November 8, 2000
Princeton -- About two years ago, the idea for a High School Hall of Fame sprouted as a vehicle to honor the boy and girl athletes that have been the very best that Illinois has to offer from their respective sports. Furthermore, it would provide an important boost for tourism throughout Illinois. Princeton was decided as the logical place, since it is most centrally located to 90% of the state's population, i.e. Chicago, Rockford, Quad Cities, Peoria, Bloomington and Springfield. The project caught on immediately, and the endorsement of the Illinois High School Association followed shortly after the initial media announcements. Soon thereafter, the state legislature, by resolution, recognized the creation of the Hall of Fame in Princeton. In the Fall of 1998, by state grant, the project was given $250,000 to secure a site and employ an architect to design a structure.
A spectacular eight-acre site was selected at the northwest intersection of Illinois Highway 26 and Interstate 80 and deeded to the Hall of Fame by Pioneer Hi-Bred International. Obviously, this was a huge boost to this fledgling project. Architectural plans and interior designs were started and, at this very time, are nearly completed. Meanwhile, the Illinois General Assembly granted an additional $3 million under the "Illinois FIRST" appropriation, which was received in the Fall of 1999. A prominent Chicago marketing firm, Lipman Hearne, was engaged to produce promotional material, and simultaneously a fundraising consultant, Alford & Co., was employed to develop a feasibility study and a marketing plan to kick off the fundraising campaign in the Fall of 2000. In this respect, everything is on schedule. Our Executive Director, Don Robinson, formerly of the IHSA, will be formally launching this campaign within the coming weeks. He is working with the coaches' associations to build a statewide Speakers Bureau to gather grassroots support for the Hall of Fame throughout the state by meeting with social clubs, booster and alumni groups that support high school sports in our state. A major Illinois company is leading the development effort, and we are negotiating a commitment with this company for a substantial contribution to kick off the campaign.
The staff is working diligently to install a Selection Committee, largely coaches and media people from throughout Illinois, to determine the first group of inductees, probably 20-25 past distinguished high school athletes. This group should be honored sometime in 2001. Construction of the building may begin as early as Fall 2001, with the grand opening in 2003.
This Hall of Fame will celebrate the heritage, spirit and significance of interscholastic sports with exhibits and programs that entertain, educate, inspire and honor outstanding achievement. The primary thrust of this experience will be EDUCATION. Interactive displays will permit visitor participation, including quizzes on sports memorabilia and technical questions concerning major sports, rules and regulations.
Finally, this building will house a celebration of distinguished coaches from all of the 26 sports, both boys' and girls', endorsed by the IHSA. Also, there will be an auditorium seating up to 125 people to be used for officials' conferences and regional meetings for the IHSA. Drug, alcohol and tobacco clinics, together with sports medicine discussions will provide an on-going array of activities in this conference center.
Your comments, ideas and suggestions are invited because we want this to be the most outstanding facility of its kind in the country.
The Honorary Board of Directors:
J. Dennis Hastert - Speaker - U. S. House of
Representatives
George H. Ryan - Governor of Illinois
Lee Daniels - Illinois State Representative
Jerry Reinsdorf - Owner, Chicago Bulls and Chicago
White Sox
Jackie Joyner-Kersee - Olympic Gold Medalist
Carla McGhee - Olympic Gold Medalist
Johnny "Red" Kerr - Chicago Bulls
Announcer
Dike Eddleman - Olympic Silver Medalist and NBA
Pioneer
Bonnie Blair - Olympic Gold Medalist
The Board of Directors:
Frank Rathje - President
Jack Scott - Vice President
Sam Fisher - Secretary
Tony Sorcic - Treasurer
John Isaaacson - Legal Counsel
Office Address:
Illinois High School Athletic Hall of Fame
4 N. Pleasant
Princeton, IL 61356
Phone: (815) 879-3263
Fax: (815) 879-8052