On Friday, February 20, 2026, after the students had left for the day, the staff at Lombard Middle School participated in a specialized session featuring an African American History Panel comprised of prominent Galeburg community members. The panel included Rodney Bunch, Bernie Cowan, Alvira Hunigan, Wendal Hunigan, Jim Jacobs, and Dwight White.
During the after-school morning, staff members were provided with a table of topics, allowing them to select specific content areas of interest for the panel to discuss. The session examined personal stories and the historical struggles faced by the African American community here in Galesburg.
Key topics explored included:
Early Education: History of Galesburg's first black schools, including the Cooke and Mary Allen West schools.
Recreation: Lake Storey's two designated beaches, one reserved for African Americans, attracted many visitors, including those from Galesburg, Peoria, and Rock Island.
Athletics: The legacy of Galeburg High School basketball.
We are grateful to the panel of influential Galesburg community members, and thank Mr. Spring for organizing the panel and providing staff with this learning opportunity.
