Governor names two trustees to board

Daniel Toberman
Assistant News Editor

Gov. George Ryan named two new members and reappointed two to serve on the SIU board of trustees.

Mark Repking, 41, and Ed Hightower, 49, participated in their first board meeting just one day after Ryan announced the additions.

Repking, president of Liberty Bank in Alton and president of the Marquette High School board, called his first meeting a "learning experience."

Hightower, who is superintendent of Edwardsville School District 7 and a National Collegiate Athletic Association referee, was impressed with the efforts of the other members to acclimate them to the process.

Repking replaces Celeste Stiehl who retired last fall. He will serve on the board until January 2005.

Hightower replaces Bill Norwood, who was not reappointed. Hightower, along with reappointees Molly D'Esposito and Harris Rowe, will serve until January 2007.

D'Esposito has served on the board since 1989 and was named chair when former chair A.D. VanMeter stepped down. Rowe has been on the board since 1971.