Proviso West High School Alumni
Hillside, Illinois (IL)
Recent Members
Bruce Mac Martin | 1965 |
Dennis Kovac | 1974 |
Gerardo Amargos | 1974 |
Gloria Biancofiori Dabros | 1969 |
Judy Schulze | 1962 |
Linda O’brien | 1965 |
Ray Svoboda | 1967 |
Suzanne Mcfarlane | 1960 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your Proviso West High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Panthers lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Brian O'Keefe
Class of 1974
Coast Guard, 20+ Years
Retired in 2007 as Captain
12 years of sea duty including
Commanding Officer USCGC VALIANT, 1997-99, Miami Beach Fl and Commanding Officer USCGC MUNRO, 2000-02, Alameda CA
Class of 1974
Coast Guard, 20+ Years
Retired in 2007 as Captain
12 years of sea duty including
Commanding Officer USCGC VALIANT, 1997-99, Miami Beach Fl and Commanding Officer USCGC MUNRO, 2000-02, Alameda CA
Dave Lanson
Class of 1975
Navy, 4 Years
Stationed aboard USS Kitty Hawk for three years, including two Western Pacific cruises to Southeast Asia. Worked as petty officer third class in supply department providing retail services to crew members.
Class of 1975
Navy, 4 Years
Stationed aboard USS Kitty Hawk for three years, including two Western Pacific cruises to Southeast Asia. Worked as petty officer third class in supply department providing retail services to crew members.
Dennis Wilmot
Class of 1967
Navy, 20+ Years
Retired from Navy Reserve. Taught Medical Imaging and Biology, Anatomy, and Lab to Reserve Recruits in NM and Fla. Retired as a CMDR.
Class of 1967
Navy, 20+ Years
Retired from Navy Reserve. Taught Medical Imaging and Biology, Anatomy, and Lab to Reserve Recruits in NM and Fla. Retired as a CMDR.
Don Wilson
Class of 1987
Army, 20+ Years
Serving in Intelligence. Stationed in GA., LA., Korea, TX., Italy, IL., NC. and now Colorado
Class of 1987
Army, 20+ Years
Serving in Intelligence. Stationed in GA., LA., Korea, TX., Italy, IL., NC. and now Colorado
Dr. Thomas Jandris
Class of 1966
Army, 4 Years
Tom spent four yeaqrs in the Army Security Agency in Monterey, CA; Goodfelow Air Firce Base, San Angelo, TX; and Berlin, Germany in the early 1970s. He was awarded the Presidential Spirit of Honor Medal in 1971 for " best exhibiting the spirit of the American fighting man."
Class of 1966
Army, 4 Years
Tom spent four yeaqrs in the Army Security Agency in Monterey, CA; Goodfelow Air Firce Base, San Angelo, TX; and Berlin, Germany in the early 1970s. He was awarded the Presidential Spirit of Honor Medal in 1971 for " best exhibiting the spirit of the American fighting man."
Ed Gorman
Class of 1963
Marine Corps, 2 Years
MOS 0331 / Machine Guns. Grunt. 13 month tour of Vietnam with Echo 2/9. March 66 - April 67
Class of 1963
Marine Corps, 2 Years
MOS 0331 / Machine Guns. Grunt. 13 month tour of Vietnam with Echo 2/9. March 66 - April 67
Eddie C. Thompkins III
Class of 1979
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
Retired as a Gunnery Sergeant after 21 years of service. Career field: Counterterrorism Analyst
Currently living in England with my son who is serving in the US AIr Force.
Class of 1979
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
Retired as a Gunnery Sergeant after 21 years of service. Career field: Counterterrorism Analyst
Currently living in England with my son who is serving in the US AIr Force.
Eric Carlson
Class of 1986
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
Served 21 years 8 months active duty. Marine Barracks Wash, D.C. 4th, 5th, and 7th Marine Regiments. Two tours at School of Infantry as a weapons instructor.
Class of 1986
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
Served 21 years 8 months active duty. Marine Barracks Wash, D.C. 4th, 5th, and 7th Marine Regiments. Two tours at School of Infantry as a weapons instructor.
Gregg H. Malicki
Class of 1965
Army, 31 Years
Army & Army National Guard Field Artillery Officer. Vietnam: Americal & 101st Airborne Divisions.
Class of 1965
Army, 31 Years
Army & Army National Guard Field Artillery Officer. Vietnam: Americal & 101st Airborne Divisions.
Harold Richardson
Class of 1991
Marine Corps, 6 Years
1st ANGLICO
Camp Pendleton, CA
Class of 1991
Marine Corps, 6 Years
1st ANGLICO
Camp Pendleton, CA
James Strickland
Class of 1985
Army, 20+ Years
Served 20 plus years in the United States Army Transportation Corps, Gulf War and Iraqi War Veteran with 3 overseas tours (Egypt, Korea, Germany) and stints in North Carolina and Georgia. Retired in 2004, presently teaching truck driving in the state of Washington
Class of 1985
Army, 20+ Years
Served 20 plus years in the United States Army Transportation Corps, Gulf War and Iraqi War Veteran with 3 overseas tours (Egypt, Korea, Germany) and stints in North Carolina and Georgia. Retired in 2004, presently teaching truck driving in the state of Washington
Keith B. Konze
Class of 1979
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served 20yrs as a propulsion system mechanic for the F4, F15 and F16
Class of 1979
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served 20yrs as a propulsion system mechanic for the F4, F15 and F16
Michael Gardner
Class of 1980
Navy, 20+ Years
Michael served honorably for 21 years in the US Navy; having been deployed during the Libya bombings of 1986, the 1990-91 Gulf War, the 1992 Somalia refief efforts and was deployed again after 9/11 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom both in Afganistan and Iraq. Mike retired in October 2003 and now resides in Virginia Beach VA with his wife of 16 years where they are raising two boys ages 15 and 11. Mike currently works for Blackwater USA and supervises the Aviation Logistics operations
Class of 1980
Navy, 20+ Years
Michael served honorably for 21 years in the US Navy; having been deployed during the Libya bombings of 1986, the 1990-91 Gulf War, the 1992 Somalia refief efforts and was deployed again after 9/11 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom both in Afganistan and Iraq. Mike retired in October 2003 and now resides in Virginia Beach VA with his wife of 16 years where they are raising two boys ages 15 and 11. Mike currently works for Blackwater USA and supervises the Aviation Logistics operations
Mike Sheehan
Class of 1968
Air Force, 4 Years
Heavy Equipment Operator, ER Medic, Air Medical Evacuation (C-130), Vietnam 1970-71
Class of 1968
Air Force, 4 Years
Heavy Equipment Operator, ER Medic, Air Medical Evacuation (C-130), Vietnam 1970-71
Ray Schomas
Class of 1963
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Aircraft Com/Nav Tech F4B/J with MAG-13
in Chu Lai South Vietnam 1/67 - 9/68 and
with the Marine R/D detachment at the
Naval Missle Center in Pt Mugu, CA.
Class of 1963
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Aircraft Com/Nav Tech F4B/J with MAG-13
in Chu Lai South Vietnam 1/67 - 9/68 and
with the Marine R/D detachment at the
Naval Missle Center in Pt Mugu, CA.
Robert Sherman
Class of 2005
Navy, 2 Years
I'm a Aviation Boatswain's Mate Fuelsman, I am stationed on the USS Essex in Sasebo, Japan
Class of 2005
Navy, 2 Years
I'm a Aviation Boatswain's Mate Fuelsman, I am stationed on the USS Essex in Sasebo, Japan
Russell M. Koester
Class of 1967
Army, 16 Years
Military Police Ft. Shreidan, Illinois 1968-69
Camp Casey, Korea 1969-70
Illinois Army National Guard
Arkansas Army National Guard
Arkansas Air National Guard
5 Th. Army Honor Guard Ft. Sheridan, Illinois.
Class of 1967
Army, 16 Years
Military Police Ft. Shreidan, Illinois 1968-69
Camp Casey, Korea 1969-70
Illinois Army National Guard
Arkansas Army National Guard
Arkansas Air National Guard
5 Th. Army Honor Guard Ft. Sheridan, Illinois.
Scott MacDowell
Class of 1966
Navy, 4 Years
HM2 USN USNAVAL Hospital Camp LeJeune, NC
5th Medical Bn. FMF Pacific RVN
1st Medical Bn FMF Pacific RVN
Class of 1966
Navy, 4 Years
HM2 USN USNAVAL Hospital Camp LeJeune, NC
5th Medical Bn. FMF Pacific RVN
1st Medical Bn FMF Pacific RVN
Stephen "Mike" Zibrun
Class of 1963
Navy Reserves, 3 Years
USS Parle DE 708, PC3 Striker Subic Bay Philippines 1969-70
Class of 1963
Navy Reserves, 3 Years
USS Parle DE 708, PC3 Striker Subic Bay Philippines 1969-70
Thomas Erb
Class of 1961
Navy, 4 Years
Served on USS Bache DD470 as electricans mate
ship was in Cuban Missile Crisis in Oct 1962
Class of 1961
Navy, 4 Years
Served on USS Bache DD470 as electricans mate
ship was in Cuban Missile Crisis in Oct 1962
TIMOTHY L KNEPPLE
Class of 1965
Army, 2 Years
Served 1967-1969 .3rd of 506th 101st airborne. Vietnam 68-69. Bronze star V device oakleaf cluster. Was definitely not the place to be at that time but got though it. My job was to find and disarm booby traps, sweep tunnel complexes to remove any lodgers, blow up those complexes and eliminate any enemy troops that wandered into my line of fire.
Class of 1965
Army, 2 Years
Served 1967-1969 .3rd of 506th 101st airborne. Vietnam 68-69. Bronze star V device oakleaf cluster. Was definitely not the place to be at that time but got though it. My job was to find and disarm booby traps, sweep tunnel complexes to remove any lodgers, blow up those complexes and eliminate any enemy troops that wandered into my line of fire.
Tracy Johnston
Class of 1966
Navy, 4 Years
Petty Officer Sonar Tech. 1969 - 1971
USS Perry DD844
Black Sea Mission - '70
Presidential Unit Citation '70 - Against Gaddafi / Libya / plane hijacking.
Combat Action '72 - Vietnam. Sailed
5 of 7 seas - Panama Canal / Cuba / Naples / Spain / Black Sea / Hawaii / Midway / Orient. to name a few ports
Played catch with pitcher Vida Blue in Cuba '69. Had dinner with CIA Director R. Helms '70. Met Neil Armstrong and held his golf club used to hit golf ball on moon '71. Met Bob Hope in '71. Met wife in '71. Part of rescue team saving pilot in N. Viet. port area. Experienced perfect storm off Mexico '72. Seen every Clint Eastwood movie 5 times minimum. All with spending 42 of 48 months mostly at sea. Max time without seeing land/mail 74 days. Oh, I loved every minute of it!!
Class of 1966
Navy, 4 Years
Petty Officer Sonar Tech. 1969 - 1971
USS Perry DD844
Black Sea Mission - '70
Presidential Unit Citation '70 - Against Gaddafi / Libya / plane hijacking.
Combat Action '72 - Vietnam. Sailed
5 of 7 seas - Panama Canal / Cuba / Naples / Spain / Black Sea / Hawaii / Midway / Orient. to name a few ports
Played catch with pitcher Vida Blue in Cuba '69. Had dinner with CIA Director R. Helms '70. Met Neil Armstrong and held his golf club used to hit golf ball on moon '71. Met Bob Hope in '71. Met wife in '71. Part of rescue team saving pilot in N. Viet. port area. Experienced perfect storm off Mexico '72. Seen every Clint Eastwood movie 5 times minimum. All with spending 42 of 48 months mostly at sea. Max time without seeing land/mail 74 days. Oh, I loved every minute of it!!
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Proviso West High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Panthers.
Our Proviso West High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our Proviso West High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Hillside are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!