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WIU Implosion a Phenomenal Site for Galesburg Man
The weekend implosion of Western Illinois University's Wetzel Hall was a phenomenal site for the hundreds who captured it live-- including a local man.

Galesburg's own Randy Dockstader was on campus Saturday morning celebrating the residence hall's destruction. He tells WGIL watching the 13-story structure fall seemed unreal.

"This is the first building I've ever seen come down, outside of watching them come down on a television or something other," he said. "Just to see it in person, and hear the blast, and the moments before the blast actually take effect, and then when the building drops it was just amazing-- from the center and all the sides come in."

"And ya, it was just awesome."

Dockstader grew up south of Chicago in the 1970's and enrolled at Joliet Junior College. He says he'd visit his friends at WIU frequently-- who lived at Wetzel Hall in its first year, 1972.

Wetzel's implosion brought back memories of those visits for Dockstader, but also feelings of regret. Dockstader says he's surprised he didn't transfer to Western because he had enjoyed the university so much.
07 17 12 by Newsroom
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