EIU Media Relations

EIU Board of Trustees Elects New Officers

The Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees elected new officers at its meeting Friday.

Elected to one-year terms in their leadership positions were Roger Kratochvil of Mt. Olive, chairman; Leo Welch of O'Fallon, vice chairman; Joseph Dively of Charleston, secretary; and Rene Hutchinson of Chicago, member pro tempore.

Kratochvil and Welch were appointed to the EIU Board of Trustees in August 2004. Dively and Hutchinson joined the board in October 2011.

Roger Kratochvil of Mt. Olive, chairman

Kratochvil is retired from the Mt. Olive school system, where he served 24 years in various capacities, including athletic director, guidance counselor and coach for the baseball, basketball and football teams. Kratochvil was inducted into the Illinois Coaches Hall of Fame in 1981 and the EIU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. Following his teaching career, he served as principal of Mt. Olive High School. In addition, he has worked with the St. Louis Cardinals for more than 20 years.

Kratochvil's community service includes serving as president of the Mt. Olive Academic Foundation, vice president of the Macoupin County Housing Authority, and a member of the Advisory Committee for Lincoln Land Community College.

He received his bachelor's degree in education from EIU in 1960, his master's degree from Southern Illinois University in 1966, and his master of educational administration degree from the University of Illinois–Springfield in 1984.

Leo Welch of O'Fallon, vice chairman

Welch was a biology teacher at ROVA High School in Oneida prior to becoming a professor of biology at Southwestern Illinois College, where he currently serves as professor emeritus. Welch has participated in many professional societies, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute for Biological Sciences, the Illinois State Academy of Sciences and the St. Louis Academy of Sciences.

Welch received the 1991 Excellence in Teaching Award from Emerson Electric for outstanding achievement for higher education in the metropolitan St. Louis area.

Welch, who obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees from EIU, went on to receive a specialist in education degree from Southern Illinois University.

Joseph Dively of Charleston, secretary

Dively is president of First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust (Mattoon), with a business career that includes serving as a senior vice president for Consolidated Communications and in sales and management roles with IBM and Caterpillar.

A Charleston native, Dively has served EIU as president of the Alumni Association, chairman of the Business School Advisory Board, and a member of both the EIU Foundation Board and the Panther Club. He has been an active member of the business community, serving as chairman of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, president of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System, and on the board of the U.S. Telecom Association. He currently serves on the board of directors for First Mid-Illinois Bancshares Inc.

Dively, who received his bachelor's degree in business from EIU in 1981, was presented the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2003.

Rene Hutchinson of Chicago, member pro tempore

Hutchinson has been with Allstate Insurance since 1986, working in various areas of the company, including finance, underwriting, agency sales and compliance.

Hutchinson has served on the EIU Alumni Association's Board of Directors since 2003. He is an active member of the community, speaking to Chicago area high school students regarding the importance of education.

Hutchinson received his bachelor's degree in business from EIU in 1974.