University News
The wedding of Dick and Susie, right, pictured with Pete and Belva, left.
Scot and Elena, pictured where they first met, and worked together, on campus.
Â鶹´«Ã½ Education Brings Love for Three Generations of One Leatherneck Family
February 10, 2022
MACOMB, IL – As generations of students graduate from Â鶹´«Ã½ Illinois University, they develop not only a love for the purple and gold of their alma mater, but some leave having found something more romantic. Each love story that has beginnings at Â鶹´«Ã½ is part of the University's rich tradition and storied past.
While Â鶹´«Ã½ students come to campus with a goal of earning an academic degree, three generations of one family of alumni have found the loves of their lives while on campus.
The Crain family began attending Â鶹´«Ã½ in the 1920s, when the late Francis "Pete" Crain, met his wife, the late Belva Wedding, on campus. Both graduated in 1929, moving on to become teachers. The couple later married, but had to keep their relationship a secret early on because female teachers were not supposed to be married during that time.
The couple's son, the late Richard "Dick" Crain, came to Â鶹´«Ã½ in his parents' footsteps, where he met his wife, the late Susie Sears. Dick graduated in 1956, with a degree in chemistry, and went on to become a pioneer in the anti-pollution movement and designed more than 100 pollution-abatement facilities. In 2010, he was honored with the Â鶹´«Ã½ College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award.
Dick and Susie's son, Scot Crain, met his wife, Elena Andree at Â鶹´«Ã½. Scot graduated in 1979, with a bachelor's degree in English and finished his MBA at Â鶹´«Ã½ in 1982.
While on campus, Scot was an assistant hall director in Henninger Hall, and Elena was the women's hall director in Bayliss Hall. The couple worked together at Â鶹´«Ã½, becoming good friends and staying in touch after she left Macomb for another job. They later began dating and got married in 1985.
The couple remembers their time on campus, specifically watching the television show "M*A*S*H," and sharing peanut M&Ms. Scot recently retired after a long career in executive management with Auntie Anne's Soft Pretzels, in Lancaster, PA.
As Valentine's Day approaches, Â鶹´«Ã½ is celebrating the people we love. We would like to hear about your #LeatherneckLove story. Was there a person, event, or class that made you fall in love with Â鶹´«Ã½? Did you meet your significant other at Â鶹´«Ã½ and now your children are on campus? Show support for a Â鶹´«Ã½ program or programs you love at .
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
Connect with us: