Wednesday, February 21, 2007 11:30 PM CST
Final Chief dance tugs at emotions of local Ilini fans
By MIKE FRAZIER, Staff Writer
mfrazier@herald-review.com
DECATUR -- Art Richard wore a black shirt under his Illini sweater as he watched Chief Illiniwek's last dance.
Black was a fitting color for the end of an era, fans said.
Art and his wife, Judy, of Decatur joined hardcore Illini fans Wednesday at Block's Brewery in downtown Decatur, standing on their feet, clapping and cheering, as the buckskin clad Chief Illiniwek gave his final performance.
"It seemed inevitable, but it was very disappointing," Art Richard said of the Chief's retirement. "It's kind of like somebody very close to you who you know will pass on, but it's still hard to take.
"It seems to be a wonderful exercise in social engineering. It's a shame."
The Chief, whose fate was decided by school officials last week, took center stage at the Assembly Hall for one last performance during Wednesday night's men's basketball game between Illinois and Michigan.
Removing the Chief frees the university of NCAA sanctions after the organization deemed Illiniwek an offensive use of American Indian imagery and barred the school from hosting postseason athletic events.
The sanctions ended after the Chief's last dance Wednesday night.
"I could have cried," said Retha Wiley of Decatur, after the Chief exited the As-sembly Hall floor for the last time. "It's sad, too sad."
Wiley has cheered for the Illini and the Chief for decades.
"I'm 90 years old; I've been watching a long time," Wiley said. "I've been watch-ing for all these years, and to know that this is the last time ... I'm sorry to see him go."
The Chief, who debuted in a homemade American Indian costume during an Illini football game in 1926, has been a subject of turmoil for decades.
Detractors, including some American Indians and university professors, say the chief and his dance are racist and insulting. Supporters see the Chief and his regalia as an honored symbol of both American Indian tradition and Illini sports.
"The Chief was Illinois," said Deb Widenhofer of Decatur.
"He represented strength and honor and pride," added Debbie Reynolds of Deca-tur.
Widenhofer's son, Jacob, 16, said he watches Illini football and basketball, and the Chief will be missed.
Reynolds' daughter, Alex, 17, agreed.
"It will be weird for the Chief not to be there," Alex Reynolds said.
Under the plan announced last week, the university still will be able to use the name Illini because it's short for Illinois, and the school can use the term Fighting Illini, because it's considered a reference to the team's competitive spirit, school officials said.
"I hope they don't retire the logo," Wiley said. "Oh boy, it's just sad."
Fain and Deb McFarling of Moweaqua disagree with the Chief's detractors.
"I don't understand their viewpoint, but my thought is the decision has been made," Deb McFarling said. "I just hope there is not a lot of hostility among the fans in the Assembly Hall, because I think that would put a bad final spin on it."
Fain McFarling added: "I never thought it was a hostile portrayal of Indians, by any means. It was just camaraderie at halftime.
"A lot of teams have their halftime traditions, and that was one of our halftime traditions."
Amanda Austin, a senior at the University of Illinois, bought all the Chief merchandise she could find in recent days, say family and friends.
The Chief's last dance was expected to be an emotional moment for Amanda and other university students.
Her father, Henry Austin, wore a black shirt, in part, to mourn the Chief's retire-ment.
"It's a sad thing," Austin said.
Austin saw the Chief as an honorable symbol for the state.
"I can't see it as degrading," Austin said. "But I'm not an Indian. I'm a Cauca-sian person, so, you know, maybe I don't understand that part of it."
Ten-year-old John Livasy wore an orange wig and came decked in an Illini jersey to watch the game.
Asked if he was sad about the Chief's retirement, he said, "Kind of. It doesn't matter to me."
His father, Jim Livasy, quickly added with a smile, "You haven't been around him for 45 years."
The family came to watch the Illini battle rival Michigan and to watch the Chief one last time.
"It's a shame; a real shame," Jim Livasy said of the Chief's retirement. "But you you've got to move on. But we'll miss seeing the Chief."
Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@herald-review.com or 421-7985.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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CLICK TO ENLARGE
 Kelly J. Huff (JG/T-C)
Niki Royce of Danville and a member of the Orange Krush, painted her face in honor of the Chief's last dance at the Assembly Hall Wednesday night.
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Stephen wrote on Jul 17, 2006 8:22 AM: