Bill Sulaski, a longtime community leader and booster of Illinois State University, has died at age 85.
Sulaski was a principal partner in a large accounting firm in Bloomington-Normal, Sulaski & Webb CPAs. He chaired the Illinois State University Board of Trustees in the 1990s during key moments in the institution's history.
Gov. Jim Edgar appointed Sulaski to the then-board of regents that oversaw Illinois State, Northern Illinois, and Sangamon State universities. Sangamon State is now the University of Illinois at Springfield.
In 1996, the state gave each of those institutions a separate governing board, and Sulaski stayed on the ISU board of trustees. It was a time of organizational and leadership transition following the ouster of embattled university president Thomas Wallace.
Former ISU president David Strand said he and Sulaski inherited an institution that was isolated from the community, the media, and state government.
“There was quite a bit of divisiveness on the campus," said Strand. "He and I talked about ways that would be helpful in healing wounds that had been created, and building bridges so that we would have better relationships with each of those constituencies.”
Sulaski spent 20 years in higher education on the board of regents, and as ISU trustees chair through the terms of four ISU presidents.
Numerous community leaders remarked on how Sulaski crafted warm relationships with everyone he met.
“He talked about how important that was, and leadership roles, and he just was a genuine fellow that you just liked immediately,” said former ISU president Larry Dietz.
Dietz said Sulaski had a gift for taking complex issues and making them easy to understand for the person on the street.
“I always appreciated his ability to do that, and the genuineness of his character,” said Dietz.
Character
Sulaski’s calm was legendary. Dietz, former athletic director Larry Lyons, and former State Rep. [now Bloomington Mayor] Dan Brady all articulated that theme.
“Bill really never got angry,” said Dietz. “You know, there's the old adage about there's never a wrong time to do the right thing. And I think Bill lived that. He lived it in his professional life and his personal life. He also had the ability to look you in the eye with, oftentimes a twinkle in the eye, and share a story or a joke or you know, something personal that just automatically connected you with him. And he also was one of these individuals that whatever he told you, you knew was the truth.”
"Always a calm individual, always very easy to talk to and always had the best interests of others and did a great job of listening as well,” said Brady.
“He was a very unique individual. The lack of ego, the unassuming, the calming presence. He was just a very, very good dude,” said Lyons.
"He was a strong, quiet leader in the community. He had an ability to navigate through potential conflict areas and show people how to work together, said Dietz, adding, “Whatever he was trying to move forward, it was never about him. I just admired him greatly.”
Mentoring
Sulaski not only led, he also developed other leaders. Numerous ISU officials said Sulaski mentored them long after he departed the board of trustees.
“We would meet for breakfast once a week. And excuse the comparison, we were kind of like a couple of mafia people who met in a booth and talk quietly about things relating to the university, and that was very helpful for me,” said Strand.
“He served as a confidant and supporter of me when I was considering applying for the president, and then I maintained that relationship, well until the present time,” said Dietz. “I really admired him for his intellect and his connections. He had great insight into the inner workings of the community.”
Lyons said Sulaski was not only a mentor, he was a confidant to several athletics directors, too — a person to go to with questions or issues and expect a straight answer.
“He was a calming influence. I know if there was something that I thought might be getting under my skin a little bit, I could call him and say, 'Hey, what do you think about this? … He was really good in those situations …Then sometimes, he could tell you, Larry, you know, you need to buck up on this one, or you need to look at a little bit differently. But most of it was very encouraging, very calm, very, very professional,” said Lyons.
“If he ever got exercised or angry, I never saw it," added Brady. "He was always even keel, bringing forth points that he wanted to articulate. And he did that well. And I can remember a couple of different times as a freshman representative that he would be in Springfield, he took the time to come up to the office to visit and ask how things were going.”
Community service
Sulaski served many community organizations. Just a few are the Bloomington-Normal Jaycees, McLean County Chamber of Commerce, and the McLean County Center for Human Services.
Sulaski’s wife of 63 years, Susan, died in February. He has four surviving children and five grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, at the Bloomington Country Club.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sheridan Employee Holiday Fund and/or WGLT Radio.
