* From 2019…

Charlie Wheeler has forgotten more about the Illinois Legislature than most reporters will ever know — and he hasn’t forgotten much, least of all the time an ill-tempered state senator purposely dumped a bowl of hot soup on him.

Longtime readers of the Chicago Sun-Times might remember Wheeler by his elegant byline, Charles N. Wheeler III, matched by the equally elegant writing style he used to explain the legislative complexities in a way everyone could understand.

More recent readers might know him for his insightful comments, offered from his perch as director of the public affairs reporting program at the University of Illinois-Springfield, where he has helped mold a generation of top young journalists.

Wheeler, 77, is retiring this summer after an amazing 50-year run as a close observer of the Springfield scene — the first 24 years with the Sun-Times, the last 26 running the reporting program.

* Today is Charlie’s 80th birthday, so I thought we could honor our occasional blog commenter with a caption contest…

Happy birthday, Charlie!

…Adding… From Charlie…

Hi Rich,

Thank you so much for the kind words in your post about my birthday in yesterday’s Capfax. Thanks too to all the commenters who responded to your captions request, they really gave me a chuckle, especially those relating to my Santa Claus-like appearance and presumed octogenarian tastes. In my defense, I’d mention that I have heard of ear buds, but unfortunately they don’t work well when your ears are already plugged with hearing aids, thus the traffic controller headset.

I would have included my thanks as a Point of Personal Privilege in the comments section, but I spent most of the day with my daughter and grandkids, and by the time I saw the post, I figured it was too late to add anything. But I did want to let you know that I appreciate the shout out.

Cheers, and happy Thanksgiving!

Charlie ​

       

41 Comments - Give Me A Break - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:44 am: Growing tired of static created by tin foil hat wearers, Wheeler adopted an “I can’t hear you” pic for his Official UIS Portrait, - 47th Ward - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:45 am: After spending the pandemic losing a bit of weight and learning how to Zoom, Santa Claus is ready to get back to work in-person this year. - Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:48 am: Walter White, Mall Santa. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:50 am: Point of Information, Charlie Wheeler is a treasure. Happy Birthday from a big fan and admirer. Respectfully, Oswego Willy :) - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:51 am: … while listening to Metallica… on “11”… - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:53 am: … while listening to his favorite podcast “Wonk and Hack”… - Jocko - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:54 am: Wow (exclamation point) Burl Ives lost a lot of weight during the pandemic. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:55 am: … while listening to old Bill Black rants, “the greatest hits”… - Stones - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:55 am: Happy 80th sir! Apple has these things called “earbuds” now. Much more discrete than Air Traffic Controller headphones. BTW, I do recall the incident with John Knuppel - MisterJayEm - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:56 am: Not a caption, but anyone looking for a weekly dose of Charlie’s insight should subscribe to the NPR Illinois “State Week” podcast: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/381443849/state-week Happy birthday, Professor Wheeler‼ – MrJM - thisjustinagain - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:58 am: “Charlie Wheeler is honored by a sports trading card company as the first in a line called ‘Journalism’s Superstars’. Stats on the back include his years of reporting, hometown, and other fun facts. Collect the whole series.” - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 11:58 am: … while listening to old Rickey Hendon radio ads… - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:01 pm: Narrator: … so the Feds brought in this professor, Charlie Wheeler, to explain what was actually being said on the taps. For hours he sat there, tape after tape… - Anon221 - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:02 pm: Going through the Who’s Naughty and Who’s Nice lists on Audible. Happy Birthday! - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:06 pm: There’s only one headphone that Charlie Wheeler trusts for his zoom calls, Beats by Dre. Beats by Dre, when you really want to feel like your on General Assembly floors - Grateful Gail - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:09 pm: What a treasure! Happy Birthday - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:09 pm: Charlie Wheeler, the second contestant for the “Fast Money” round of Family Feud - NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:11 pm: While waiting for the podcast to begin, please enjoy Wilson Phillips’ “Hey Santa.” - Name Withheld - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:12 pm: Charlie Wheeler is the gold standard for decency and articulation and eloquence and an example of the very best that journalism and public reporting have to offer us. Listening to State Week in Review is like attending a weekly master class in politics and history in Illinois. Happy birthday Charlie. - Anyone Remember - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:15 pm: The Greatest. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:18 pm: … while listening and enjoying the countless past students on their podcasts… - Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:18 pm: Charlie enjoys the latest download from 30 Days of Dead: “Touch Of Grey, New Minglewood Blues, Ramble On Rose” https://www.dead.net/30daysofdead - NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:18 pm: “While also waiting to start, Charlie, what’s your prognosis on Rochester-SHG this weekend?” - Dotnonymous - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:19 pm: The Beard…Homeric! - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:22 pm: … while listening to the Abbey Road master recordings of Spinal Tap… - CentristsRUs - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:24 pm: “Headphone Headshot: Only one man can represent class and generational relevance. Wheeler, Charlie Wheeler.” - Moi - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:25 pm: Charlie Wheeler does David Letterman impersonator at baptisms, birthday parties, and barmivitmas. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:28 pm: … while listening to the Boat Drink Caucus, “Live and Still Caucusing” tour recordings… - Give Us Barabbas - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:35 pm: “…filling in for Doctor Demento tonight, Choo-choo Charlie Wheeler, and with a GOP primary coming up, it’s allllmost Funny Five Time….” - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:37 pm: … while listening to Rabine, Schimpf, Bailey, and Sullivan pretend to actually address pension reforms… - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 12:40 pm: … while listening to “We’re All Crazy in Chicago” by Johnny B… on repeat… - Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 1:00 pm: Over the years, Charlie learned that politicians talk a lot, but don’t listen much. So, he ditched the microphone because he wasn’t using it anyway. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 1:05 pm: Content Rating - 10/10 Room Rating - 3/10 - Norseman - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 1:11 pm: “Retired, Journalist, Professor and part-time Santa” Happy Birthday Charlie - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 1:34 pm: Very few people can work turntables and look good wearing a double-Windsor tie knot while doing it like Chee Whizzle… - Jocko - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 1:44 pm: He is re-creating the moment when he beat Charles Van Doren on the game show twenty-one - Jo Jo Monkeyboy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 2:49 pm: Former Sen. Knuppel calling in (from where?) to Charlie on radio show claiming he really did trip on the carpet and please send him your dry cleaning bill. - Jo Jo Monkeyboy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 2:50 pm: ..oh and happy birthday! - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 2:51 pm: Professor Charlie Wheeler, Fortnite Savage - Lt Guv - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 3:09 pm: Stones, wearing full earphones isn’t just an age thing. Buds don’t fit well in some folks ears. I’m one of those. I’ve tried, but they continually fall out. That’s frustrating and not worth the hassle. - 37B - Thursday, Nov 18, 21 @ 4:04 pm: So the sleigh still has a cookie/cocoa dispenser plus I also get Spotify? Ho, Ho, Ho! Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.