Media

Bruce Fasol

Year Inducted: 2003

Category: Media

Schools / Organizations:

WFRX Radio (West Frankfort), West Frankfort Daily American

Biography: 

Bruce Fasol of West Frankfort began his broadcasting career at WFRX in 1973 during his sophomore year of high school doing news, sports and weather reports. He became sports director and play-by-play announcer in 1986 and became an institution in the southern Illinois community.

Fasol called more than 4,000 basketball, football, volleyball, softball and baseball contests for Frankfort High School and more than 3,000 games in the school’s Max Morris Gym. He was always eager to do games that wouldn’t be considered as popular such as junior high games. He also went to work as a sports stringer for the West Frankfort Daily American in 2013 and became sports editor in 2014. Coaches appreciated his honesty, humor and perspective that high school athletes should act as young citizens.

Fasol was honored with many awards. He received the Tom McKie Award at Frankfort High for his behind-the-scenes impact on young people, the Merle Jones Award by the Southern Illinois Coaches Association for media excellence and the West Frankfort Citizen of the Year in 2000 for his volunteer efforts throughout the community. Fasol was in the first class of IHSA Distinguished Media Award winners in 2013-14 and was inducted in the Illinois Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

He served on the City of West Frankfort Planning Board, the Franklin County United Way Board, the West Frankfort Aquatics Center Advisory Board and was the founder of the Baskets for Jackets program. Fasol passed away on Jan. 19, 2015 at age 57 and the funeral was held in Max Morris Gym.  Main Street near the gym has been renamed Bruce Fasol Way.