Sept. 7, 2005
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - In line with tradition, the University of Illinois Varsity "I" Association will present its annual Award of the Year, the highest honor bestowed upon a past letterwinner for post-graduate achievement, to Charles E. "Charlie" Finn, this weekend during Varsity "I" festivities, which include the Illinois football game against San Jose State, Saturday at 1 p.m.
Charlie Finn, a Gibson city native was a graduate from the University of Illinois and a member of the US Army ROTC. He earned his varsity letter as the senior football manager in 1955. His education includes a B.S. degree in marketing from the University of Illinois. He has been a respected leader in both his professional career as well as with his relationship to the University of Illinois. Finn has worked in the furniture industry since 1958 having served as manager, vice-president, and/or president for eight different companies in four different states. Charlie currently owns his own furniture sales company selling throughout the entire Central United States. He has also shown tremendous dedication to the University of Illinois having been presented with the William E. Winter Award for Outstanding Advocate Leadership as well as the UI Alumni Association Loyalty Award. Charlie and his wife, Blanche, reside in Champaign and have been actively involved supporting the education of Illini student-athletes through the I FUND since 1977 and have established a football scholarship endowment honoring the late Dike Eddleman.
Another honor the Varsity "I" Association proudly presents is the annual Merit Award. The Merit Award recognizes a former coach or administrator whose hard work left an indelible print on Illinois athletics and the student-athletes under his/her tutelage. This year's recipient is Don Sammons. Coach Sammons was a letterwinner on the Illinois swim team in 1955. He earned both a B.S. (1955) and M.S. (1960) in physical education from Illinois. After serving as a graduate assistant coach from 1958-1960, Sammons left Illinois to coach at Thornridge High School for 11 years. He returned to Illinois as head coach in 1971 where he served for both the men's and women's team until 1993. During his tenure at Illinois he received the John Newman Award, was inducted into the Illinois Swimming Hall of Fame, named Illinois Men's Collegiate Coach of the Year, produced seven All-Americans, and his swimmers broke every school record up until that time. Sammons also served as president of both the Illinois Swimming Association and the Big Ten Coaches Association. He and his wife, Marilyn, reside in Champaign and have been actively involved in the I FUND since 1992.
Along with the Award of the Year and the Merit Award, the Varsity "I" Association also inducts Honorary "I" members for their long-standing loyalty, service and contributions to Illinois athletics. The 2005 recipients are Debbie Babcock of Bloomington, IL; Jean Bender of Tuscola, IL; and Jim Waddell of Rockford, IL.
The 2005 Dike Eddleman Athlete of the Year Award will be presented this weekend as well. The 2005 recipients were All-American junior distance runner Cassie Hunt and All-American basketball player Deron Williams.
The Varsity "I" Association also welcomes Illini All-American wide receiver David Williams back to campus. David will be recognized during the Illinois vs. San Jose State football game as a 2005 College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
The Varsity "I" Weekend events begin Friday, September 9 at the Stone Creek Golf Club with tee times. The festivities continue Saturday, September 10 with the Varsity "I" Tailgate Tent Party at 10:30 am, followed by the kick-off of the Illinois vs San Jose State football game at 1:00 pm. A special award presentation during halftime for the 2005 Varsity "I" honorees will wrap up the weekend.
