Media

Harold Olson

Year Inducted: 1991

Category: Media

Schools / Organizations:
Tazewell Courier
Peoria Journal Star
Times-Press

Biography:  Harold Olson served as a sports editor for the Times-Press in Streator beginning in 1967. Earlier he worked part-time at the Peoria Journal Star while obtaining a journalism degree at Bradley University. As a high school student at East Peoria he covered the Red Raiders for the Tazewell Courier. While at the Times-Press, Olson has covered boys and girls high school and middle school sports for over 15 Streator area schools. Each year Olson covered a minimum of 50 basketball games to give him at least 1,200 games over 24 years. Olson followed Streator area schools to the state finals in football, cross-county and baseball. He served on the Basketball Rating Board for the Associated Press and on the selection committee for the Streator High School Hall of Fame. In addition, Olson served as director of youth football and baseball programs in Streator.  Olson’s positive attitude earned him the respect and admiration of Streator area readers. 

Harold Olson died on March 16, 2020 at the age of 75.