Brenda, however, can't be accused of the same thing. She actually went back to Eastern and after departing the governor's mansion and in 1998 finished her bachelor's degree. She was a strong advocate for children as Illinois first lady and later founded a scholarship for women.

1998 capped a long career of politicking for Jim Edgar that started at EIU. Jim, a history major, graduated from Eastern in 1968. While at school, he was student body president and actually clashed with the school administration -- a rarity in campus politics. Edgar is a strong Baptist who banned booze in the governor’s mansion, but in school he ran political campaign ads in college that pledged free beer. Yes!

Jim started his professional political career in 1968 as an aide to leaders in Illinois' General Assembly. He served for two terms in the state Legislature (1974-78) and then served as director of Legislative Affairs for the governor. He also served as secretary of state before winning the governor’s seat.

Some people said he wasn’t a very aggressive governor, but they’re all liars. Like in college, he clashed with the estabilishment in the legislature to try and get real school reform. But his enemies didn't go to Eastern so they refused to pass it.

Jim was such a good governor he was in the running to become the No. 2 man on 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole’s ticket, according the PoliticsNows. Many Illinoisans said Edgar would have been Transportation Secretary if Dole was elected president. Of course, we all knew the odds on that.

"I think he proved that you don't have to be from metropolitan Chicago to occupy the governor's office and his legacy is also that he served both as secretary of state and as governor without any claims of dishonesty being made against him. For any politician, that is pretty good," said Charleston attorney J. Leeds Bower, 65, who served as legal counsel for Edgar's late mother, Betty, when she was a young widow, in an article about Edgar's retirement in The Chicago Tribune.

Like the Jerry's pizzaman, Edgar delivered for Eastern. Near his retirement, he won $1 million for repairs to Booth Library and the Buzzard Building got a $17 million repair job.

In 1994, staff members at the University of Illinois' version of The Onion put Edgar's head on a body dressed in a leather domination outfit with a headline saying Edgar changed the title of governor to "Sexecutioner." That was pretty funny.

Jim was a very weak heart -- almost as weak as his handshake -- and had surgery once during the '94 campaign. Maybe this is why he and Brenda joined many of the country’s governors in publishing their own cooking recipes that include: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies, Oven Fried Chicken and Low-Fat Chili. Each recipe was approved by a cardiovascular dietician. Yum!

Rumors were rampant that after retirement Jim Edgar would come back to Eastern and run the university. That would have been sweet, but instead he took some job at the U of I. The governor did, however, donate his papers to Eastern.

Things are harder to find on Brenda Edgar, formerly Brenda White. She was born in Anna, Illinois, and was a member of Sigma Kappa sorority at Eastern and later met Jim on campus.

While Illinois' first lady, Brenda's stumped for child welfare and breast cancer. After graduating in 1998, she created the Brenda Edgar Scholarship for Women, giving a $100,000 endowment to the Eastern Illinois University Foundation.

“For many women, a college education can mean the difference between barely making ends meet and providing a solid future for their family,” Brenda said, according to the Old Main Line, Eastern alumni magazine. “I know how hard it is to return to school after years of attending to other needs. This scholarship will make that process a little easier financially for women who are committed to completing their education and earning a degree.”

Brenda's cool.

Another interesting note on Jim Edgar: He rarely looks anyone in the eye during personal appearances (The Curator has met Jim several times). He also likes horse racing.

The Edgars have two children, Elizabeth and Brad. Their grandson's name is Dakota.

Sources for information and some photos: Illinois GOP Homepage, The Blood Horse, 1st Traveler's Choice Internet Cookbook, The Chicago Tribune, Sun-Times and State of Illinois.