Larry Mizener: EIU '47-1951

Another article and photos from the EIU archives - The Keep:

Howard, Juanita (Mar. 30, 1955) “Larry Prefers Selling Food to Teaching.” Eastern State News, p. 3

http://thekeep.eiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=den_1955_mar

Warbler 1951: Larry Mizener "Who's Who"

Larry Mizener, manager of the “Ko-Op” and former graduate of Eastern, took time out between coke orders to give us a tunnel view of his past history.

"Mize" 1951

Larry is originally from Lisle, a township located 22 miles southwest of Chicago. A pep talk from his high school football coach was in part responsible for his enrollment at Eastern in 1947.

 Senior Class President

He majored in P.E. and played halfback on the football team. After working at the “Ko-Op” during his four years in school, Larry side tracked his ambition to become a high school coach and continued his work here.

1951 Class Officers

Perhaps his sincere interest in people, which is shown by his work in the Moose club, is responsible for his decision to stay in Charleston. Larry employs college students who are from ‘Mooseheart’, a city where the children of deceased Moose club members are provided for by other members of the club.

Phi Sigma Epsilon (Mize, top right)

He is an alumnus of Phi Sigma Epsilon social fraternity, and is married to the former Mildred Jean Carr, also an Eastern graduate. They have one daughter who is 20 months old.

During the summer months, Larry runs “Walt’s” which is kept open for the benefit of the summer school students.

1951 Warbler photo

Ko-Op Konnections (706 Lincoln, Charleston)

     Welcome to a blogsite for posting information about the Ko-Op Cafe and Short-Stop Drive-In; both located on or near corners of 7th and Lincoln in Charleston, Illinois.
     The Ko-Op was a cafeteria-style establishment that catered mainly to students, faculty, and staff of Eastern Illinois University. The Short-Stop was built and opened in the mid Sixties and was a faster-food establishment that also served EIU students and the larger Charleston community. Both businesses were operated by the Larry and Jean Mizener family.
      Today the Ko-Op building is used for activites of a neighboring church, and the Short-Stop is now a Domino's Pizza business. The former Mizener residence (located on the third corner of the intersection) is a Christian bookstore.
      I invite former workers and customers of both establishments to re-introduce themselves, post their memories here, and reconnect to friends and co-workers from their EIU days.
     Myself, I worked at both the Ko-Op and Short-Stop from November 1964 until graduating from EIU in August 1968. You can visit my profile section here to learn more . . .
Larry Johnson
larrjoh@gmail.com
http://eduscapes.com

Updated information (Fall 2011): Son, Benjamin tells me that an eating establishment of some kind is now operating in the old Ko-Op location. Have to check that out the next time I am in 'Chucktown.'