Decatur, Illinois

Decatur, Illinois
Curve-In, Fairview Avenue

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

John R. Coutrakon at Law School

Earlier this month, I received this email for Jeff Skrysak:
I am currently a law student in Oregon at the Willamette University College of Law. In our hallways, photos of past graduates are hung on the walls. The photo of John R. Coutrakon (class of 1976) is remarkable, so I decided to research him on the internet.
I found your blog post about him here.
Illinois is my home state; I grew up west of Chicago and moved here for law school, so I was happy to see that Mr. Coutrakon was also from Illinois.
I am writing you now to ask if you would like to see the photo of Mr. Coutrakon that is shown in the class graduation frame? He must have been quite the character because half of his face and head is shaved clean while the other half has a hair and a full beard. Such a fun person must surely have been appreciated by those around him.
I asked Skrysak to send along the photograph, and share it below:


After graduating from law school, John became the founding partner of the law firm of Coutrakon & Badin, Brookings, and a member of the Oregon State Bar.

On the page I posted about John, I noted:
JR Coutrakon, who was born on January 10, 1947, died in a wreck involving a logging truck, according to what his friends have shared.
His obituary was published in the Decatur Herald & Review on Valentine's Day, 1987. The sterile details in the paper give little hint of how awful the crash was. "John Roberts Coutrakon, 40, of Brookings, Ore., formerly of Decatur, died Tuesday (Feb. 3, 1987) in Coquille, Ore., from injuries suffered in an automobile accident."

May John rest in peace, and again, condolences to his family and friends.



For more information on the Class of 1965's 50th Reunion, please click here.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Register NOW: 50th Reunion of MacArthur H.S. Class of 1965


The time is now to register for the Douglas MacArthur High School Class of 1965's 50th Reunion.


The dates are Friday, September 18, and Saturday, September 19, 2015.

The cost for attending the 50th Reunion for Singles and Couples for Friday and Saturday nights is as follows:
Singles: Friday night $20, Saturday night $50 (Both nights, per single = $70)
Couples: Friday night $30, Saturday night $90 (Both nights, per couple = $120).


Please send your payment for the Reunion to the following classmate at her address:

2025 Ramsey Drive
Decatur, IL 62526


Please make your check out to:
MacArthur Class of 1965


The cost is for The Fountain Room rental for both nights and the Station Dinner on Saturday night.

The menu for the Saturday night Station Dinner will be the same as at the 46th reunion in 2011. (Vegetarians and special health dieters need to identify your needs to the organizers so that information can be conveyed to the kitchen staff for the Saturday night dinner.)

The hotel you need to register with is the
Decatur Conference Center and Hotel (DCCH)
4191 US 36 West (Wyckles Road)
Decatur, IL 62522



DCCH's website is found by clicking here. However, it appears to not work for some people, and attempts to register online have been met with frustration.

It is highly recommended that you make your hotel registration directly by calling DCCH at (217) 422-8800, so you will be assured to secure a room.

Rooms are of two varieties, Standard or Business Class, with a cost of $89 plus tax per night or $110 plus tax per night.

Do PLEASE mention "MAC Class of ’65 Reunion" to receive your special room rate when reserving your room.

The Reunion Committee encourages you to send your Reunion payment in and make your Reunion room reservations ASAP!





The Committee for the Class of 1965 50th Reunion 

(and their email addresses)

Pat Ryan (wllmpryn@aol.com) 

Millie McCaddon Smith (millvanil@yahoo.com) 

Janet Polen Barker (kenjan8@comcast.net) 

Sandy Rentfro Porter (sandy.porter65@gmail.com) 

Julie Sederlund Delahunty (juliedelahunty@yahoo.com)

To update and enhance your biographical information, and/or to forward death notices and obituaries of Mac '65 Classmates, please write me at





In 2011, the Reunion committee and Loren funded the publishing of the Mac '65 Reunion and Directory Book (100 pages long).

If you never received a copy of the Directory, Loren Coleman will send one to you, so please forward your address here

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Enjoy yourselves.