Jim Graham Receives Sandburg’s Distinguished Service Award
Aaron Frey
Friday, May 19, 2017 12:05 PM
Campus News
Galesburg, IL
Retired Carl Sandburg College instructor James “Jim” Graham was presented with the College’s Distinguished Service Award during the 49th annual Sandburg Commencement on Thursday evening.
A political science faculty member from 1979-2010, Graham also served as the associate dean of social and behavioral sciences during his final 13 years at Sandburg. While at Sandburg, Graham served as the adviser for several clubs and organizations, including Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the International Students Society.
He was named the College’s Faculty Member of the Year in 1985, 1988 and 1989, and he remains the only three-time recipient of the award. Among his other honors, he received the Burlington Northern Foundation Faculty Achievement Award in 1992.
An avid runner, Graham also served as an assistant coach for the Chargers cross country teams from 2005-10 and was a board member for the Galesburg Road Runners Club for several years. He also organized and was the race director of the Sandburg 4-mile run for nearly 30 years before his retirement. He has finished more than 20 marathons, including four Boston Marathons.
A Michigan native and graduate of Western Michigan University, Graham and his wife, Claudia, now reside in Suttons Bay in his home state.
Jim Graham
Carl Sandburg College Distinguished Service Award Recipients
2017 — Jim Graham
2016 — Mary Robson
2015 — Elaine Long
2014 — Dorothy Appell
2013 — Larry Schroeder
2012 — Shirley Pritchard
2009 — Jetty Calvert, Carol Gronewold
2008 — Janet Hardine (LaDage), Wendel Hunigan
2007 — Tom Karjala, James MacDonald, Berniece Peterson
1997 — Joann Lundeen, Jack Daddona
1996 — Betsy Housh, Cleo Davis
1995 — Patricia Harrison, Carol Eiten, Tom Fuller
1993 — Martha LaDuke, JoAnne Goudie, Joan Rescinito
1990 — Genevieve Yaw, Art Williamson, Patricia Bivens
1986 — Ruth Torrence, William Masters, Bill Hungate