Daily Herald's Radtke honored by IHSA

Already a member of Burlington Central's sports Hall of Fame, John Radtke formally added another honor to his collection Saturday night — and he did so with the home fans cheering him.

Radtke, a 1975 Rockets grad, was presented the Illinois High School Association's Distinguished Media Service Award at halftime of the boys basketball game between Hampshire and host Burlington Central.

The award recognizes journalists “for their work promoting the values of high school sports and activities, and the service to the schools and communities who benefit from their outstanding work.”

“This award is special to me because it was voted on by my peers, and that means so much,” Radtke said.

IHSA Assistant Executive Director Scott Johnson, an Elgin High School grad who has known Radtke as a colleague and friend for many years, presented him with a plaque.

“It's an honor for the IHSA to be able to recognize individuals like John who have dedicated themselves to supporting these young athletes,” Johnson said.

Radtke was preceded in the Distinguished Media Service Award by Bob Frisk, who retired from the Daily Herald in 2008 and was a force for more than 50 years in high school sports coverage.

“I'm thrilled that John could join Bob in earning this very exclusive achievement,” said Aaron Gabriel, the Daily Herald's high school sports editor since 1995. “The common denominator with them is they are tireless advocates for our young athletes.”

Radke joins Fred Kroner of the Champaign News-Gazette and Jim Taylor of downstate radio station WRMJ as this year's honorees — only the second such group to be recognized.

As the Fox Valley high school coordinator with the Daily Herald, Radtke has steadily added responsibilities in online publishing and the evolving digital applications of journalism.

He also has played a role in award-winning staff reports, sharing a Lisagor award in 2012 and winning a Northern Illinois Newspaper Assocation honor in 2010. He earned the Daily Herald's Editorial Award of Excellence in 2010 and was selected to the media wing of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Assocation Hall of Fame in 2003.

“It was great to join Bob Frisk here in leading the applause for John tonight,” said Daily Herald Sports Editor Tom Quinlan. “They have dedicated their lives to high school sports, and to receive such statewide recognition is truly special.”