Western Illinois University honored Regional Office of Education #26 official John Meixner and retired WIU men's soccer coach Eric Johnson at its annual Town & Gown celebration on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in Macomb.
Meixner received the 2026 Town & Gown Award, and Johnson was named Honorary Alumnus. The university said both were selected for their long histories of support for WIU and the Macomb community.
John Meixner: Town & Gown
Meixner, a 1995 and 2005 WIU graduate, serves as ROE26 Director of Legislative and Community Initiatives. WIU said he has advocated for the university throughout his 20-year career with ROE26. In his previous role as Regional Superintendent, he developed partnerships with the WIU College of Education that provided opportunities for hundreds of students, many of whom remained in the area to work in rural education.
As President of the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce, Meixner worked closely with WIU during challenging times to strengthen communication and local resources, the university said.
On campus, Meixner has served on the WIU Alumni Council and currently serves on the Performing Arts Society Board of Directors. He is a frequent volunteer on the sidelines during Leatherneck football. He has been recognized as a Sherman Circle donor and at the Partners level of the Foundation Fellows Society.
Meixner has also advocated for WIU at the state level in Springfield and now serves as a community representative on the University Strategy Council as the institution updates its strategic plan.
Eric Johnson: Honorary Alumnus
Johnson recently retired after nearly 30 years leading the WIU men's soccer program and holds the title of winningest coach in program history, the university said. He guided WIU to six NCAA Tournament appearances, four regular-season conference titles and six conference tournament championships across the Mid-Continent Conference, the Summit League and the Ohio Valley Conference.
Johnson was named Coach of the Year five times. He also served as WIU women's soccer head coach from 2016 to 2021 while concurrently coaching the men's team.
WIU said Johnson also served as an adjunct faculty member and university representative, and emphasized developing student-athletes as leaders and citizens. He has been recognized as a Sherman Circle donor and at the Directors level of the Foundation Fellows Society.
About the awards
The Town & Gown Award honors an individual who has provided exceptional service in continuing the partnership between WIU and the Macomb community. The Honorary Alumni Award honors an individual who is not a WIU graduate but who has provided exceptional service to the WIU community. Previous recipients can be viewed at wiu.edu/alumni/recognition/honorary_and_town_and_gown.php.