2014 Murphysboro High School Distinguished Alumni
Alex BerezowClass of 2000
Alex is the founding editor of RealClearScience and a member of the USA Today Board of Contributors. He holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Washington and a Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology from Southern Illinois University. He has spent his career explaining scientific research to the general public and contributing to the national dialogue in the controversial arena where science meets politics. His articles have appeared in such diverse outlets as the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and CNN, where he has discussed everything from genetic modification and vaccine technology to stem cells and infectious disease. |
In addition, Dr. Berezow has shared his knowledge through lectures and podcasts. Co-authoring the book, Science Left Behind, is the pinnacle of his commentary on science in society. Alex Berezow’s work calls people to question their own assumptions in the pursuit of knowledge. Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 is quite proud.
Teresa DunnClass of 1994
Teresa is currently an Associate Professor of Painting at Michigan State University where she served as Assistant Department Chair. She teaches all levels of Painting and Drawing. In addition she is represented by Galerie l’Echaude in Paris, France, First Street Gallery in New York, New York, and Hooks-Epstein Galleries in Houston, Texas. Her works have won numerous honors including: The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Fellowship (2000, 2007, & 2012); Jacob K. Javits Fellowship (2000-2002); a Vermont Studio Center Residency Artist Grant (2007); Publication in French Art Journals AZART and Miroir de l'Art (2012); |
Studio Visit Magazine (2010); Tri-Best in Show at the 2008 Biennial: Contemporary American Realism at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art; Art Buzz 2008 Publication with First Place in Painting, a Finalist in the Miami University Young Painters Competition (2000), and is included in permanent collections of the Venice Baroque Orchestra and the Kinsey Institute.
Teresa Dunn’s work focuses on social issues and brings a greater awareness to the world in which we live. Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 is very proud of the national and international success and distinction that Teresa Dunn has achieved.
Teresa Dunn’s work focuses on social issues and brings a greater awareness to the world in which we live. Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 is very proud of the national and international success and distinction that Teresa Dunn has achieved.
William Patrick FrenchClass of 1949
William had a distinguished career in law. His passion for serving others was well documented throughout his life. Earning his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Notre Dame, he went on to graduate from law school at St. Louis University and attained the rank of Captain with the United States Marine Corps. Mr. French’s career was about serving. William French served as Deputy Special Agent, tasked to enforce what was to become the 1964 Civil Rights Act in Mississippi. He went on serving his fellow man working with political campaigns such as Senator Robert Kennedy. Ultimately his career led him to a seat on the superior court of Maricopa County. |
During this successful career he gained many honors. A partial list of accolades includes: 1989 co-recipient of the Public Law Award from Center for Law in the Public Interest; commendation from the Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, 1999 Alumnus of the Year at St. Louis University Law School; 2010 Maricopa County Bar Association Hall of Fame Award. William French served his fellow man working in government as a public servant. Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 is very proud of his success and contributions in the legal field.
Dr. David KilpatrickClass of 1972
David is the Chief of the Polio Molecular Diagnostic Development Laboratory at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previous to this he served as the Deputy Chief of Molecular Virology Section of the Respiratory and Enterovirus Branch of the CDC as well as an Assistant Professor for the Department of Neurology and Microbiology in the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. His work included patents such as the typing of human enteroviruses, the detection and identification of non-polio enteroviruses, and poliovirus specific primers; as well as numerous publications exploring the work of viruses and their effects. |
The key to developing these viral diagnostic assays was in his discovery of a novel method for detection and applying this to the common reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The majority of his work was in developing poliovirus detection assays in support of the World Health Organization and CDC’s eradication of polioviruses initiative. These poliovirus assays were implemented in 90+ labs around the world. Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 is very proud of his contribution to the research and diagnostic fields.
Tony LehmannClass of 1946
Tony served many years as Alumni Chaplain and assistant alumni director at Gonzaga University. He served as Gonzaga’s ambassador of goodwill to its alumni, friends and anyone with whom he would come into contact. His life is an example of showing love to his fellow man. Tony Lehmann graduated from Murphysboro Township High School and joined the United States Army. His travels took him to Japan and Korea which after seeing the horrors of war led him to become a man of peace and goodwill. After being ordained, Father Tony traveled the world spending time in monasteries throughout Italy and lived during this time with a vow of silence. From there he immersed himself into the world and became a man for all occasions. |
He performed numerous weddings, baptisms, funerals and wakes. He performed more than 1000 weddings and traveled to 22 different countries. Father Tony was so highly thought of that after his death in 2002, for the remainder of the season the Gonzaga Bulldog’s honored his memory with “the empty chair”. During the 2002 NCAA Tournament, the team wore a memorial patch that stated “Fr. Tony.” Father Tony Lehmann was a servant to his fellow man. Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 is very proud of Father Tony’s success and his example of peace and love.
Mike MillsClass of 1959
Mike is affectionately known in the world of barbecue as “The Legend.” He presides over the pits at his seven nationally acclaimed barbecue restaurants—three 17th Street BBQ restaurants in Southern Illinois and two Memphis Championship Barbecue restaurants in Las Vegas. In the early 1990s, he was co-captain of the Apple City Barbecue team, one of the most celebrated teams ever on the circuit. He is a four-time World Champion and three-time Grand World Champion at Memphis in May, otherwise known as the Super Bowl of Swine. He is also the 1992 Grand Champion of the Jack Daniel’s World Invitational Barbecue Cooking Contest and he won the Jack Daniel’s Sauce Contest that year as well. Mike is the barbecue guru at and a partner in Blue Smoke restaurant in New York City. |
His book, Peace, Love, and Barbecue, was nominated for a 2006 James Beard Foundation award and received the 2006 National Barbecue Association Award of Excellence. In October 2008, he was honored with the Pioneer of Barbecue award at the Jack Daniel’s World Invitational Barbecue Cooking Contest. He was inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame in February 2010. Mike Mills’ knowledge and expertise in BBQ cookoffs afforded him to bring to Murphysboro their very own competition, Murphysboro Barbecue Championship which is the only event in the nation to judge Memphis and Kansas City Style BBQ at the same event. Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 is very proud of what he has done in and for his hometown.
Jason MooreClass of 1987
Jason is a Third Century Professor of Genetics and Director of the Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Sciences at the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College. Prior to joining Dartmouth, he was an Ingram Associate Professor of Cancer Research and a member of the Center for Human Genetics Research at Vanderbilt University. His work in the field of computational human genetics elected him as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2011. In addition he was selected as a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences in 2013. He is considered a leader in his field and has made significant contributions to science. Jason Moore’s work advanced the medical profession and the knowledge specifically regarding the role of genetics in common diseases. |
Todd ThomasClass of 1979
Todd is a leading fashion designer. Beginning his career in St Louis, he quickly built a name for himself and then moved to New York where working in the garment district of Manhattan he built his own fashion design business. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Design Communications at Parsons The New School for Design and is a leader of the Fashion Mentoring Program at the Ali Forney Center for LGBT youth. Todd’s work has taken him around the world and celebrates diversity and authenticity. Todd has collaborated with artist Cindy Sherman along with top Fashion Editors, Photographers, and Stylists in the International world of Fashion. His work has been on display in very public fashion shows such as Victoria’s Secret. |
In addition, his work has been selected by numerous celebrities as they appear for their own honors including the Oscar Awards and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Most recently he is working with Tom’s of Maine as head designer of the Men’s Wear Division for their new company, Ramblers Way Farm. His knowledge and expertise is a commodity in demand. Todd Thomas' work stands out among a very competitive and difficult industry. Todd Thomas’ constant pursuit of boundary-blurring has taken his work beyond the mainstream and into the realms of art, music and entertainment, with diversification and growth being part of his artistic identity. Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 is very proud of his success and notoriety.
Thomas TierneyClass of 1960
Tom is a composer with many musicals to his credit. His love of music and his creative talents have allowed him success in the arts and entertainment industry. His works include the award winning musical ELEANOR - An American Love Story which played at Washington DC's Ford’s Theatre, NARNIA which played in The City of London Festival and Off Broadway in New York, and his Narnia Suite for symphony orchestra which premiered at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. In addition, Theatreworks/USA has toured six of his shows nationally, one of them being The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, now in its 22nd season. His musicals are published by Dramatic Publishing Company and Rodgers & Hammerstein. |
Thomas Tierney's work stands out in a challenging and very competitive profession. Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 is very proud of his success and contribution to the Arts.