As the culmination of a months-long, uphill effort to seek and secure approval from the office of the SIU Chancellor Austin Lane, a historical marker commemorating the start of WIDB was finally approved and installed at the site of Wright I in September.

Congratulations and thanks to Bruce Whiteside, an original WIDB member, for his tireless efforts that resulted in the creation of the marker and his self-funding of the design and production of the marker now further supported by contributions from many of you.

A small group of former WIDB staff, headed by WIDB founder Jerry Chabrian met with the Chancellor’s Chief of Staff, Matthew Baughman, this past June in Carbondale for a site tour and location selection.

Jerry, Bruce, Matthew Baughman and SIU Physical Plant staff and others trudged to the site of Wright I and everyone agreed on an appropriate location. That official approval culminated in the recent installation of the historical marker that has been attested to by a former staffer who by chance recently visited the site.

The official unveiling will be next June 24, 25, 26, 2022 during the WIDB 50^th Anniversary Reunion celebration.