The WGLT Hall of Fame recognizes those who have made contributions integral to WGLT’s ongoing excellence in public service as part of the NPR Network and to Illinois State University and the Bloomington-Normal community.
The 2025 class features three members who have made invaluable contributions to WGLT over the years as an administrator, donor, and community underwriter. They will be recognized and celebrated at Radio Faces on Oct. 30.
The Hall of Fame honorees are:
Dr. David Strand, Illinois State University administrator
During his tenure as vice president for business and finance, provost and president in the 1980s and ‘90s, Dr. David Strand fought to preserve university funding for the station and protect WGLT’s editorial independence. He felt WGLT served a vital role connecting the campus to the community – a role WGLT enhanced and expanded over the last few decades. He was an early, true believer in the promise of what WGLT could grow and evolve to be.
Strand, and wife Trudy, are longtime supporters of the station, including serving as volunteers who answered phones during our earliest fund drives.
Dr. Sally Pancrazio, donor
Dr. Sally Pancrazio is a longtime Redbird supporter. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in business education from Illinois State University and later served the College of Education as department chair for Educational Administration and Foundations and then dean before retiring in 2001. Pancrazio is a passionate equal rights amendment advocate and lifelong learner.
Her support for WGLT includes significant investments toward the completion of our new studios, matching funds for our Report for America mental health beat, and generous, ongoing support of day-to-day operations. Pancrazio’s philanthropic focus and enthusiastic spirit helps to drive the entire organization forward.
Garlic Press, underwriter
More than 60% of WGLT’s annual budget comes from community support made up of individual donors and underwriters. Garlic Press has been a critical piece of WGLT’s revenue for more than 40 years. Garlic Press founder Dottie Bushnell began underwriting Prairie Home Companion in 1982 for $40 a month. Today, Dottie’s daughter Sarah McManus and co-owner Pam Locsin continue the Garlic Press legacy as a premier Uptown destination and WGLT underwriter. Garlic Press will celebrate 50 years in business in 2026.
The 2025 class joins 18 additional members of the Hall of Fame which started in 2018. No classes were inducted from 2020-2022 due to the pandemic. Inductees were chosen from a list of nominees provided by WGLT staff. Any volunteer, contributor, former employee, or intern may be nominated for selection, though current full-time and part-time employees are ineligible.
More information about the WGLT Hall of Fame and honorees is at WGLT.org.
