Michael Alan Humphreys

The visitation will be from 3:00–4:30 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 4:30p.m. on Sunday, August 4, 2019, at East Lawn Funeral Home. A private family graveside service will be on a later date in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Mike was born October 10, 1954, in Tulsa Oklahoma where he grew up and attended school. As a young boy, he was very active in the Boy Scouts. During his junior year in high school, Mike was awarded Scouting’s highest rank–Eagle Scout.

In the fourth grade, Mike’s much loved uncle died serving his country as a Navy officer and pilot. He was given his uncle’s cornet, and that began his love of music.

Throughout high school, Mike was in band of every kind–jazz band, concert band, marching band. He was frequently “dispatched” to play his trumpet at various community events.

After high school graduation, Mike attended Oklahoma State University and became the drum major in the marching band. He then graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Oklahoma State University (1976), and a Master of Music from Baylor University (1979).

After employment for a short time in the public school system and as band director with Northeastern A&M in Miami, Oklahoma, a career change was made. Mike entered the field of word processing, sales, and sales management. His doctoral studies brought him back to OSU where he graduated with a M.B.A. (1988) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Marketing (1994).

His great desire was to teach at Illinois State University. In August 1992, Mike joined the faculty of the Department of Marketing at ISU and became, Professor Humphreys.

He was a core member of the Sales Faculty in the ISU Department of Marketing and helped to initiate and develop its nationally-recognized Professional Sales Institute. He also served as an Associate Director for the PSI from 2006 to 2009.

Dr. Humphreys was Co-Director of the Market-Driven Quality Group at Illinois State and a principal investigator on a National Science Foundation Grant awarded to that group. His research appears in numerous professional publications.

Mike’s research on the importance of personal selling in commodity markets received the award for outstanding paper at the National Conference on Sales Management. He received an Illinois State University Teaching Initiative Award in 1997, and the College of Business Teaching award in 1998. Mike’s passion was for teaching. He strived to instill in his students not only a knowledge of the field of marketing but a desire for the pursuit of excellence. Mike retired from ISU in 2016.

Mike had four, beautiful grandchildren he was very proud of and who occupied his thinking. He enjoyed reading and learning, which he considered to be a lifelong process. His interests outside of the university included photography, astronomy, painting, and birdwatching. He was an O.S.U. Cowboy follower. Mike loved his dog, Pepper, a Belgian Malinois. They were inseparable, “best friends.” She died one day before Mike.

Surviving is his mother, Marcia Humphreys, Tulsa, OK, his three children, Adam Humphreys (Mandy), Bloomington, Il., Audra Wilkinson (Rob), Colorado Springs, CO., Alyssa Cress (Adam), St. Joseph, MO.; four grandchildren, Danica and Camden Wilkinson, Colorado Springs, CO., Declan Cress, St. Joseph, MO., Hazel Humphreys, Normal, Ill., two grandchildren on the way; two sisters, Nancy Sullins, Tulsa, OK., Susan Richardson, Sarasota, Fl., and one brother, David Humphreys, Tulsa, OK.; Mike would be happy to know that as an organ donor, he helped 20 people to survive.

His father, Douglas Humphreys preceded him in death, along with his beloved dog Pepper.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of Central Illinois.