2006 Sigma Phi Epsilon Hall of Fame Inductees

Thomas D. Hilgendorf - Tom Hilgendorf retired from Illinois Tool Works in 2002 following a very successful 36 year career with the Fortune 200 Corporation. During the more than three decades he held numerous management positions, spending his final ten years as General Manager of National Accounts for the firm’s largest division, Signode Packaging Products.

Following graduation from Laporte High School in l956, Tom enrolled at Ball State. He pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon his freshman year and was very active many fraternity activities including intramural, variety shows, school sings, and chapter committees. In addition to his extensive fraternity activities, he was a member of the Ball State Sports Publicity staff for four years and served as the official scorer for the Cardinal basketball team. Hilgie graduated from the university in l960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in l960

Tom remained an active alumnus of Ball State University and Indiana Gamma. He served as a member of the steering committee for the BSU Alumni Center Campaign and the National Philanthropy Council, and is a member of the Fellows Society. The Martin Riverside Society was established in l994 and Hilgendorf has been an member every year. His most recent alumnus has been as a member of the Genesis Project Campaign Committee.

Tom has been equally involved in his community during his retirement years. He serves as a volunteer in the emergency room of a local hospital and was recently recognized for having completed 500 hours of service. In addition, he is an elder in the Presbyterian Church of Barrington, where he chaired the Officer Nominating Committee for the past two years and currently chairs the Endowment Committee. During the golfing season he works as a starter at The Glen Club G. C. in Glenview, Illinois. He also devotes significant time, energy and sometimes depression to continuing his lifelong passion for the Chicago Cubs.

Tom and his wife, Sally, an Indiana University graduate, have two married daughter, Jo and Amy, and are proud grandparents of three grandsons and two granddaughters. They reside in Palatine, Illinois.

William Z. Lantz - Bill Lantz enrolled at Ball State University in l951 following graduation from Portland High School. This marked the beginning of a lifelong dedication to the university and to the Indiana Gamma Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He pledged Phi Delta Pi fraternity, which was the small national fraternity that preceded Indiana Gamma. As a result he was a charter member of the new Sig Ep chapter on campus when it was established in l953. His enthusiasm for the fraternity was present from the beginning. He immediately became the homecoming float designer and was in charge of any other event that required creativity or art skills. Membership recruitment was a special interest and any young man from Portland, Indiana enrolling at Ball State was going to hear from him. Bill’s Portland roots never decreased during his lifetime.

Lantz graduated from Ball State in l955 with a bachelors degree in art education and a minor in history. His teaching career started at Union City (Indiana) High School. In l957 he moved to Plainfield, Indiana to accept a teaching position at Plainfield Junior and Senior High Schools. It was at Plainfield that he met his wife Norma and they were married in l960. Since Plainfield has the policy that husband and wife could not both teach in the school district, Bill accepted a teaching position at Maple Grove Elementary School in the nearby Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township. Following four years in that position, he took a teaching position at the West Newton Elementary School in the Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township where he taught until his retirement in l990. Bill taught art throughout his career and was a very talented artist in his own right.

Throughout his teaching years and retirement, Bill and Norma could be seen at numerous Ball State alumni and athletic events. His red blazer was always part of his wardrobe for the events. They attended Sig Ep alumni events and stayed in touch with brothers. Bill became a member of Martin Riverside Society immediately after the group was organized and maintained his annual membership. He was a member of the Plainfield United Methodist Church and the Elks Lodge.

Bill Lantz was born on March 23, l932 and passed away in Boynton Beach, Florida on March 23, 2002, his 70th birthday. Bill and Norma have two children, Gary Lantz and Bonnie Wible. Bonnie’s husband, Dennis is a member of the secondary education faculty at Ball State and was recipient of a 2005 Sigma Phi Epsilon Outstanding Faculty Award from the Indiana Gamma chapter, a presentation of which Bill would have been very proud.

Samuel P. Shoemaker - Sam Shoemaker retired from the Jay County School Corporation on June 9, 2004 following 45 years of outstanding service to the youth and citizens of the county. His education career started in l959 at Governor I.. P. Gray High School in Jay County, Indiana, which had an enrollment of 93. His first position included teaching government, Indiana history, U.S. History, geography and health and coaching basketball, baseball, track and cross country. His coaching and teaching career was interrupted in l961 when his Air Force Reserve unit was called to active duty for a year.

Upon return from France in l962 Sam returned to teaching and coaching at Portland Junior High School. His administration career started in l974 when he was appointed principal of Pennville High School. The following year he began an 18 year assignment as assistant principal of the new consolidated Jay County High School. Adult and challenge education became his focus when he accepted the directorship of the Adult and Challenge Education program for the school district in l993. The John Jay Learning Center was placed under his leadership in 2001 and in a very short period enrolled over 200 students with courses being offered by several colleges and universities.

Shoemaker has also excelled in community service. He was co-founder of Jay County Economic Development. He served on its board of directors for 20 years including 10 as president. President of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the board of directors of Comprehensive Mental Health, First National Bank, Jay County Hospital Foundation and United Way, and numerous leadership positions in the Ashbury United Methodist Church are typical of the leadership he has provided to the community the past 47 years. His contributions and leadership have been recognized with numerous awards including Educator of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Indiana Assistant Principal of the Year and Good Citizen Award.

“Sam the Man” as he was known throughout the Indiana Gamma chapter, enrolled at Ball State following graduation from Portland High School in l955, following in the footsteps of his older sister Donna (Bookout). He was active in numerous fraternity activities including the Four Steins singing group. He graduated in l958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. He completed his masters degree and two year administration certification in l966 and l967.

Sam was married to the late Sue (Olson) Shoemaker, who was also a very active member of the Jay County community. The have three sons, Dr. Matthew Shoemaker, Scott Shoemaker and Dr. Aaron Shoemaker. His retirement includes golf, traveling to visit friends and Grandpa duty.