Voice of Elgin, Jeff Myers, honored by IBCA
Jeff Myers made the move from Quincy to Elgin in 1989, and for the last 31 years has been entertaining and informing high school sports fans with his broadcasts on radio, cable television and the internet.
The IBCA recently recognized Myers' impact on the game by inducting him into the media wing of its Hall of Fame.
"It's wonderful," Myers said. "The IBCA is a wonderful organization. I was honored and humbled to go in. They have some tremendous names and have done some tremendous things since the 70s."
Myers played baseball at Lisle High School. He attended College of DuPage for two years and then Western Illinois University where he got his start in broadcasting.
"We did everything I later would do in life," Myers said. "Did a sports talk show, did play-by-play."
After a short stay in Jacksonville, Myers' career took off in Quincy at KGRC and WTAD.
Myers found himself in Quincy the same time Bruce Douglas and Michael Payne had turned the Quincy Blue Devils into one of the best high school basketball teams in state history.
"We went to the state finals in '81 knowing Quincy would win," said Myers, who broadcast the state tournament every year from 1981-1994. "The early 80s were tremendous. I've been fortunate. Quincy and Elgin are basketball hot spots."
Myers also recalled fondly broadcasting Quincy College games including one against Illinois Wesleyan and future NBA star Jack Sikma.
Myers moved to WRMN in Elgin and continued broadcasting high school games. He's served as the voice of both Elgin and St. Edward football, done radio play-by-play for Elgin and Larkin basketball, and has transitioned to broadcasting games online, working with longtime Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle.
"Hinkle has been great, he's got endless energy and he is a delight to work with," said Myers, who also thanked longtime Elgin basketball coach Jim Harrington for his help.
Myers said broadcasting Harrington's 1998 team's supersectional win over Naperville North was one of the highlights of his career.
Myers, who also broadcast Chicago Bandits softball games when the team was located in Elgin, was inducted into the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
Currently he works on High School Cube broadcasting St. Charles East's Thanksgiving basketball tournament and Jacobs' Christmas tournament, along with Elgin-Larkin games and Elgin Community College games. He also hosts news shows including Week in Review and Elgin Today.
"I try to do a lot of play-by-play and have been fortunate to find a lot of venues," Myers said. "I do love the Chicago area and the run here has been wonderful."