of U.S. Congress, and the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan, who graduated with the class of 1932. Eureka College is the smallest college or university in American history to graduate a future U.S. president with a bachelor's degree.
=== Ronald Reagan ===
Reagan's relationship with his alma mater began in 1928 when he entered as a freshman from Dixon, Illinois, at age 17. Following his graduation on June 10, 1932, with a joint major in economics and sociology, Reagan returned for visits on twelve recorded occasions. He served on the board of trustees for three terms, stayed connected to his fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon, communicated with his football coach and mentor Ralph "Mac" McKinzie, and helped support fund-raising drives including with his own financial commitments to the college. Reagan gave commencement addresses at Eureka College in 1952, 1957, 1982, and 1992.
He dedicated the Melick Library building in 1967 and the Reagan Physical Education Center in 1970. When he died in 2004, Eureka …
