Media

J. Thomas McNamara

Year Inducted: 1995

Category: Media

Schools / Organizations: (Decatur) St. Theresa High School/Millikin University
Decatur Herald & Review
Southern Illinoisian/Champaign News-Gazette
Decatur Tribune

Biography:

J. Thomas McNamara felt he was too small, at 5-foot-3, to play high school basketball.  Since he couldn’t play basketball, the next best thing for McNamara was to be involved as a manager and as a writer which brought him into contact with the many great coaches and players who participated in Illinois basketball.

McNamara was a student manager for Joe Venturi’s teams at (Decatur) St. Teresa High School from 1955-59.  In 1958-59 McNamara also worked as a part-time sports clerk for the Decatur Herald & Review.  While attending Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, McNamara worked part-time in the SIU sports information office and also as a sports reporter for the Southern Illinoisian.  During 1963-64, McNamara was assistant sports editor at the Champaign News-Gazette.  From 1964-72, McNamara served in various positions for the Herald and Review, including that of sports reporter.  

After two years as editor for Illinois Power Company’s employee publications, McNamara was director of public information at Millikin University.  From 1989 to 1995, McNamara served as sports editor of the weekly Decatur Tribune, and has done sports commentary on that newspaper’s weekly television show.  For more than 10 years leading to his induction,  McNamara ran the clock for the St. Teresa basketball teams.