October 12, 2013 The Peoria High School Alumni Association is having The Gold Lion Luncheon honoring three distinguished alumni and includes guest speakers Charles Dancey, former editor of the Peoria Journal Star, and his son Burt. The luncheon will be held at Peoria High School at 11:30. The cost is $22 and is open to the public. Reservations may be made by calling the Peoria High School Alumni Office (309) 682-4854. Those being honored are:

Bruce “Skip” Snyder, class of 1956, was a Peoria business and civic leader, worked for Commercial National Bank for 35 years with his last position being executive Vice President. Skip served on many community boards and was recognized locally, statewide, and nationally for his leadership in United Way. He helped found the Riverfront Development Corporation. He was involved in Lakeview Museum, even serving briefly as their interim executive director, and he championed the Peoria Riverfront Museum. (2013)

Michel “Mike” McCord was president and chairman of Illinois Mutual Life Insurance Company. A 1962 graduate, he was passionate about giving back to Peoria. He served on boards of several non-profit agencies and led major fundraising campaigns including those for the United Way, Salvation Army, and the American Red Cross. Mike was chairman of the board of trustees at Bradley University and served on the board for the Peoria Riverfront Museum. (2013)

John W. Frost, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor in Chemistry at Michigan State University, served as a consultant and scientific advisor for numerous corporations. The 1973 graduate of PHS leads a group that genetically engineers microbes as synthetic catalysts, one such being used in Tamiflu. Internationally recognized for research in the green chemistry field, John and his partner received the 1998 Presidential Green Challenge Award (2013)