Gallery: The Vidette stars shine brightly at 2018 Hall of Fame banquet
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 featured Tony Andracki, shown here during his acceptance speech. Andracki, a 2010 Illinois State graduate, was a member of The Vidette sports team and during his senior year, he was co-sports editor with fellow Vidette Hall of Fame member Scott Gleeson. Since then he saw an internship at Comcast SportsNet Chicago evolve into a full-time job. He has been on the front line of CSN’s coverage of the Chicago Cubs since 2012, and also covers the Bears, Bulls and White Sox. His digital work also included 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The bi-annual induction banquet was held April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 featured Tony Andracki, shown here during his acceptance speech. Andracki, a 2010 Illinois State graduate, was a member of The Vidette sports team and during his senior year, he was co-sports editor with fellow Vidette Hall of Fame member Scott Gleeson. Since then he saw an internship at Comcast SportsNet Chicago evolve into a full-time job. He has been on the front line of CSN’s coverage of the Chicago Cubs since 2012, and also covers the Bears, Bulls and White Sox. His digital work also included 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The bi-annual induction banquet was held April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Tony Andracki, who was introduced by Scott Gleeson, shown here, at the bi-annual induction banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University. Gleeson is himself a member of the Vidette Hall of Fame. Andracki and Gleeson served as co-sports editors during their Vidette days.
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 featured Tony Andracki, shown here during his acceptance speech. Andracki, a 2010 Illinois State graduate, was a member of The Vidette sports team and during his senior year, he was co-sports editor with fellow Vidette Hall of Fame member Scott Gleeson. Since then he saw an internship at Comcast SportsNet Chicago evolve into a full-time job. He has been on the front line of CSN’s coverage of the Chicago Cubs since 2012, and also covers the Bears, Bulls and White Sox. His digital work also included 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The bi-annual induction banquet was held April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 featured Tony Andracki, center, shown here receiving his award from Vidette General Manager John Plevka, left, and Scott Gleeson. Gleeson nominated Andracki for the award. The bi-annual induction banquet was held April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Bryan Bloodworth, shown here during his acceprtance speech at the bi-annual induction banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
Bloodworth, a 1979 graduate of Illinois State, was a sports writer and sports editor at The Vidette. During his junior year, he joined The Pantagraph as a full-time sports writer. He was a member of that staff for the next 30 years, the last 14 of which as sports editor. Following his Pantagraph career, he worked in public relations marketing. More recently he has worked for WJBC and WGLT. He also co-authored the book “100 Years of Illinois State Redbird Basketball.”
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Bryan Bloodworth, shown here during his acceptance speech at the bi-annual induction banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
Bloodworth, a 1979 graduate of Illinois State, was a sports writer and sports editor at The Vidette. During his junior year, he joined The Pantagraph as a full-time sports writer. He was a member of that staff for the next 30 years, the last 14 of which as sports editor. Following his Pantagraph career, he worked in public relations marketing. More recently he has worked for WJBC and WGLT. He also co-authored the book “100 Years of Illinois State Redbird Basketball.”
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Bryan Bloodworth. Here he receives his award from Vidette General Manager John Plevka following his acceprtance speech. The bi-annual induction banquet was held April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
Bloodworth, a 1979 graduate of Illinois State, was a sports writer and sports editor at The Vidette. During his junior year, he joined The Pantagraph as a full-time sports writer. He was a member of that staff for the next 30 years, the last 14 of which as sports editor. Following his Pantagraph career, he worked in public relations marketing. More recently he has worked for WJBC and WGLT. He also co-authored the book “100 Years of Illinois State Redbird Basketball.”
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Sally McKee, shown here during her acceptance speech at the bi-annual induction banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
McKee served as editor in chief of The Vidette in 1981-1982, her senior year. She was hired as a features reporter in 1982 at the Peoria Journal Star, the largest Illinois daily newspaper outside of Chicago. She went on to be a news reporter, business reporter, lifestyles editor, Sunday editor, assistant managing editor, then managing editor, a position she has held since 2012. She also served as a member of The Vidette Publication Board for three years.
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Mitch Pugh, shown here during his acceptance speech at the bi-annual induction banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
Pugh was a news and sports reporter at The Vidette in the mid-1990s. He graduated from the University of Illinois-Springfield in 1998. He has held editing positions at other papers in Illinois, Colorado and Iowa. In 2013 he was named editor of the Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina, the state’s largest newspaper. During his time at the newspaper. He has led his team to a Pulitzer Prize for Community Service in 2015. The paper was also a finalist for two Pulitzers in 2016.
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Mitch Pugh, shown here during his acceptance speech at the bi-annual induction banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
Pugh was a news and sports reporter at The Vidette in the mid-1990s. He graduated from the University of Illinois-Springfield in 1998. He has held editing positions at other papers in Illinois, Colorado and Iowa. In 2013 he was named editor of the Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina, the state’s largest newspaper. During his time at the newspaper. He has led his team to a Pulitzer Prize for Community Service in 2015. The paper was also a finalist for two Pulitzers in 2016.
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Jim Kirk, shown here during his acceptance speech at the bi-annual induction banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
Kirk graduated from ISU in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication. While at The Vidette, he held assorted features and sports writing positions. He began his career at Grocery Marketing Magazine in Chicago, followed by Adweek Magazine. Has been on the staff of Chicago Sun-Times (where he would eventually become publisher), the Chicago Tribune, and more recently, the Los Angeles Times, where today served as publisher at the time of the hall of fame banquet.
The 2018 Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Jim Kirk, shown here during his acceptance speech at the bi-annual induction banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
Kirk graduated from ISU in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication. While at The Vidette, he held assorted features and sports writing positions. He began his career at Grocery Marketing Magazine in Chicago, followed by Adweek Magazine. Has been on the staff of Chicago Sun-Times (where he would eventually become publisher), the Chicago Tribune, and more recently, the Los Angeles Times, where today served as publisher at the time of the hall of fame banquet.
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 featured Jim Kirk, center. Here he receives his award from Vidette General Manager John Plevka, left, and Richard Jones, who nominated Kirk for the award. The award was presented the bi-annual induction banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Tony Andracki, left, who was introduced by his friend and former co-sports editor Scott Gleeson. They are shown here following the induction ceremony at the bi-annual banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University. Gleeson is also a member of the Vidette Hall of Fame.
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Mitch Pugh, left, shown here with long-time friend Chris Grimm. Pugh was nominated for the award by Grimm, The award was presented during the the bi-annual induction banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Jim Kirk, left, shown here with former Vidette General Manager Richard Jones. Jones, himself a hall of fame member, nominated Kirk, who received his award during the the bi-annual induction banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
Current Vidette staff members, from left, Jonathan Barlas, Kade Heather and John Lynch visit with Vidette General Manager John Plevka prior to the start of The Vidette Hall of Fame Banquet. Plevka was emcee of the bi-annual event on April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Bryan Bloodworth, shown here during the bi-annual induction banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
Bloodworth, a 1979 graduate of Illinois State, was a sports writer and sports editor at The Vidette. During his junior year, he joined The Pantagraph as a full-time sports writer. He was a member of that staff for the next 30 years, the last 14 of which as sports editor. Following his Pantagraph career, he worked in public relations marketing. More recently he has worked for WJBC and WGLT. He also co-authored the book “100 Years of Illinois State Redbird Basketball.”
The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018 included Sally McKee, shown here during the bi-annual induction banquet April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus McKee served as editor in chief of The Vidette in 1981-1982, her senior year. She was hired as a features reporter in 1982 at the Peoria Journal Star, the largest Illinois daily newspaper outside of Chicago. She went on to be a news reporter, business reporter, lifestyles editor, Sunday editor, assistant managing editor, then managing editor, a position she has held since 2012. She also served as a member of The Vidette Publication Board for three years.
Vidette General Manager John Plevka, far, left joins members of The Vidette Hall of Fame Class of 2018. The class includes, from left, Jim Kirk, Bryan Bloodworth, Sally McKee, Mitch Pugh and Tony Andracki. The bi-annual induction banquet was held April 14, 2018 in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.
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