E. Burton Mercier Alumni Service Award
Robert L. Freitag ’84
Retired Circuit Judge
Bob Freitag arrived at Illinois State as a transfer student from Moraine Valley Community College. He became an active leader in student government while attending ISU and completing an undergraduate degree in the Department of Politics and Government. He served as president of his class leadership council and was chosen as a guide for Preview, the University’s freshman orientation program.
He pursued a legal career after leaving campus and earned his Juris doctorate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After working in private practice for two years, he served as a public defender in McLean County before joining the State’s Attorney’s Office.
As a McLean County prosecutor, Freitag partnered for a decade with undercover police officers to combat drug trafficking. He was chosen in 2000 to serve as an associate judge and eight years later, won election to become a circuit judge. He was in that role until his retirement in July 2018.
A commitment to serve resulted in Freitag enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserves. During his military career, he completed deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom through the Judge Advocate General’s Corp. He reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring.
Freitag has demonstrated an equal commitment to serving his community and has done so as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, as well as former mayor of the Village of Carlock. His work for Illinois State University spans years and includes membership on the Alumni Association Board, Foundation Board, Attorney’s Advisory Board, and the Student Government Association.
His efforts have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Alumni Association Outstanding Young Alumni Award and induction into the College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Steve and Sandi Adams Legacy Hall of Fame.
Beyond investing his time, Freitag has made a financial commitment to ISU. He and four alumni friends partnered to create the Redbird 5 Scholarship to assist students who need assistance paying for their education. He remains a loyal fan of Redbird Athletics and is a long-standing member of the Redbird Club.