The Academic Hall of Fame Class of 2009 included:
• Joe and Suzette Brumleve, who were inducted into the hall posthumously. They attended St. Anthony Schools for 12 years and were lifelong supporters of the parish and schools. The Brumleves service also extended into the Effingham and surrounding communities and they were contributors to organizations such as Catholic Charities and FISH. The Brumleves were killed in a plane crash in the fall of 2008. Their daughters, Corinn Stine, Heidi Brumleve and Holly James accepted the award for their parents.
• Dr. Robert Einhorn, who graduated at the top of the Class of 1969. He, too, went through 12 years of St. Anthony education. Einhorn is a pediatrician in the Olney area, serving at Richland Memorial Hospital and as president of Weber Medical Clinic. He is a member of St. Joseph Parish in Olney. Einhorn and his wife, Ruth, have three children: Michael, Jennifer, and Joe.
• Joe Emmerich graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1971. Currently, Emmerich is president of John Boos and Company. He is also a deacon at St. Anthony of Padua Parish. He and his wife, Pat, have five children: Teri, Joe II, Jacob, David, and Elizabeth.
• Benedictine Sister Sheila Marie Fitzpatrick was the valedictorian of the Class of 1983. After graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in chemistry and Phi Beta Kappa honors, she continued her education at the University of Pittsburg. Sister Sheila went to work for Eli Lilly and entered the religious order of St. Benedict in 1995. She currently resides at Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Indiana. Sister Sheila is the daughter of Dale and Peggy Fitzpatrick of Effingham.
• Robert Mette graduated with the Class of 1975. Currently, Mette is co-owner and vice president of Effingham Builders. Service is also a defining characteristic of his life, beginning with the Boy Scouts and continuing through his activities with the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Charities. Mette and his wife, Stacia, are the parents of four children, one child is deceased.
• Marianne Buenerkemper was elected into the hall as a distinguished faculty member. “Mrs. B” began teaching at St. Anthony High School in 1963. She taught biology, general science, and physical education. Additionally, She served as Student Council and Pep Club sponsor and also coached several sports. “Mrs. B” continues to serve St. Anthony High School as a part-time librarian and full-time consultant. She and her husband, the late Donald Buenerkemper, raised five children.
The Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2009 included:
• Charlie Flach, who graduated from St. Anthony in 1961, Flack scored 1,036 points in his high school basketball career. Coached by Bill Bonali, he scored 42 points making 18 of 18 free throws in one game to set the then school single game scoring record in 1961. Playing multiple positions, he was known for his excellent shooting as evidenced by his 82 percent free throw percentage for the 1961 season. After graduating from St. Anthony, Flach accepted a basketball scholarship to Quincy College. Unfortunately a serious shoulder injury cut short his college career. After earning his finance degree, he accepted a position with Caterpillar Company in Joliet before moving back to Effingham to work for World Color Press. He married Carolyn Bierman in 1970 and has three children — Michelle, Ryan and Sara— and four grandchildren. He is now retired.
• Ken Ludwig was the first of five Ludwig brothers to play for St. Anthony High School, Ludwig started all four years in both baseball and basketball. Coached by Harry Forrester, he scored 1,008 points in his high school basketball career. He was also a standout baseball player, playing one year of professional baseball after graduating from college. Upon graduating from St. Anthony, he attended Eastern Illinois University where he played both basketball and baseball, and was captain of both teams his senior year, He earned All Conference honors at EIU his junior and senior years in both sports. Ludwig accepted a teaching and coaching job at Kankakee High School in 1957. Moving to Newton, he coached there from 1960 to 1967 where he guided the basketball team to Newton’s first ever basketball victory over St. Anthony in 1960. Accepting a position at McHenry High School in suburban Chicago, Ludwig remained there until retiring in 1989. Winning 364 games in his high school basketball coaching career, he was inducted into the Illinois High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1990. He was also inducted into the EIU Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. He married Jeanne Stuckey in 1954 and has three sons, Roger, Kenny and Tom. He and his wife currently reside in Naples, Fla.
• Ken Niebrugge was coached by Jim Belz and Harry Forrester, Niebrugge scored 1,022 points in his basketball career at St. Anthony. The three years he played varsity basketball, his teams compiled an 69-17 record. A member of the 1955 graduating class, he scored 40 points in a single game that year to set the then-single game school scoring record. At one time he held the St. Anthony High School record in single game scoring, one-year scoring and career scoring. He accepted a basketball scholarship to play at Quincy College. Reunited with his high school coach Harry Forrester, he started every game for Quincy his sophomore, junior and senior years. Niebrugge was the basketball and baseball coach for numerous years at Amos Alozo Stagg High School in the Chicago area. Taking over the athletic director duties for 20 years, he retired in 1989. He was married to Jockwyn Roshon in 1958 has five children — Keith, Lisa, Julie, Meg and Kurt— and 14 grandchildren. He currently resides in Darrien.
As a testament to the dominance of these three gentleman on the basketball court during their playing careers, each one upon graduating from St. Anthony High School held the school career record.
• Margaret Smith Shimkus is the first female to be inducted into the St. Anthony Sports Hall of Fame. Shimkus participated in tennis, cross country and track, earning 10 letters before graduating in 1980. During her high school career, she specialized in the 880-yard run, winning three county championships, 4 IHSA regional championships, 4 Area Best championships and 4 National Trail Conference championships. She qualified for the IHSA State Track Meet all four years. She won one fifth-place trophy in the mile plus two third-place trophies in the 880 at the IHSA State Track Meet. In 1979, she won the IHSA State Championship in the 880 becoming the first St. Anthony athlete to win an individual IHSA State Championship. She held the NTC Conference 880 record for 28 years. At one time, she held the two-mile, one-mile and 880 records at St. Anthony and still holds the one-mile and 880 records. After graduating, she continued her running career at the University of Missouri. After setting University of Missouri school records in the 1500M and 3000M, she transferred to Eastern Illinois in 1982. There she set school records in the indoor and outdoor 800m, 1000m and 1500M runs and was the conference champion in the 800M and 1500M races. She decided to give up her track college scholarship to train for the Olympics in 1984. Ranked as high as seventh in the United States in the 1500M, she was hit by a car during a training run which ended her competitive racing career. She married Dan Shimkus in 1985 and has three children: Steve, Melea and Danica. She resides in Jefferson City, Mo., where she teaches business, and is the tennis and track and field coach at Helias Catholic High School.
Nominations for 2010 selections to the St. Anthony Hall of Fame are being accepted throughout the 2009-2010 school year with a March 1 deadline being suggested. Nomination forms are found online at www.stanthony.com. Nomination forms can also be mailed. Call the high school office at (217) 342-6969 for more information.