This week, three alumni will return to Champaign for this year’s Homecoming as part of the Illini Comeback program. Ron Bess, a driving force in the Chicago advertising community, is one of them.

The program invites accomplished alumni back to campus to interact with students, staff and faculty. It is coordinated by Student Alumni Ambassadors and sponsored by the University of Illinois Alumni Association.

Bess was the co-captain of the Illini football team in 1967 and still holds the record for “Interception Return Yardage” in a single game at 152 yards.

“It’s a great honor. I have a lot of pride in the University of Illinois … (and) a bit of nostalgia in coming home again,” Bess said.

Bess graduated from the University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and masters degree in advertising.

He is currently serving as president of Havas Worldwide North America and CEO of Havas Worldwide Chicago. The Chicago Advertising Federation honored him with a Silver Medal Award in March.

In 1991, Bess’s agency made a commercial for Gatorade titled “Be like Mike.” The project helped Gatorade become a global brand and defined sports drinks as a whole new category of beverage. Other clients of his agency include Groupon, Citigroup, and PlayStation Network.

Mary Susan Britt, associate director for advancement in the College of Media and associate director of Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, nominated Bess as an Illini Comeback guest last September. She said Bess’s career is an inspiration to current students and colleagues alike.

“He is a perfect example of an alum who found an area of study he was passionate about and used the many resources and connections available to students at Illinois to fulfill his lifelong career goals,” Britt wrote in her Illini Comeback Nomination Form.

Bess does in fact credit his success to the education he received here at the University. He said he learned many things about the world of advertising, marketing and business.

“The work I did both as an undergraduate in marketing and a graduate in advertising indeed opened the doors and my eyes, as well as the possibilities of my career in advertising I would never envision before going to the University of Illinois,” Bess said.

Miheer Munjal, senior in Engineering, serves as vice president of Student Alumni Ambassadors, the organization responsible for selecting comeback guests each year for Homecoming. He thinks Bess was chosen not only because of his personal success, but also his constant engagement in Illinois’ alumni network.

“He’s very involved in the alumni community up in Chicago, and he stayed in connection with the University after his graduation. That’s really important for us,” Munjal said.

Two guest-hosts will be accompanying the comeback guest for their three-day stay on campus. They will attend the Chancellor’s reception dinner, the homecoming parade, Pep Rally and the Fighting Illini football game.

Amy Narotsky, sophomore in ACES, is one of the guest-hosts for Bess. She said she is excited about hosting Bess and can’t wait to take him to see the changes on campus.

“Meeting people like that is so inspiring. Things they say, even if so little, will stick with you and make a huge difference on the way you look at things,” Narotsky said.

Ellen Reeder, junior in ACES, is also a guest-host. She felt even more fortunate to host Bess, as her concentration in college is advertising.

“I am expecting to hopefully make a real connection with him,” Reeder said. “(I) look to him as someone I can count on as an alum and ask questions to. (He is) someone who is very successful in the field I look forward to going into.”

Comeback guests will be going through a series of homecoming events, and some of those are tailored to their experience at the University. The College of Media will host a reception for Bess on Friday, where he will share his experience and answer questions from students.

“He will be available for the students to talk to. We encourage not only just College of Media students, but anybody who wants to come by and get to know the man,” said Pam Crews, office support associate who helped plan the reception.

As former co-captain of the Illini football team, Bess is looking forward to the Homecoming game against Indiana, where his name will be announced.

As a blessing to the team, Bess said, “Do your best for your teammates. Do your best for your coaches. Do your best for your school. Do your best for yourself.”

The two other Comeback guests invited this year are Sheldon Siegel, New York Times’ best-selling novelist, who graduated from the College of Business in 1980.

Beverly Washington will also be on campus. Washington is the president and owner of Image Factor, a Chicago-based professional training, coaching and image-consulting firm. She graduated from the College of Fine and Applied Arts in 1978.

All three guests are sure to receive respect and a warm welcome upon returning to their alma mater.

Xing can be reached at [email protected].

Editor’s note: In the print, and a previous online version, Mary Susan Britt’s name and title were incorrect. In addition, she was quoted incorrectly and her quote was misattributed. The Daily Illini regrets these errors.