Alumni Achievement Awards

The Alumni Achievement Award honors alumni for their significant achievements and contributions to their profession and community; and for leadership, innovation, and life work that represents the mission and values of the College.

2025 Recipients

Martin Reichel ’71

Alumni Achievement Award

Martin was honored for his leadership in business, lifelong service to Galesburg, and dedication to Knox. Born in Germany and raised in Galesburg, Martin earned an Illinois Scholarship to Knox, graduating with a degree in English.

He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1971 to 1975, and after returning to Galesburg, he became president of McFall Monument Company and led the Illinois Monuments Association. For more than 30 years, he also managed Hope Cemetery and St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

Deeply committed to his community, Martin has served on the United Way Board, led the Sunrise Rotary Club, and been an active member of WINGS (Western Illinois Nature Group). A monthly guest columnist for the Galesburg Register-Mail for over 15 years, he has also given more than 25 years of service to the Galesburg Public Library Board of Trustees, including many terms as president and treasurer. He played a pivotal role in the creation of the new Galesburg Public Library, serving as a founding member of its Foundation and as construction manager—a project he called “closest to his heart.”

At Knox, Martin has given generously of his time and support, participating in mentoring programs and remaining a loyal donor for decades.

Max Potthoff ’14

Young Alumni Achievement Award

Max was honored for his outstanding achievements in sustainability and continued service to Knox.

Graduating with honors in 2014 with double majors in environmental studies and creative writing, Max later earned an M.A. from the Yale School of the Environment. He is currently the U.S. Sustainability Manager for McDonald’s Corporation, where he advances regenerative agriculture, manages a renewable energy portfolio, and leads climate strategy for restaurants nationwide.

Max’s career reflects a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. He has served with AmeriCorps, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., contributing to national water resource and climate change policies. At McDonald’s, he has played a key role in shaping corporate strategies that reduce carbon emissions, promote responsible sourcing, and strengthen supply chain resilience—efforts that directly impact global agriculture and conservation.

In addition to his professional leadership, Max remains an engaged alumnus. As a volunteer for his Class of 2014 Reunion, he helped organize a memorable 10-year celebration, strengthening bonds among classmates and building lasting connections with Knox.

Nominate a Knox Alum

Do you know a Knox alumnus who deserves recognition? Submit your nomination today. Your input is invaluable in celebrating the achievements of our incredible alumni!

Alumni Achievement Nomination Young Alumni Achievement Nomination

Previous Alumni Achievement Award Recipients

2024

Talip Kilic '04, Pamela Schuller '09, Terry Smith '63
Young Alumni Recipient: Oliwia Zurek '10

2023

Brenda Butler ’71, Jeremy Butler ’95, Christopher DeWald ’83
Young Alumni Recipient: Ladipo Lawani ’08

2022

Merry Sloan Mosbacher '80, Hardika Shah '92
Young Alumni Recipient: Shane Fogerty '09

2021

Amy Carlson '90, Otto "Casey" Jones '87, Regine Rousseau '95, Virginia Steen '69
Young Alumni Recipients: Leah Heister Burton '08, Melati Nungsari '10

2020

William Hiatt '72, Denise Roza '83, and Stefano Viglietti '91

2019

Bridget Coughlin '94, Joe Cecchi '68, and Mark McIntosh '72
Young Alumni Recipient: Joel Christensen '06

2018

Greg Duick '68, Steve Gibson '88, Harvey Sadow '68
Young Alumni Recipient: Stephen Herzog '09

2017

Harriet Drew Barringer '58, Jane Strode Miller '81, Rebecca Hollmeyer Ullman '70
Young Alumni Recipient: Luella Williams '06

2016

Dr. Thomas E. Brown '64, Dr. Ernest Buck '74, Marcea Bland Lloyd '68, Rachel Abarbanell '02
Young Alumni Recipient: Katie Bell '08

2015

James N. Doyle '44, Indira S. Somani '92
Young Alumni Recipient: Bryan Quinn '00

2014

Lee '62 and Alexandra Houston Benham '61, Lara Moritz '90, Owen Muelder '63
Young Alumni Recipient: B.J. Hollars '07

2013

Ann McConachie '71, W. Dudley McCarter '72, Lori Sundberg '95
Young Alumni Recipient: Geoff Ziegler '03.

2012

Mary Lu Hudson Aft '60, Lyn S. Wright '63, James Solomon '74, Peter Leibig '73
Young Alumni Recipient: Norman Golar '02

2011

William A. Reiners '59, Valerie Cwik '77
Young Alumni Recipient: Ross Kelly '03

2010

Alexander W. Kuo '61, James L. Hallock '69, Keith E. Maskus '76
Young Alumni Recipient: Matthew L. Berg '00

2009

Carol Craig '89, P. Christopher Earley '80, Charles Kartman '70
Young Alumni Recipient: Bree Elrod Novak '00

2008

Richard E. Cheney '43, Alan B. Anderson '56, Keith Belzer '85
Young Alumni Recipient: Ander Monson '97

2007

Fremont "Gene" Binder, David P. Fridovich '74, Margery Rosen Kraus '67
Young Alumni Recipient: Monica Berlin '95

2006

David Axelrod '67, William Barnhart '68, Semenya McCord '71
Young Alumni Recipient: Caitlyn Muelder '96

2005

Alvin L. Crumbliss '64, Steven D. McClure '79, Elizabeth Harler Van Steenwyk '48
Young Alumni Recipient: Ellen C. Landers '96

2004

Homer H. Johnson '57, Jo Ellen Maurer Sandburg '66

2003

Barry L. Bearak '71, Judith Holland Sarnecki '66, Ronald J. Stern '68

2002

Richard N. Aft '60, Donald Charles Sweeney '73, T. David Yount '56

2001

Lorraine M. Fleming '54, Maury Klein '60, Gabriel D. Rotello '74

2000

Paul W. Black '56, Richard M. Hoover '69, Sherwood D. Kiraly '72

1999

Peter E. Cozzens '79, John A. Feemster '59, Rick A. Nishimura '75

1998

Daniel P. Kimble '56, Homer L. Price '48, Barbara Young '42

1997

Marcia Muelder Eaton '60, Darwin G. Johnson '65, John Jay Matson '65

1996

Carol Everly Floyd '68, John D. Podesta '71, Susan Deller Ross '64

1995

Marge Deets Olson '55, Louise M. Rainey '64, James M. "Mack" Trapp '56

1994

Barbara Baird '73, William Henry Blake '36, Robert Franklin Seibert '63

1993

Michael G. Baylor '64, Denise M. Buntin '76, Shirley Chap MacDaniel '49

1992

Rana McMurray Arnold '66, James M. Kilts '70, Carol Pouche Van de Walle '73

1991

Sally Jo Arteseros '58, B.E. Buck '64, Earl Harris '40

1990

Mildred Louise Culp '71, Curtis Lee McCray '60, Eugene John Watts '64

1989

Edith Prescott Crabbe '32, Merle H. Glick '46, William N. Monson '57

1988

Clyde M. Campbell '24, Donald M. Jerina '62, Hal N. Opperman '60

1987

Kathryn Calvert Bloomberg '61, John D. Campbell '43, Harold P. Leinbaugh '44, Jack F. Mills '50

1986

Richard V. Riddell '72, Martha Jacobson Roskam '52, Verlyn R. Roskam '51

1985

Keith Achepohl '56, Jeanne Zemek Bohn '50, Susan M. Landon '72, Dan M. Martin '61

1984

John A. DeNovo '38, Lucille Robertson Halfarson '41, Christine M. Herbes '70

1983

Joseph K. Jobst '49, Alexander Rabinowitch '56

1982

Aldo A. DeAngelis '54, Grant H. Harnest '39

1981

James R. Blayney '12, Donald G. Harris '54, Robert J. Jamieson '65

1980

Brooks B. McNamara '59, Ernest E. Sandeen '31, Bruce C. Stratton '61

1979

Denis A. Baylor '61, Albert E. Finholt '38

1978

Burrel Barash '28, Beverly Bender '40, James R. Potter '63

1977

Edwin O. George '28, Robert N. Meyer '52, George W. Smith '54

1976

Philip M. Burgess '61, Albert W. Holmes '52, A.T. McMaster '40

1975

Felix C. Bengston '27, Mary Ann Cox Bengston '27, Hurbert M. Curry '23, Thomas E. Kurtz '50

1974

Richard W. Burkhardt '39, Marcia L. Larson '41, Thomas H. Miner '50

1973

Jesse C. Bogue '33, Donald W. Thomas '36, Morton W. Weir '55

1972

Laurence E. Boyd '19, Frank J. Jirka '44, Harold K. Salzberg '24

1971

Merle E. Minks '39, Roma L. Shively '29, Herman L. Taylor '26

1970

Hugh V. Harris '37, Fanny B. Warnock '18, John C. Weigel '08

1969

Eloise Bacon '28, William J. Foley '38, Ned R. Landon '43

1968

Gale A. Mathers '33, Wilbur J. Peak '28, Murray S. Smith '25, Hortense L. Wilson '21

1967

Franklin J. Casey '56, Robert J. Northshield '44, Gerald W. Smith '28, Ethel Housel Ulfelder '07

1966

Floyd T. Fulle '42, Philip O. Gentry '27, Thomas L. Pool '28, J.C. Thomas Rogers '20

1965

William R. Beattie '32, Bernard B. Burford '34, Gene L. Schwilck '48, Dean S. Trevor '26

1964

Harold M. Botkin '28, Allen H. Center '33, Dorothy Parmenter Kostka '28

1963

David R. Arnold '37, Robert B. Chipperfield '22, Maude I. Smith '13

1962

Marjorie Dimmitt '17, Joe W. Morgan '34

1961

Donald L. Benedict '38, John A. Gehlmann '15, Hermann R. Muelder '27

1960

Romick E. Bickford '23, Edgar D. Coolidge '05, Kenneth E. Corrigan '28, Helen G. Lynch '17, Clifford H. Sweat '29

1959

Cuyler MacRae '24, Ruth Schertz Phillips '26, Orrin H. Smith '08

1958

Hiram E. Essex '19, Wilfred B. Massie '30, Walter G. Muelder '27, Lysle E. Pritchard '21

1957

William J. Baker '17, M. Max Goodsill '12, John S. Gray '32, John R. Mayor '28

1956

C. Milton Hult '19, Louis C. Hunter '22, Richard F. Jelliff '06, Richard K. Johnson '29

1955

Wade E. Arnold '28, Claire Goodsill Chandler '04, James G. Findlay '06, Harry C. McKown '13, Harold L. Meeker '18

1954

George W. Hunter, III '23, Robert A. Jamieson '32, Ira E. Neifert '15, Mary McEldowney Simpson '32

1953

Kenneth Craig '24, Carolyn Webster Hammond '25, Duncan A. Holbert '36, Robert Rice 1896

1952

Harold J. Szold '15, Margaret Gessner Twyman '36, Michael W. Walker '01

1951

John S. Grongan '04, Adolph P. Hamblin '20, Roy C. Ingersoll '08, Casper W. Ooms '26, Walter S. Shafer '22

1950

Franklin E. Agnes '28, James A. Campbell '39, Frank W. Hartman '13, William J. Kostka '27

1949

Paul L. Salzberg '25

1948

S. Tanner Stafford '26

1947

George R. Irwin '30