Illinois Valley Sports Hall of Fame sets June 2 date to induct Class of 2022

Local sports fans, mark those calendars for June 2.

The NewsTribune Illinois Valley Sports Hall of Fame will be inducting its third class on a night that food, drinks, honors and memories are all on the menu.

The 2022 NewsTribune Illinois Valley Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Banquet will take place 5-8 p.m. June 2 at the Auditorium Ballroom, 109 Wright St. in La Salle. Doors will open at 5 p.m., dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and the inductions and storytelling will commence immediately after.

Tickets are $37 and are available at qr.shawlocal.com/IVHOF22.

This year’s class will be revealed in Shaw Media publications such as the NewsTribune, The Times, the Putnam County Record and the Bureau County Republican as well as social media throughout the coming weeks. The previous two years’ inductees are a virtual who’s who of Illinois Valley sports history.

“I don’t know if people truly realize the sports history and success our area has had, and the Hall of Fame has helped celebrate that history,” Shaw Media’s Jared Bell, a driving force behind the event, said. “Every member in our Class of 2022 is thrilled be part of the event, and we have inductees coming from as far away as Florida.

“It’s always special to see so much talent in one place on one night, and seeing the inductees interact with other inductees is by far the best part.”

The classes of 2019 and 2020-21 included:

• Joe Rutgens, La Salle-Peru

• Eric Siebert, La Salle-Peru

• J.A. Happ, St. Bede

• Shawn Jeppson, Hall

• Kailey Klein, Hall

• Steve Safranski, Putnam County

• Bill Brown, Mendota

• Nicole (Coates) Schaefbauer, Princeton

• Gil Love, Ottawa

• Bill Novak, Ottawa

• Bob Guyette, Marquette

• Doug Dieken, Streator

• Chuck Rolinski, Toluca

• 1979 IVCC Football Team

• 1995 Hall Football Team

• Louis Rios (Lanny Slevin Lifetime Achievement Award)

• 1925 La Salle-Peru Football Team (Legacy Award)

• Dean Riley, Ottawa/IVCC

• Jerry Zielinski, Putnam County

• Joe Ruklick, Princeton

• Ken Gorgal, St. Bede

• Zami (Mogill) Hay, Streator

• Mike Goff, La Salle-Peru

• Ray Jauch, Mendota

• Ron Zagar, DePue

• D.J. Glynn, Hall

• 1985-86 Ohio Boys Basketball Team

• Gary Novak, La Salle-Peru

• Mary Dagraedt (Lanny Slevin Lifetime Achievement Award)

• Art Kimball (Distinguished Media Award)

• Lowell “Pops” Dale (Legacy Award)

• 1945 Walnut Football Team (Legacy Award)

The Class of 2022 promises to only enhance and add to that list of local sports luminaries.

“The event is such a special evening for anyone who attends,” said Jeanette Smith, Shaw Media regional advertising director and co-creator of the IV Sports Hall of Fame Committee. “By honoring the inductees, we get a glimpse into the history of sports in our area. We hear stories of who these athletes were, what they accomplished and where they are now.

“It’s not just about the sports. It’s about the human interest side as well. Please join us in honoring the Class of 2022″.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 banquet was postponed until September 2021. This year marks its return to its customary June spot on the calendar.

Nominations are open for consideration as future inductees by contacting Bell at jbell@shawmedia.com or 815-220-6953.