Media

Pete Hayes

Year Inducted: 2021

Category: Media

Schools / Organizations:
Alton Telegraph
Granite City Press-Record
Olney Daily Mail

Biography: Pete Hayes began his journalistic love for covering high school basketball in 1972 and junior college basketball in 1973 for the Olney Daily Mail while he was a high school student.  He also wrote a column on JUCO basketball in 1974 and 1975 while a student at Olney Community College.  At SIU-E, Pete worked as a student correspondent.  After graduation he was hired as the sports editor of the Granite City Press-Record.  For the next four years Hayes could be seen attending games all over Southwestern and Southern Illinois.  In 1982, Pete was hired by the Alton Telegraph and became their sports editor in 2000.  He stayed there for the thirty-eight years.  Best estimations are Pete Hayes has written more than 4,000 basketball stories and has received numerous writing awards (Southern Illinois Editorial Association, Illinois Press Association and Associated Press).  He was also selected to write the team preview story for the IHSA Class A State Tournament Program.