Louis A. Nack Jr., class of 1966, passed away on February 19, 2026, in Galena, Illinois, after practicing law in his family firm for 57 years.

Ronald Franklin Coplan, 88, of Valparaiso, Indiana, formerly of Morrison, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, November 18, 2025.

George C. Lackey, Lackey & Stevenson PC, Centralia, Illinois, has retired at the age of 89.

Thomas “Tim” J. Penn, Jr. passed away at his home in Peoria, Ill., on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

Bruce N. Cook died Thursday, January 2, 2025, in Saint Louis, MO, at the age of 84. After serving four years in the Navy, Bruce earned his law degree and started his own law firm and served as a Democratic national and state central committeeman during his career.

Robert “Bob” Laverne Watson, 87, of Brighton, IL, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2025. After earning his law degree, Bob worked for the State Department and Illinois Attorney General before opening his own firm in his hometown.

Robert L. Watson died Saturday, January 11, 2025, surrounded by his family at the age of 87.

After 55 years as a practicing attorney, Allen Jacobs has retired as of January 31, 2023.

William “Bill” Matheson Ahlenius passed away on December 18, 2024. Bill was a double Illini and a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy. He served as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy and ultimately achieved the rank of Commander. Bill spent the majority of his career at the Peoria, Illinois, firm of Swain, Johnson, and Gard, making partner and becoming a well-respected pillar of the Peoria legal community. Bill’s granddaughter, Blair Engerman, followed in his footsteps and graduated from the College of Law in 2020.

David Murray, retired partner of Ward Murray Pace and Johnson of Sterling, Illinois, was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award by the FAA for 50 years of safe flying without an accident or violation of an FAA regulation.