Tom Strong – Page 3 –

Edith Vazquez, left, and Margarita Sanchez are Adult Education administrative assistants at Waubonsee Community College. (Tom Strong / For The Beacon-News)

Column: Administrative assistants at Waubonsee’s Adult Education Department aim to help students, community

December 15, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.

Edith Vazquez and Margarita Sanchez are graduates of Waubonsee's Adult Education program, and have served that program as administrative assistants since 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Members of the American Legion, Fox Valley Marines and AMVETS form the rifle squad for Aurora's Veterans Day ceremony. They are under the command of retired U.S. Army Capt. Charles Saloga. (Tom Strong / For The Beacon-News)

Column: Veterans Day in Aurora brings out many emotions

November 17, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.

As happens to me after attending the Aurora Veterans Day parade and celebration each year, I departed this year's recent event feeling many emotions. I am so very proud of...

Former East Aurora High School football players, from left, Wendell Jeffries, Tom Madden and Bill Deligiannis, attend the annual East High Football Old Timers Association reunion on Thursday. (Tom Strong / For The Beacon-News)

Column: East Aurora football reunion offers display of unity

October 20, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.

&The annual East Aurora Football “Old Timers” meeting and banquet a celebration among men with a continuing love of their teammates, their coaches, their school and their “side of town.”

NIU alumnus Tom Strong visits the University of Notre Dame with his son, John, a Notre Dame graduate. The pair went to the football game between the two schools last Saturday, which ended up with NIU getting an upset win over Notre Dame on the home turf of the Fighting Irish. (Tom Strong / For The Beacon-News)

Column: NIU’s upset win over Notre Dame creates priceless memories

September 13, 2024 at 8:45 a.m.

It was an amazing day, and the fans of each school will never forget it.

Officers and men of the USS Yard Minesweeper 398 docked at Subic Bay, Philippines, pose for a photo. Auroran Ken Olson is in the top row, fourth from right. (Olson family)

Aurora World War II vet looks back on a lifetime of service

August 23, 2024 at 8:52 a.m.

Ken Olson is a lifelong Aurora resident who has served his country and hometown for almost 80 years.

Sister Rita Mary Phalen, left, and Sister Joan Korte stand in their convent home at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Aurora. (Tom Strong / For The Beacon-News)

Column: Upcoming move of two nuns to retirement center marks end of an era in Aurora

July 28, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.

Sister Joan Korte and Sister Rita Mary Phalen plan to move in August from Our Lady of Good Counsel Convent in Aurora to a retirement center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Dan Thorpe stands outside his college guidance counseling office at Marmion Academy in Aurora. Thorpe was the head football coach at the school for 19 years, retiring from that role at the end of the last football season. (Tom Strong / For The Beacon-News)

Column: Dan Thorpe a true winner in his career as football coach at Marmion in Aurora

June 21, 2024 at 10:50 a.m.

In a low-key announcement at the end of the 2023 football season, Thorpe announced his retirement as the Marmion Academy head coach after 19 seasons and 103 victories.

Paul Kluber, a retired Aurora pharmacist, receives his 40-year service award from Osco in 2021. (Osco)

Column: Becoming a pharmacist was the right prescription for longtime ‘go to guy’ at Aurora drug store

May 16, 2024 at 9:20 p.m.

Paul Kluber, who is known to many in the community as the longtime pharmacist and pharmacy manager at the Osco store on Aurora's West Side, retired from those positions two...

A panoramic view of historic Aurora from Wilder Park shows the Leland Tower on the far right and the old St. Charles Hospital on the far left. (Tom Strong / For The Beacon-News)

Column: View from Wilder Park in Aurora brings thoughts about the past and future

April 11, 2024 at 9:03 p.m.

If you are an Aurora history buff, there is a wonderful panoramic view of the City of Lights from Wilder Park which you might enjoy very much.

Paramount Theatre volunteer ushers who were on duty for a recent performance of "Billy Elliot" at the venue in downtown Aurora take time for a photo. (Tom Strong / For The Beacon-News)

Column: Volunteer ushers at Paramount in Aurora deserve to take a bow

February 15, 2024 at 7:57 p.m.

The theater has 312 ushers in its database, with the active group consistently between 70 and 80 people.

All Stories