A $2.25 million estate gift from SIU alumnus Roy D. Franke will benefit the Charlotte Thompson Suhler School of Journalism and Advertising and its hands-on learning experiences. 

According to a Jan. 30 blog post from the SIU Foundation, the gift ranks among the largest private contributions in the school’s history and is going to support the school’s professional labs, including the Daily Egyptian, Saluki AdLab, River Region Evening Edition, Saluki Sports View, Gateway Journalism Review, the Saluki Local Reporting Lab and weekend photojournalism workshops. 

“We are deeply moved by this extraordinary act of generosity and profoundly grateful for the trust Mr. Roy Franke placed in CAM’s Charlotte Thompson Suhler School of Journalism and Advertising,” Hong Cheng, dean of the College of Arts and Media, said in the post. “This gift establishes a powerful and lasting legacy — one that strengthens the Suhler School’s academic mission and expands its opportunities for future generations. I have no doubt he will always be remembered as an integral part of the school’s story.” 

A southern Illinois native, Franke earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from SIU in 1966 and Master of Arts degree from the University of Missouri in 1968, according to his obituary published in wmix94 on Oct. 29, 2024. Franke was born and raised in Centralia, Illinois, where he graduated from high school and was a member of The First Baptist Church. 

Franke was a member of the National Horse Pitcher’s for 42 years and pitched in the World Horseshoe Pitcher’s Tournament for 19 years. After moving to Mount Vernon, Illinois in 2007, he remained involved in church life, attending Central Christian Church. Franke also worked 13 years as a distributor for Carpenter Body Works in Mitchell, Indiana. 

Franke died on Oct. 27, 2024, in Mount Vernon at the age of 80. 

“This amazing and wonderful gift will help support our entire school,” Jan Thompson, director of the Suhler School, said in the post. “The faculty will benefit from this gift, but also our students.” 

The SIU Foundation said the gift will also advance SIU’s mission as a national leader in research and student access. SIU is one of only 21 universities nationwide recognized by the Carnegie Classification for both Research 1 status — the highest level of research activity — and an Opportunity College and University. 

Franke’s gift will also contribute to the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign. SIU has currently raised more than $460 million of its $500 million goal. The campaign is the fifth-largest fundraising effort in Illinois higher education. 

Editor-in-Chief Carly Gist can be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram @gistofthestory.

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