Shirley (West) Davis started a family tradition when she attended SIUC in the 1940s, and now her four sons have graduated from SIUC and her granddaughter Lana is a third-year MEDPREP student.

The Davises are just one of many families to have multiple relatives graduate from SIUC.

I think the three main reasons (we went to SIUC) is it was available, it was affordable, and it had the quality programs we needed to pursue our careers, John Davis, Shirley’s eldest son, said.

What we found is that SIU has high quality programs in a wonderful environment. The faculty is second to none.

John graduated with three degrees from SIUC. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1965, his master’s degree in 1969 and became an education degree specialist in 1976. John’s wife Julie (Friese) Davis received her bachelor’s in art education from SIUC in 1968.

John is the former superintendent of schools in Anna-Jonesboro, where all four of the Davis brothers graduated high school. He is now the executive director of Southern Illinois Orthopedic Health Clinic.

Tom, the second of the four brothers and Lana’s father, received his bachelor’s degree in 1969.

The third son, D.W., received his bachelor’s degree in 1973, while the youngest, Mike, received his degree in 1981.

D.W. is the former regional superintendent of schools. Now he is the golf professional at Rend Lake. Tom and Mike are surgeons in Southern Illinois.

Lana transferred to SIUC after her first year at Tulane University in New Orleans, and she said she doesn’t regret her decision to come to SIUC.

I transferred back from New Orleans because it was a different atmosphere, she said. (SIU) was much more comfortable for me. I love it here.

Since their graduations from SIUC, all of the Davis brothers have remained active with the University.

They have endowed a scholarship to SIUC in the memory of their mother. This year it is supported Saluki full back Bryan Nolbertowicz.

The whole family are lifetime members of the SIUC Alumni Association. They support the arts, and the Southern Illinois Orthopedic Health Clinic is a corporate sponsor to WSIU-TV.

At the clinic, John and his staff provide pre-med students a chance to shadow the doctors, as well as hire SIUC students and graduates.

Tom and Mike are on the consulting staff to SIU School of Medicine.

We recognize the important part SIUC plays in our community, John said. Having SIUC makes our community a much better place to live.

The brothers also began a program to boost SIUC enrollment. The Southern Illinois High School Appreciation Day was started to give a local student a $1,500 scholarship to SIUC. All the student had to do was attend certain events at SIUC, then put her name in a hat. Christina Howard of Murphysboro High School won the scholarship.

Lana said she appreciates what her family is trying to do to boost awareness of SIUC.

I think (what they are doing) is great, Lana said. They are making an effort to help SIU. They realize a lot of students in Southern Illinois are underprivileged, and they realize (Southern Illinois) is a nice place to live.

And with SIUC Homecoming weekend beginning today, the family will honor another tradition. Every year the family attends the parade, the tailgate party before the football game and the Homecoming football game.

We take some coffee and doughnuts (to the parade), and let all the kids chase the candy, John said. Then the family will go to the alumni tent at the game, and then the football game.

We have a friend in the Alumni Band (Mike Hindman). We watch him practice and play at half time.

Like the Davis family, the Henderson family of Sparta is rich in SIUC tradition.

John and Georgeann (Palmer) Henderson were high school sweethearts when they decided to attended SIUC in the 60s. John was following after his sister, Rita.

John received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1967 and his master’s degree in civil engineering in 1972.

Georgeann received her degree in journalism, with a minor in English and teacher certification, in 1968.

Georgeann and John lived in Thompson Point their freshman year at SIUC, and Georgeann’s college career ended with the beginning of their marriage.

I remember taking my last test the day we got married (June 9, 1968), Georgeann said.

The Henderson’s daughter, Jenna (Henderson) Smith received her master’s degree in speech communication from SIUC in 1994. She is now an admissions counselor and field representative for New Student Admissions. Her husband, Greg Smith, is a senior in education and will graduate in December.

Georgeann said the family tradition of attending SIUC began because of SIUC’s relation to Sparta and John’s sister Rita.

It was a close university, and something we could afford, Georgeann said. There were a lot of influences [that made us chose SIUC].

Through Jenna, we are reliving all this again..

The Hendersons may long ago have graduated from SIUC, but they still stay involved through the SIUC Alumni Association, where they are lifetime members.

The family plans to return to SIUC for Homecoming to watch the parade and attend the football game. This year, Jenna will be working the alumni tent to help students and alumni of the University mingle and talk about different experiences.

It hasn’t changed, Georgeann said. That is why the University stands strong and tall today.