| |
Elmer Renner , Class of 1938
Elmer Renner, a life-long resident of Aurora, was born and raised on the southeast side just a few blocks from where East High is now located. He attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Day School, East Aurora High School (Class of 1938) and received his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1943.
In May 1943, Renner received orders to report to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis Maryland for Officer Training and on August 31, 1943 was commissioned as an Ensign in the USNR. He married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Johnston, on September 4, 1943.
His first tour of duty was at Penn State University for further training. Upon graduation, he was assigned to sea duty operating out of Panama on a small minesweeper, the USS Brambling AMC 39. In September 1944, he was reassigned to the USS YMS 472 then under construction. The 472 was commissioned November 10, 1944 and operated out of New York for five months before being sent to join the Pacific Fleet. On September 16, 1945, while anchored in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, the 472 was ordered to sea to avoid an approaching typhoon, but instead intersected with it and capsized at sea. Renner and eight others were able to escape on a raft only to suffer six days without food, water or sleep. He and three others survived.
Returning to Aurora, he joined Stephens-Adamson Mfg. Co, retiring in 1984, after 41 years of service as Senior Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors. He also served on the Board of Directors of Carrier Manufacturing Co., Louisville, Kentucky and on the Board of Directors of the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association.
While a resident of Aurora, he was also active in civic affairs having served on the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement, Visiting Nurses, American Red Cross, East Seal Society, Aurora Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and the Aurora County Club. Over the last ten years, he has written a book describing his ordeal with the capsizing of the YMS 472 and his survival at sea title SEA OF SHARKS. The Naval Institute Press published it in 2004. Elmer and Dorothy Renner have been married for 61 years, raised four daughters, and still reside in Aurora. |
|
Calvin Morris , Class of 1953
Calvin Morris moved from Albuquerque, NM to Aurora in 1945. He attended Bardwell Elementary School, East Junior High School, and graduated from East Aurora High School in 1953. While a student at East High, Dr. Morris participated on the Speculum Staff and was heavily involved in the schools music program. His musical participation includes Band, Orchestra, and Chorus. One of his most noted activities was being a leader in the East Aurora Debate Club. Morris then attended Beloit College in Beloit Wisconsin and graduated with a BA degree in 1957.
Upon college graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served faithfully for the next two decades. During his twenty year tenure, Morris was a Platoon Commander, Company Commander, Battalion Logistics Officer, and Head of the Intelligence Unit. While serving in Vietnam, he received a Bronze Star with Combat “V” and a Purple Heart. After returning from Vietnam, he earned his Masters Degree in Education from the University of Virginia. Dr. Calvin Morris served on the faculty of three noted universities, including the University of Virginia at Charlottesville where he was responsible for the success of the school’s NJROTC program. In 1974, Morris graduated with a Doctorate in Education from his alma mater.
For the last 25 years, Dr. Calvin Morris has operated his own consulting company, the HR Group which is focused on training and consulting in the field of Quality Systems Management (ISO 9000). He provides management skills training throughout the Virginia Community College System. In addition, he has served as a professor at the University of Virginia School of Education, Pepperdine University, and Bryant College. He lives in Virginia with his wife (and high school sweetheart) Karen. They have four children and ten grandchildren. |
|
James Abrahamson , Class of 1955
Though born in Kansas City, Missouri, Jim Abrahamson spent his childhood in Galesburg, Illinois, and moved with his parents to Aurora after completing seventh grade. He graduated as East High’s Co-Valedictorian in 1955. Appointed to West Point Military Academy by his congressman, Jim earned his baccalaureate degree and an army commission at the U.S. Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1959, academically first in his class.
During his more than twenty-seven years of subsequent army service, Jim was fortunate to be given the opportunity to earn a Masters in Political Science with a specialty in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva Switzerland in 1966. He also earned a Masters of Arts (1974) and PhD (1977) in American History from Stanford University. Dr. James Abrahamson has served at some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in America. During the course of his tenure he has been a Professor at American Military University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campbell University, U.S. Army War College, and the U.S. Military Academy.
Just as notably, Abrahamson has written four books, America Arms for a New Century: The Making of a Great Military Power (1981), The American Home Front: American Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World War II (1983), The Men of Secession |
|
James Compton, Class of 1983
Since his birth in Aurora in 1939, James Compton has become one of the nation’s most prominent civic leaders. A graduate of East Aurora High School’s Class of 1956, James Compton attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA where he worked for the legendary educator, Benjamin E. Mays, then president of Morehouse College. Mays inspired young Compton’s interest in civil rights and equality and played a major role in Compton’s decision to major in Political Science. While at Morehouse, Compton broadened his horizons by spending a summer in Soviet bloc countries.
While still a student at Morehouse, Compton earned the prestigious Merrill Fellowship and studied at the University of Grenoble in France. There, he received a diploma in French literature before graduating Morehouse College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 1961. Immediately after college, Compton worked in the Chicago Public School System for a number of years before beginning his long career with the prestigious Chicago Urban League, an affiliate of the nation’s largest civil rights organization, the National Urban League. In 1965, Compton started as counselor for the Urban League’s job training program. A few years later, he moved to upstate New York to run the Urban League’s office in Binghamton before returning to Chicago in 1972 as the President and Chief Executive Office of the Chicago Urban League.
Under his guidance, the Chicago Urban League has grown to become one of the most influential forces in Chicago’s political, education, labor, and housing arenas. He restructured the Urban League to better provide direct care, advocacy and research in the areas of community empowerment, education, employment, and social services. Compton has been especially active regarding the issues of education, employment, and voter registration, and with his leadership, the Chicago Urban League became the first nongovernmental agency authorized by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners to register voters. Additionally, Compton is recognized as one of Chicago’s leading experts in the area of community empowerment. He is consistently called upon to speak on everything from racial profiling to the demise of public housing.
He currently sits on several boards and committees including Ariel Mutual Funds, ComEd, the Field Museum of Natural History, Northwestern University, Chicago Area Boy Scouts of America, Depaul University, and the World Trade Center Chicago Association. Emergency Relief Program. |
|
Linda Chapa-Lavia , Class of 1984
Linda Chapa LaVia was born and raised in Aurora, Illinois. She graduated from East Aurora High School in 1984 and was the first in her family to complete college, earning her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is in her second term as a member of the Illinois General Assembly. While in college, Linda honed her leadership skills as a cadet in ROTC, completing basic training in 1988 and serving as a commissioned officer in the US Army until 1993. She continued her service in the National Guard until 1998 and is currently on Inactive Ready Reserve.
As a licensed real estate broker with Chapa Realty and a local business owner, Linda has long sought to promote economic development opportunities in her community. She is active in the Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Tri County Board of Realtors. Linda's leadership, energy and passion for service are not confined to her success as a businesswoman. With an eye to improving the quality of life in the entire community, Linda is involved with the YWCA, and serves on the board of directors of the Fox Valley Girl Scouts and Provena Mercy Hospital. In an effort to give young people an alternative to gangs and crime, Linda takes an active role in Aurora's "Weed & Seed" Program and continues to work with her family on God's Gym. She recently secured state funds for CeaseFire Aurora, a national based initiative that promotes its message of "Stop the Shooting" through canvassing, public outreach and community coalitions.
Linda brings her work ethic, energy and passion for community service to the job of State Representative. She is working to provide a voice in Springfield for all residents by working toward excellence in education, safer streets and quality healthcare for families and seniors. She will use her life experience to promote a strong business climate for a strong community. Linda and her husband Vernon have two daughters, Veronica and Jacqueline. The 83rd District includes all of Aurora and parts of North Aurora and Montgomery |
|
|
D131
Alumni |
|
 |
|
