Legendary Locals of Wheaton, Illinois

A city is not merely its structures but also its citizens, the men and women

working hard and raising families, aspiring to ideals or lofty dreams. Since

its founding as a farm community by tough New England sodbusters,

Wheaton has provided residency for an amazing array of personalities, from

ex-slave William Osborne to astronaut Shannon Lucid, from sculptors to

preachers, from intensely focused athletes to ordinary citizens performing

extraordinary, selfless acts. As Carl Sandburg, poet laureate of Illinois,

mused, These are the people, with flaws and failings, with patience,

sacrifice, devotion, the people. Portraying glimpses of their humor, insight,

dedication, and ability, this book seeks to celebrate only a fraction of

these fascinating individuals, the true heart and soul of the city–and the

nation.