Ralph
Monical
Class
of 1952
Ralph Monical graduated in the class of Unity
High School 1952. Upon graduation, he attended the University
of Illinois for two years
then enlisted
and served in the Army from 1954 until 1956.
Mr. Monical had achieved the rank of Specialist 4th
Class
when discharged in 1956. While
serving
in the Army, Mr. Monical received his Data Processing degree. Mr. Monical worked in data processing for
Clifford and Jacobs for five years before leaving to take a position
with First
United Life Insurance. While employed
with First United Life Insurance, Ralph received National Recognition
for
Computer Insurance Program. In an attempt
to provide productive employment for his children while they attended
school,
Mr. Monical experimented with recipes and entered the pizza business
part-time
in 1959. The business continued to
expand and was so successful; Mr. Monical entered the pizza business
full time
in 1965 and established Monincal’s Pizza.
Monical’s Pizza 26 unit chain was sold in 1982; however, Mr.
Monical
continued to explore creative methods to update the techniques used for
making
pizza while preserving the taste. In
2002, Mr. Monical developed proprietary process for the manufacture of
microwavable frozen pizzas. Currently, Stouffers uses this process for
Lean
Cuisine Café Classics Frozen Pizza. In
1999, Ralph re-entered the restaurant business and currently owns Roma
Ralph’s
Pizza in Leroy, Illinois
and Zelma's
Restaurant in Champaign, Illinois. Mr. Monical has not only provided numerous
employment opportunities for students throughout the years but given
the
community a gathering place for families and community meetings.
<>Mr. Monical established a special Central American Study
Program
though the University of Illinois
in 1982. This program began by providing three students the opportunity
to
study abroad in Central America.
It has continued to expand and currently
sponsors 14 to 16 students a year. In appreciation of his generosity, the University
of Illinois honored Mr.
Monical by
presenting him with a plaque which hangs in Lincoln Hall.
Mr.
Monical married Alicia Macz in July of 1973. He
and his wife raised four children: Doug,
Steve, Selena and Brodie and currently
reside in Tolono.