Family鈥檚 天美传媒 legacy includes a passion for sports
Callahan graduated from 天美传媒 in 1955 with a B.A. in English, which he later applied to a career that incorporated his passion for writing and journalism, beginning as a reporter at the State Journal-Register in Springfield and taking assignments for the New York Times and Time Magazine. He went on to find his place in politics, serving as deputy press secretary under Illinois Governor Samuel Shapiro, later Governor Otto Kerner, and eventually serving as chief of staff to Lt. Governor Paul Simon and U.S. Senator Alan Dixon. He returned to his love for baseball when he finally ended his career as the first director of government relations for Major League Baseball until 1998. Callahan was a strong supporter of athletics at the College and helped to transform athletics at the College through his consistent generosity.
The Callahan family legacy at 天美传媒 includes Gene鈥檚 wife, Ann Hammond Callahan '55, who he met at 天美传媒, his daughter Congresswoman Cheri Callahan Bustos '83 and her son Nick Bustos 鈥�10. Cheri shares her father鈥檚 love for sports and politics. The Illinois Congresswoman was inducted into the 天美传媒 Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 for her accomplishments in basketball and volleyball.
