Dennis Ray Whetstone, 68, of Carmi, Illinois, died Thursday, November 24, 2022, at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro, Illinois. He was born December 27, 1953, in Carmi, the son of Carl Ray Whetstone and Frances (Whitsitt) Whetstone. Throughout the 1980's and 1990's Dennis held several positions with the State of Illinois, Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA). He was Manager of the Job Training Programs Division where he oversaw the administration of the Federal Job Training Partnership Act Program, the Displaced Homemakers Program, and the Industrial Training Program. He went on to serve as the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Program Administration where he oversaw many programs that ranged from business financing, local government assistance and job training as well as other services targeted to Illinois citizens. In the early 1980's, Dennis was with the State delegation that traveled to Japan for negotiations with Mitsubishi Motors and other Jap
Battling racism, discrimination, and exclusion, seven artists formed the Professional Native Indians Artists Inc. to fight for professional respect and political self-determination.