Alumni

2024 Town & Gown Award

Jock Hedblade

Hedblade, a 1983 WIU graduate in Mass Communications, has served as Executive Director of the Macomb Convention and Visitors Bureau since 2017. He grew up in Macomb, and after attending Western Illinois University, went on to a successful 35-year career as a producer, writer, director and actor. 

The four-time Emmy Award winner spent years on both sides of the camera. In his early career, he was an actor on stage and screen and was a radio host and disc jockey. He attended Chicago’s Second City; wrote, booked, produced and directed award winning documentaries, television and radio shows; was Field Producer for the award-winning Steve Harvey talk show, Executive Producer for the Roe Conn & Richard Roeper Show, Harpo Studios Producer for “The Rosie Show” starring Rosie O'Donnell, Producer/Director of the Fox TV documentary "Smashing Pumpkins: Full Circle" and the PBS documentary "How Chicago Rocked The 60's."

After his career in the Chicago entertainment industry, Hedblade returned to Macomb in 2017 to lead the Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. He is the mastermind behind Macombopoly, the world’s largest Monopoly-style board of its kind, on the Macomb square. 

According to his nominator, “he was in the “big city” working in Chicago theater, comedy, TV radio production and documentary opportunities, but his thoughts and dreams always included Macomb and WIU.”

The Town & Gown Award is presented to an individual who has provided exceptional service in continuing the partnership between WIU and the Macomb Community. Previous recipients include Jessica Butcher (2023); John Hallwas (2022); Jeremy Robinette (2021); Stan Clayton (2019); Joe Roselieb (2018); Duke Oursler (2017); John Nelson (2016); Tom Claudon (2015); Todd Lester (2014); Bill Howard (2013); Tom Carper (2012); Mick Wisslead (2011); Lin Stults (2010); Jerry Cremer (2009); John Maguire (2008); and Charles Gilbert (2007).