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UI at 150: A janitor's son — and proud of it

Memory No. 1,399 on our special UI-at-150-and-beyond website comes from Kansas financial-services executive, film producer and Illini athletics donor PHILIP SARNECKI, who grew up in Homer and St. Joseph.

These days, the spot on campus that makes Philip Sarnecki the happiest is the coaches locker room at State Farm Center, where Brad Underwood hangs his blazer, ties his tie and gets ready for game time.

Or, as the space is known in the official arena brochure, the Robert Sarnecki Coaches Locker Room.

Robert Sarnecki, Philip's dad, didn't have the kind of job that typically warrants such recognition.