Dan Malkovich

By Jillian Corpora
Giant City School, Giant City

Dan Malkovich was many things to many people in his time. He was a great father, a loving husband, an outstanding news reporter, and a concerned environmentalist. Most of all he was a great man and citizen.

Dan Malkovich was born on December 20, 1926, and grew up in Benton, Illinois, graduating from Benton Township High School in 1943. He married JoAnn Choisser, whose family had founded, owned, and published the Benton Evening News. He served during World War II in the 82nd Airborne Division. Malkovich received a bachelors of journalism from the University of Missouri in 1951. Shortly after that he moved to Union City, Tennessee, and wrote for a newspaper there. Then Malkovich and his wife went back to Benton and took over the Benton Evening News.

On December 21,1951, one of the worst mining disasters in U.S. history occurred at the Orient Coal Mine Number 2 between Benton and West Frankfort. There were 119 men killed, and the search for survivors went on for days. Malkovich covered this important story and wrote daily articles for the Benton Evening News as the entire county mourned the loss. This disaster prompted significant changes in regulations protecting the safety of mines and the welfare of miners. Malkovich's articles were rerun in the Benton Evening News in December 2000 to commemorate the disaster and Malkovich.

Dan Malkovich actively pursued his interests in conservation and preservation. Malkovich is pictured here addressing a group at a conference in 1969.

In addition to his love of journalism, Malkovich was a committed conservationist. "On Saturdays and Sundays my dad would always be at Shawnee Forest looking for new and exciting discoveries," says Danny Malkovich, a son of Dan Malkovich. In 1962 he began publishing and editing Outdoor Illinois, a magazine devoted to conservation and the history of the state. "My dad was an environmentalist before his time!" laughs Danny Malkovich. My mother has many interesting stories about accompanying him and his daughter as he researched his articles. Her favorite trip was to Pullman, a "company town" south of Chicago founded by George Pullman, the railroad car manufacturer. Malkovich admirably opened the door for others to start caring and respecting the outdoors. He understood the importance of keeping a clean environment and preserving history.

Malkovich was a founder of the Rend Lake Association and a Director of the Illinois State Historical Society, the Lincoln Heritage Trail Foundation, and the Illinois Nature Conservation Association. His devotion to conservation and preservation led to his appointment as Acting Director for the Illinois Department of Conservation in 1970, where he served for one year under Governor Richard B. Ogilvie. Shortly after his appointment, the Illinois Better Government Association questioned Malkovich for an apparent conflict of interest because of certain advertisements in Outdoor Illinois.

Malkovich continued his work with the Benton Evening News and Outdoor Illinois until his death on March 3, 1980. He was attending a meeting of the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, in San Antonio, Texas, at the time. Malkovich has five children. Danny, the oldest, is the publisher of the West Frankfort Daily American, and his daughter, Rebecca, is the news editor for the Benton Evening News. His daughter, Melissa, is a former TV news producer, and Amanda, is also a writer for the Benton Evening News. His son John, is a movie and stage actor. In an interview with

ILLINOIS HISTORY / DECEMBER 2001  5

Bernard Weintraub of The New York Times, John described his father as, "very elegant, very handsome, odd, and self contained."

When I interviewed Danny Malkovich he said that his dad loved what he did and "it just wasn't a job for him." He told me that after his college graduation he was not sure what he wanted to do with his life. His dad called and said, "get your butt up boy and come work for me!" Everyone knew what an extraordinary man he was and how much he did for Benton. A memorial park is named after him in Benton, Illinois. The Southern Illinoisan named Dan Malkovich one of the top ten people of the twentieth century. He was involved in and started many things that helped Illinois and the people of Illinois. Dan Malkovich was not just a journalist and news editor, he was a hero to the people.—[From Benton News, Mar. 4, 1980; "Department of Conservation," Illinois Blue Book, 1969-1970; student historian's interview with Danny Malkovich, Sept. 20, 2001; student historian's interview with Mary Kay Moore, Sept. 18, 2001; The New York Times, Sept. 9, 1993; United Mine Workers Journal, 13:1 (Jan. 1, 1953).]

6   ILLINOIS HISTORY / DECEMBER 2001