Joliet Hall of Fame finds new home

The Joliet Area Sports Hall of Fame has recently found a new home to display all the members inducted. In late January, it was announced that the hall of fame would be moving from location inside of Slammers Stadium and would be moving inside the Joliet Historical Museum. With the change in location, it has opened the doors for the public to get a chance to walk around and see who all the members of the Joliet Area Hall of Fame. Each year, a new class of members is inducted and features a ceremony of the induction. After the induction, the members will have an exhibit to show their achievements.

The class of 2017 will feature the first couple to ever go in at the same time, George and Cindy Kontos. Lockport’s Scott Parzych, Irish O’Reilly, and Don Govoni. “This class has just about all the major Joliet sports” said 1340 WJOL’s Scott Slocum. “The Kontos family is one of the best bowling families around the area, and they are still heavily involved with the sports as the owners of Town and Country Lanes.” Parzych, a member of the Lockport Porters state championship team in 1977 that went a perfect 33-0. O’Reilly was the Lewis Flyers baseball coach for 29 years, reaching the playoffs in 23 of those years. Finally, Don Govoni, arguably one of the best wrestlers ever in the City of Joliet. State Champion in wrestling after having an undefeated season.

For more information on the Joliet Area Sports Hall of Fame, visit www.jolietmuseum.com . To purchase tickets for the Induction ceremony, visit that same website or go into the museum gift shop to pay on sight.