HOF Media

Name: Sid Rotz

Year Inducted: 1985

Category: Media

Schools / Organizations:
Stephen Decatur High School
Millikin University
WDZ/WSOY
US Navy

Biography:  Sid Rotz has been on the Decatur sports scene through his days at Stephen Decatur High School and then Millikin University. After graduating from college in 1941, he joined the Navy, working as a flight instructor before flying Hellcat fighters off aircraft carriers in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was highly decorated, flying 64 missions and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for "heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight."  Beginning in 1953, he broadcast University of Illinois basketball and football – the first 11 years with WDZ. After joining WSOY, he continued that Illinois coverage along with high school basketball and football. Rotz was named to the Millikin University Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 after receiving a radio merit award from the Millikin Quarterback Club in 1968. In 1983 he received a Recognition Award from the Decatur Public Schools’ athletic staff and boosters. He has been a recipient of the IHSA Distinguished Service Award.  Sid Rotz died on April 17, 2009 at the age of 89.  Sid was known for his radio sign-off: “Goodbye and good luck to you all.”

Name: Murray Hurt

Year Inducted: 1985

Category: Media

Schools / Organizations:
Rock Island Argus
Galesburg Register
WHBF

Biography:  Murray Hurt is a 30-year veteran of the Rock Island Argus. Born in Galesburg, his mother taught Murray and his sportswriter brother Nolan, new words every day since first grade. Murray started using those words with his sports byline for the Galesburg Register at age 17. After a term in service, Murray was hired by the Argus in 1955 and took over as sports editor in 1965. The early 1960’s were busy ones for Hurt who worked the 6 p.m. radio and 10 p.m. television sports shows for WHBF in addition to his duties at the Argus. Hurt recalls his most exciting game at the state finals in 1964 when Rock Island Alleman beat no.1 rated Centralia 57-56. Hurt said, “There’s an unwritten rule in the press box of no cheering,” but Hurt admits he lost his cool and jumped up and down as the Pioneers pulled the upset of the tourney. In 1981, Hurt passed on his reins as executive sports editor and cut back his responsibilities to two outdoor and three general columns a week.  Murray Hurt passed away on November 21, 1994 at the age of 62.

Name: Lee Jenkins

Year Inducted: 1985

Category: Media

Schools / Organizations:
The Chicago Defender
(Chicago) Wendell Phillips High School
Morehouse College

Biography:  Lee Jenkins attended Chicago’s Wendell Phillips High School and prestigious Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. He became deeply involved with high school basketball for the Chicago Defender from 1954-73 and again from 1977-81. Jenkins is a past president of the Chicago Prep Writers Association. 

Name: Dick Huston

Year Inducted: 1985

Category: Media

Schools / Organizations:
The Lincoln Courier
The Sporting News

Biography:  Richard Huston began writing sports in 1943 for his high school paper in Sturgis, Mich. For the Greenville South Carolina News, Huston covered Southern Conference basketball and Furman’s Frank Selvy when he led the nation in scoring. Huston did a three-year stint as sports information director for the University of Detroit during the days of Dave DeBusschere. While living in Fort Wayne, Ind., Huston write NBA features for a religious news service and The Sporting News. While at Greenville, he covered three state high school champions from the circulation area. As the sports editor of the Lincoln Courier, he has covered the championship teams at Mount Pulaski in addition to the Lincoln Railsplitters and Mason City’s Huskies. Huston was always noted for keeping close tabs on area players when they went off to college.  Richard Huston passed away on July 21, 2016.