DECATUR, Ill. – As the construction work on the David J. and Debra C. Rathje Athletic Center draws closer to completion and Millikin University student-athletes will soon begin to fill its locker room and workout spaces preparing for competition, David J. Rathje’s legacy of generosity will leave an undeniable mark on the campus for generations to come.
Rathje, a Millikin alumnus from the Class of 1958, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2025, at the age of 88 in his Decatur home. His remarkable career and unwavering commitment to Central and Eastern Illinois left a tremendous impression, particularly at Millikin.
Along with the substantial financial support for the Rathje Athletic Center project, he and his wife, Debra, funded the David J. Rathje Scholarship, as well as a reception space in the University Commons. In 2017, he received Millikin’s Alumni Merit-Loyalty Award and was named the Millikin Alumnus of the Year in 2023.
“We are deeply grateful for David’s generous support and steadfast dedication to our mission. Through his contributions to Millikin’s programs, scholarships and facilities, he has made a lasting difference in the lives of our students and the future of our University,” Dr. Dean Pribbenow, Millikin’s President, said. “We will always remember and honor David’s remarkable legacy of giving, and we thank David and Debra for the profound impact they have had on Millikin.”
The $12.3 million, 17,655-square-foot Rathje Athletic Center project will include the following in its design:
• A weight room named in honor of former Big Blue Football Coach Carl Poelker ’68 and Jim Perryman ’83, a former NFL player.
• Locker rooms to accommodate Football, as well as Men's and Women's Track & Field.
• A training room, conference room and a team meeting room for multi-purpose use.
• Retired NFL jerseys, Football and Track & Field team recognition area.
• Offices for Football and Men’s and Women’s Soccer.
Rathje shared some thoughts about his passion for Decatur and Millikin during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rathje Athletic Center in Sept. 2023.
"We very much believe in giving back to our community, which is one of the reasons why we chose to support this building project," he said at the ceremony. "As someone who was born and raised in Decatur, we want to see the community and Millikin University thrive. We believe that the addition of on-campus athletic facilities aids in the recruitment of student-athletes and also increases the enjoyment of campus life for all students."
After attending Millikin, where he was active in the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, Rathje earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In 1965, he purchased Bodine Electric, a small one-man operation, and laid the foundation for it to become one of the largest electrical contractors in the Midwest. His entrepreneurial spirit continued with the founding of Kelly Construction of Decatur in 1983, now known as The Kelly Group. The companies flourished under his leadership, employing up to 1500 at times. Rathje was a dedicated leader until stepping back into an advisory role in 1997.
He enjoyed many hobbies, including tennis, golf, boating, fishing, hunting and skeet shooting. He served as Director and past President of the Decatur Gun Club and was an accomplished and fierce competitive shooter. He loved to travel and visited many countries in Europe, Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, as well as North and South America.
To learn more about the Rathje Athletic Center or to make a gift to the project in memory of David J. Rathje, visit millikin.edu/athletic-center.
