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In a career
that's taken him around the world and back,
Harvey Welch is returning to where it all
began in his hometown of Centralia.
A standout
athlete at Centralia Township High School,
Centralia Junior College and Southern
Illinois University, later an officer in the
United States Air Force and then an
administrator at SIU, Welch is a part of the
Class of 2014 of the Centralia Sports Hall
of Fame in the Veterans category.
A 1950
graduate of CTHS, Welch played basketball
for coach Arthur L. Trout, who left a
lasting impression.
"He
was not only an outstanding coach but
teacher as well, and much of what he taught
me I carried through my collegiate athletic
career, in the military and when I returned
to SIU. He gave direction with a
rationale behind it that withstood
criticism."
Prior to
that, Welch had played on the "B"
squad under coach Jimmie Evers.
"You
learned the benefit of working hard and that
there was a reason behind what you were
expected to do, and that there were
consequences," said Welch.
"I had good teachers who were very
influential and supportive."
As a
senior, Welch played for a Centralia team
that reached the sectional final before
falling to eventual and unbeaten state
champion Mt. Vernon. A year later, he
was starring at Centralia Junior College.
The Blue
Devils took third in the state and Welch led
the team in scoring, including a 27-point
performance in a win over Vincennes.
He also netted 24 points on three occasions,
one of them a 63-62 victory over the SIU
jayvees. Welch scored 15 points in
CJC's 72-71 win over in the third-place game
at state.
As the
first African-American to letter in men's
basketball at SIU Welch scored 756 points in
69 career games from 1951through 1954 during
which time he earned All-Interstate
Collegiate Athletic Conference honors.
In a game that season, his 28 points helped
the Salukis defeat rival Illinois State.
Following
his playing days, Welch - who was in the
Reserve Officer Training Corps at SIU -
received his commission as a second
lieutenant and entered the USAF. In a
20-year career he was a Squadron Commander,
Program Manager of Higher Education, Group
Operations Officer, Administrative Officer,
directed the Air Force Civilian Institutions
Special Programs, was a Professor of
Aerospace Students and Commandant of Cadets
and was training advisor to the Commandant
of the Turkish Air Force.
Upon
concluding his Air Force career in 1975 with
the rank of colonel, Welch returned to his
alma mater where in 24 years he served as
dean of Student Life and then as
vice-chancellor of Student Affairs at SIU
with duties at both the Carbondale and
Edwardsville campuses during which he
oversaw student development and activities,
recreation, health, university housing, the
Student Center and Financial Aid, and was
known for his interaction with the students.
His
involvement ranged beyond SIU as Welch
continues to be active in the
community. He has, or is, serving on
the Carbondale Park District Board, the City
of Carbondale Police and Fire Commission,
the John A. Logan Museum Board, Carbondale
Tourism Board and was District Governor for
Rotary International and has worked with the
National Minority Golf Foundation to help
make the game more accessible. He's
also on the board of Lutheran Social
Services of Illinois and Southern Illinois
Regional Social Services,s two organizations
that help provide for the less fortunate and
has served on boards of numerous
professional organizations.
"The
purpose of life is to help those who have
been denied a better life," said
Welch. "I've tried to live
that."
He and his
wife, Trish, also sponsor a scholarship for
Southern Illinois students and annually hold
a golf scramble as a fund raiser.
"Anything
I've done, she [Trish] has been very
instrumental in it as well." said
Welch. "I feel you have a
responsibility to share what was given you,
and I want to continue doing that."
list@morningsentinel.com
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