Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumni Shirley Portwood, Ph.D., and Major General (ret.) Randal Thomas have been appointed to the SIU Board of Trustees by Governor Pat Quinn.
Portwood, of Godfrey, is a retired professor of history who taught at SIUE from 1980 until 2010. She earned a doctorate in history in 1982 from Washington University in St. Louis. She earlier completed a bachelor’s and a master’s in history from SIUE. She has served as a member of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Board of Trustees since March, 2010, and was recently appointed to the Illinois Amistad Commission. Portwood also has organized a scholarly symposium examining the history of African Americans in Illinois.
Thomas, of Springfield, served as the 36th Adjutant General of Illinois, which is the highest National Guard post in the state. Thomas is an SIUE graduate, earning a bachelor’s in 1973 in English and literature and a master’s 1980 in education. He also has a master’s from the U.S. Army War College. Thomas received his commission as an infantry officer in 1967 and served in the Army Special Forces from 1966-1969. He was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor for his 1968-1969 combat service in Vietnam. Prior to his appointment as adjutant general, Thomas worked for 30 years as an English teacher, librarian and media director in Hillsboro. General Thomas also served on the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission for three years. He is a member of the SIUE Alumni Association Hall of Fame.
Portwood and Thomas will be in attendance at the Board’s annual May meeting Thursday on the SIU Carbondale campus.
Major General (ret.) Randal Thomas with SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe at her installation on April 19.