(I wrote this several weeks ago and am just getting around to posting it now)
I learned of the passing of Bill Recktenwald, known to myself and many others at SIUC as “Reck”, over the weekend. I was fortunate enough to meet and regularly talk with Reck throughout my time at the Daily Egyptian. And, while I never enrolled in one of his courses, I believe he mentored me all of the same. Given the circumstances, I thought it would be appropriate to share a few of my favorite anecdotes and stories.
One night, while talking with some coworkers from the DE in a parking lot, Reck exited the journalism building and started walking towards his car. Myself and Steve began walking towards Reck and had a short conversation. At the end of our talk, Reck popped his trunk, grabbed a small locked box, and pulled out a revolver which he then holstered in his pants. There was some reason he wanted to have the gun on the ride home, which I believe was mostly a non-reason, but that part of the conversation escapes me. However, several years later, during an unrelated conversation with Steve, he recounted a phone call with Reck which was interrupted by the ringing of gunshots as Reck attempted to shoot at a beaver who routinely damned his pond causing a flood over his driveway.
Another night, sitting in the DE, Reck walked up to myself and Kallie. He had never met her before so I made the introduction to which he said, “[To Kallie] you have cold hands and a warm heart.”
It was an overcast Saturday during the fall of my freshman year of college. Nate called me and asked to go out hiking to the Garden of the Gods with Luke. After the hike, he suggested we stop by Reck’s house because he lived down the road. We stopped, talked for awhile and then Reck suggested we stop at a small-town Chinese buffet on our way home. Given the limited dining options in rural Southern Illinois, we stopped at said buffet and which commenced one of the most uncomfortable eating experiences of my life. It was the definition of “locals-only” and the other buffet-goers intently watched every bite we took.
Nothing about any one of these stories is consequential, really, they are all very mundane and I think that’s what makes them that much more important. When anyone passes, we’re quick to think of the best or most memorable story; however, to me, I think what we miss the most are those small daily conversations and occurrences which make use smile, cause us to cringe, or otherwise remind us that we aren’t alone – someone is always there, always notices. Reck spent two decades shining light on injustices throughout Illinois, really putting faces to the issues, during his tenure at the Tribune and then spent another two decades at SIUC helping uncover the potential of hundreds of students who passed through the halls journalism department.
You’ll be missed, Reck.
See a full obituary below.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obituaries/ct-william-recktenwald-obit-20210823-uamzd72d4nfxrnp3se4rtbxhxy-story.html