Issue date: 5/19/09 Section: News

The American Red Cross Blood Drive attracted 15 first-time donors May 17, 2009. "We get alot every single time," said Andy Trueblood, Don Schaefer-event coordinator. (Submitted Photo)

Don Schaefer of Charleston has been giving blood for more than 33.5 years.

The 73-year-old Army veteran donated his 200th documented unit of blood on Sunday.

Schaefer was presented with a plaque from the Red Cross at the Salisbury Church in Charleston. He also received letters of appreciation from Illinois Rep. Chapin Rose, state Sen. Dale Righter and U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson.

"I wanted people to recognize the accomplishments of Don and the Red Cross," said Andy Trueblood, who helped organize the event.

Schaefer first donated blood in the 1950s when he was stationed overseas in the Army. Donating blood around that time was on a needed basis. According to Schaefer, people only gave blood if someone else needed surgery.

Schaefer left the Army in 1956 and attended Eastern to become a teacher. He later earned his master's in Administration and Guidance and Counseling from the University of Illinois.

While at Eastern, Schaefer participated in blood drives held by Leonard and Olga Durham and Marge and Walt Lowell, who helped make blood drives common in the community.

These blood drives lasted four to five days and had about 1200 participants.

Currently, Darrell Eaton holds the record for donating over 225 units of blood. Schaefer has given blood more than 200 times, but only 200 are documented.

Schaefer encourages his friends and family to donate blood. He believes that people do not think about giving blood unless there is a catastrophe.

"It's sad that it takes that kind of thing to wake people up," Schaeffer said.

In 1963, Schaefer became the first guidance counselor at Villa Groove High School. In 1968, he returned to Eastern to work in the academic advising department until 1972, when he served as principal of Charleston High School for 10 years.

Schaefer later came back to Eastern as the assistant director of placement until he retired in May 1991.

After his retirement, Schaefer remained active by participating in the Convincer Program, which started in 1992 and taught seat belt safety. He spoke to different schools until funding was cut in 2003.

According to Angie Lobdell, a donor recruitment representative for the Red Cross, a person can donate blood every 56 days unless they are on certain medications or have medical problems.

Kaitlyn Peters can be reached at 581-7943 or at kdpeters@eiu.edu.

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