In the first of a series on featuring Leatherneck Club members, Bryce Weiler interviewed Leatherneck Club Advisory Board President Jerry Cremer.
 
One of the big things at Western Illinois is the Purple and Gold auction, which you are very involved in. Why is this so important to you and what are some of your favorite items you have helped get for this event?
Jerry Cremer: Well, I guess the important factor would be the fact that we do raise money for the student-athletes here at Western. Some years we've labeled some of the funds we have raised for different projects, but generally it goes into the general fund and is used for different projects. I think that's the big thing. The banquet and the auction start the school year off. So at the beginning of the year we get people involved. I think it is the largest fundraiser the athletic department has throughout the year so 500 people here at Western Hall who will have a good time and raise money for the athletics department, it is a great time.
Favorite items... I would say sports memorabilia I guess things that you can't go downtown and buy. You know, an autographed football, baseball, softball, or whatever jersey. Those kind of things, they are always very popular for myself.
 
The second thing about the auction would be it gives individuals a chance to meet the coaches and student-athletes and also listen to the athletes speak each year at the auction?
Jerry Cremer: You bet. That's a huge part. We usually have a male and female athlete give a speech before the banquet starts which is well received by the audience.
 
What got you into helping with Western Illinois athletics?
Jerry Cremer: I'm a native of the area or a native of McDonough County. I've lived in Macomb all of my adult life. I feel like as a citizen, you need to give back to your community. This is one of the ways I've found to do that. I enjoy the athletic programs here and getting involved. Western is very good for Macomb, if we can give back in any way, shape or form.
 
A fact of giving back is something you can pass on when you interact with student-athletes as well. What are some of your favorite interactions with student-athletes and the coaches? How do you try to impart hat lesson to them?
Jerry Cremer: One of my favorite things might be the fact that I get somewhat involved with their lives. You may say because I am a banker if a new coach comes to town, we are able to help them out (with ideas or suggestions) if they need housing, schooling for their children, that kind of thing. So we can kind of guide them and give them some ideas, helping them with their financing, which is part of the program.
As far as the athletes themselves, I get a chance to interact with them as well as their families. I've gotten to know some of the athletes very well and I still have relationships with some of the athletes who were here 10 or 12 years ago and their families. We had one of our football players come back a year ago to get inducted into the Hall of Fame. I got to know him when he was in the football program here, and being successful having a career after football as well. When his family came back for the Hall of Fame, I got a chance to visit with them. (It was) Kind of a nice homecoming for all of us.
 
What's one thing about the Leatherneck Club that makes it stand out and is something that is really a unique thing to this organization that people should be excited to join?
Jerry Cremer: I think the big thing is again, we're helping the student-athletes. We're raising money to improve their situations. So, I think that's the major focus of the Leatherneck Club. You know these young adults are coming here putting a great deal of time into the athletic program, they're in as well as their studies. So we'd like to help them out as much as we can in any way, shape or form to make their athletic career, as well as their educational career, successful.
 
So that's one of the things you hope to be able to pass on through your time here is having them become successful on the court or field, but more importantly in the game of life?
Jerry Cremer: Exactly. You know the vast majority are going to go out and make a living doing something else besides being on the basketball court or football field. So they may be in coaching of course so yeah, getting them prepared for the real world.