Virgil Boucher ’32
Virgil was born October 25, 1909, in Levan
Township in Jackson County, Illinois to parents John and Rachael
Boucher. Virgil graduated from Murphysboro High School in 1928, then
from Monmouth College in 1932. He continued his schooling and received a
Master of Arts degree from both the University of Iowa and Bradley
University.
Virgil
had a long and distinguished coaching career. He taught and coached high
school football in Seaton, Media and Sparta, Illinois, before heading to
Peoria in March of 1942. After four years as an assistant at Woodruff
High School, he coached the varsity football team from 1946 to 1965. By
the mid 1950’s he had built a football powerhouse, which included
undefeated teams in both 1955 and 1957. In honor of his long commitment
to Woodruff High School, the practice football field was officially
dedicated in his name in October 2005.
In addition to his commitment to Woodruff High
School, Virgil has been a valued contributor to the Monmouth College
community since graduating in 1932. He is an active member of the Sigma
Phi Epsilon Fraternity and annually holds a scholarship luncheon in
recognition of the men’s academic achievements. In 2001, Monmouth
College dedicated Boucher Plaza, a courtyard located at the entrance of
Bobby Woll Memorial Field, named in honor of his wife and daughter. He
has also created an endowed scholarship for Woodruff high school
students that wish to attend Monmouth College.
Among Virgil’s many notable awards and
accomplishments are: involvement in Kiwanis since 1967 and the recipient
of the Division 20 Luis V. Amador Medallion Award; the American Heart
Association; the Retired Teachers Association; winner of the Tri-County
Tom Conner Award for outstanding volunteer service to his community;
member of Illinois Football Coaches Hall of Fame; Greater Peoria Sports
Hall of Fame; Monmouth College Hall of Fame; Woodruff High School Hall
of Fame; Little Nineteen and Midwest All Conference Guard in 1931;
Payton-Blunt Award in 1977; and the recipient of the 2007 Monmouth
College Distinguished Service Award.
|
2007 |
Virgil Boucher 1932 |
|
2006 |
Frederick W. Wackerle 1961 |
|
2005 |
Bonnie Bondurant Shaddock 1954 |
|
2004 |
Dr. Nancy Speer Engquist 1974 |
|
2003 |
David Bowers 1960 |
|
2003 |
Dr. Frank Sorensen |
|
2002 |
H.S. "Saf" Peacock and Elizabeth F. Peacock |
|
2001 |
Isabel Bickett Marshall 1936 |
|
2000 |
George Trotter 1947 |
|
2000 |
Maxine Murdy Trotter 1947 |
|
1999 |
R. Jeremy McNamara |
|
1998 |
Mary Ann Galusha Eiserman 1972 |
|
1997 |
Rev. Charles Speel II |
|
1996 |
Robert Buchholz |
|
1996 |
Frank "Bill" Lee 1969 |
|
1996 |
Margaret "Peggy" Will Lee 1971 |
|
1995 |
Ernest Crow Jr. 1941 |
|
1995 |
Rev. J. Stafford Weeks |
|
1994 |
Bruce Haywood |
|
1994 |
John Ketterer |
|
1993 |
Dorothy Eyler Arthur 1948 |
|
1993 |
Ralph E. Stephenson 1958 |
|
1992 |
James W. Marshall 1936 |
|
1992 |
Clarence P. Patterson 1935 |
|
1991 |
Margaret Miles 1930 |
|
1990 |
Sarah A. Ryder 1938 |
|
1988 |
Alice M. Martin 1931 |
|
1987 |
Stephen W. Graham Jr. |
|
1986 |
Mary Jane Tippett |
|
1985 |
Elwood H. Ball |
|
1984 |
Jean A. Frans Hogue 1930 |
|
1984 |
Katina R. Harper Truman 1977 |
|
1983 |
Heimo A. Loya 1938 |
|
1983 |
Lyman O. Williams |
|
1982 |
Ralph E. Whiteman |
|
1981 |
William M. Lesuer 1942 |
|
1980 |
DeBow Freed |
|
1980 |
Catherine Freed |
|
1979 |
Eva Hanna Cleland |
|
1979 |
Samuel M. Thompson 1924 |
|
1978 |
Adele Kennedy |
|
1977 |
Peter Bunce |
|
1977 |
Lee Morgan |
|
1977 |
Glen Rankin 1943 |
|
1977 |
Mildred Saville 1928 |
|
1976 |
Mary Bartling Crow 1941 |
|
1976 |
Eileen Sandberg Loya 1940 |
|
1975 |
Cmdr. Gilbert Boone |
|
1975 |
Katherine Phelps Boone 1930 |
|
1974 |
Benjamin Shawver |
|
1973 |
Kenneth Geiger 1953 |
|
1972 |
Sigmund Kunstadter |
|
1971 |
David D. Fleming 1946 |
|
1970 |
Duncan Wimpress |
|
1969 |
Roger J. Fritz 1950 |
|
1968 |
Cyrus R. Osborn |
|
1967 |
Evelyn M. Peters Kyle 1932 |
|
1967 |
Fielding A. Smith 1925 |
|
1964 |
N. Barr Miller 1928 |
|
1961 |
Hugh Beveridge 1923 |
|
1960 |
Rolland Moore 1931 |
|
1960 |
Robert T. Rawson 1942 |
|
1958 |
Kenneth Addleman 1936 |
|
1958 |
Elizabeth Dierstein Lashley 1924 |
|
1958 |
Leroy Pierce 1914 |
|
1958 |
Doroty Austin Prugh 1913 |
|
1958 |
Thomas Prugh 1912 |
|
1958 |
Ivory Quinby 1919 |
|
1958 |
Chalmer Spiker |
|
1957 |
Louise Reid Campbell 1907 |
|
1957 |
James C. Foster 1914 |
|
1957 |
Thomas H. Hamilton 1907 |
|
1957 |
Mary E. McCoy 1913 |
|
1957 |
Robert T. McLoskey 1928 |
|
1957 |
Wendell F. Whiteman 1927 |
|
1956 |
Morris Beabout |
|
1956 |
Harold Blair |
|
1956 |
Kenneth Craig |
|
1956 |
Janet Ritchey Palmer 1938 |
|
1956 |
Grace Gawthrop Peterson 1922 |
|
1956 |
Harry Rhea |
|
1956 |
John Service 1935 |
|
1955 |
Dr. O.E. Sterett |
|
1955 |
Keith Trevor |
|
1954 |
Robert Albert |
|
1954 |
Fred B. Pattee |
|
1954 |
Glen Soule |
|
1953 |
Max R. Armstrong 1941 |
|
1953 |
William T. Axline 1921 |
|
1953 |
Bruce B. Barr 1928 |
|
1953 |
Algot J. Bowman 1925 |
|
1953 |
Mabel M. Bowman 1925 |
|
1953 |
George H. Bruington |
|
1953 |
Howard W. Bryant |
|
1953 |
Thomas Wiley Clark 1927 |
|
1953 |
Paul M. Crafton |
|
1953 |
Emory B. Davis |
|
1953 |
David D. Edwards |
|
1953 |
Victor C. Engdahl |
|
1953 |
George Gardner 1926 |
|
1953 |
Ernest Johnson |
|
1953 |
John J. Kritzer 1913 |
|
1953 |
William McKnight 1934 |
|
1953 |
Robert S. Moore 1938 |
|
1953 |
Thomas E. Moore |
|
1953 |
Gale L. Parrish 1951 |
|
1953 |
Gail Reynolds 1942 |
|
1953 |
James Sanderson 1926 |
|
1953 |
George Thorbeck |
|
1953 |
Donald B. Walker |
|
1953 |
Paul E. Warfield 1924 |
|
1953 |
Russell White |
