Lin Stults - Leatherneck Club Interview

Bryce Weiler interviews Lin Stults in the latest installment of Leatherneck Club features

Bryce Weiler- Good afternoon ladies and gentleman this is Bryce Weiler with the pleasure to interview Lin Stults of the Leatherneck Club from Western Illinois. An interesting fact about Lin is that she does all of the engravings on the trophies for Western Illinois. So Lin can you talk about what it means to put your stamp on so many different sports and sporting achievements?

Lin Stults- "Well I have been very blessed because I'm just starting my 37th year of business and we have been doing this for a very long time and enjoy it very much. It gives me great pride to know that a lot of the athletes that graduate from Western are taking something home with them that I engraved."

BW- What are some of your thoughts on being part of the Western Illinois Leatherneck Club?

LS- "I enjoy very much of the fact that I get to be on the ground floor of a lot of changes going on and improvements with the teams. I enjoy very much the football season, it's my favorite second only to basketball. My father was a football coach many, many years ago so I've always had a great appreciation for football. It's fun to see the different changes and be involved and hopefully be helpful with ideas and suggestions."

BW- What are some of the best reasons why an individual should join the Leatherneck Club?

LS- "I think overall it's a positive reinforcement of why we are all Leathernecks. The old saying 'Once a Leatherneck Always a Leatherneck' is true. It's reinforcing to athletes today that you care, you are concerned, you are involved. I think it's a great thing."

BW- What's been your best interaction with a former player or coach who might have received one of your trophies? Will they call you from time to time when they find one of your trophy's as been in the attic or sitting on the mantle place for several years?

LS- "I've had people like Ed Hartwell call me from wherever he was at and need an extra plaque order one from me. I have an autograph in my shop of Mike Scifres. I run into Don Patterson periodically. He's always wanting something. It was fun to go over the details before he would do his banquet every year. We would spend about an hour or an hour and a half going over the details for all of his plaques, trophies and awards. It was really neat because I got to see the coach on a different side. I do that also with JD Gravina, and I have enjoyed very much working with Billy Wright. It's been a fun thing to do."

BW- So an interesting way that you are able to give back by creating life long pieces of art that can celebrate players achievements on the court or on the field.

LS- "And I enjoy that and appreciate that very, very much."

Print Friendly Version