belt in Kuk Sool Won, a real estate license, and passing the FINRA Securities Industry Essentials exam. He has mentored students in various fields and values education and service to others. Now semi-retired, Larry lives in Barrington, IL, with his wife, Amanda, and their children, balancing his work, music projects, and family life. He embodies optimism and a belief that anything is possible.
James Floyd Smith
James Floyd Smith, born in Geneseo, Illinois, in 1884, had a diverse career before finding his true passion in entertainment. He worked as a cowboy, machinist, orange grower, and sugar factory worker before becoming a circus aerialist and trapeze artist. Smith toured the country with the Flying Sylvesters, performing thrilling stunts, and married his co-star, Hilder Youngberg, in 1907.
Their adventurous nature led them to aviation, and in 1912, they built and flew their own biplane. Smith’s experiences in the air inspired him to innovate, especially after a dangerous stunt by his wife, which led him to develop a safer parachute design. His aviation accomplishments included setting three world hydro altitude records in a Martin seaplane, earning him the Aero Club of America Medal of Merit in 1916 for reaching an altitude of 12,333 feet.
Smith was also a prolific inventor, holding 33 U.S. patents, and his work significantly advanced aviation technology and safety. He passed away in 1956 in San Diego, California, leaving behind a lasting legacy in both the entertainment and aviation fields, remembered for his daring feats and contributions to early flight.
Tim Renihan
Tim Renihan, currently residing in Washington State with his wife and two daughters, has a distinguished career in military service, law enforcement, and corporate threat management. A former student-athlete at J.D. Darnall High School, Tim participated in cross country, track, and basketball, where coaches Jeff Quick and Mike Kiss instilled valuable lessons in planning, persistence, and hard work that guided his later success.
Tim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma, where he was also a Big 8 Conference indoor track champion. His career began in the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (1995-1998), where he investigated serious felonies, including homicide and robbery. He then joined the Seattle Police Department in 1998, retiring in 2022 from the Homicide and Assault Unit after a distinguished career. He led high-profile investigations into murders, terrorism, and threats against public officials, working closely with the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police. He was instrumental in creating Seattle Shield, an intelligence-sharing initiative between law enforcement and the business community.
After transitioning to the private sector in 2022, Tim joined Pinkerton Comprehensive Risk Management. He became a Certified Threat Manager and now serves as the Program Manager for Executive Threat Management for a Fortune 100 technology company, assessing and managing threats against high-level executives.
Donald Gene Wright
Donald Gene Wright, a 1941 graduate of Geneseo High School, was active in sports, including basketball, football, and track. He also served as junior class secretary-treasurer and was involved in the Booster Club and “G” Club. Wright enlisted in the Armed Services on July 28, 1942, and trained as a B-24 Liberator Bomber gunner.
In 1943, Wright served with the 344th Bomb Squadron, 98th Bombing Group, 9th Air Force, flying missions from Libya. He was wounded by shrapnel during one mission, earning a Silver Star for his bravery. On August 1, 1943, during a bombing raid over Ploesti, Romania, Wright’s plane was shot down, and he was captured by German troops. Despite suffering injuries, including a broken arm and burns, he survived 13 months in a POW camp before being liberated by American forces in 1944.
After returning to the U.S., Wright continued his military service as a physical training instructor before being honorably discharged in 1945. He became Henry County’s most decorated World War II soldier, receiving honors including the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, and a Purple Heart.