STEVE PORTER

“GREG MARECEK MEMORIAL AWARD”

If there’s a story to be told about local sports, Steve Porter likely has told it. Or, he’s still telling it.  That’s what Porter has been doing for nearly five decades. 

Porter, 71, and a lifelong resident of Madison County, has been involved in sports writing since the early 1970s. He’s a 1969 Triad High graduate and 1973 grad of Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville. 

“I grew up a sports fan and I’ve been involved in writing stories about local individuals, events and trends since as far back as I can remember,” Porter said. “It has been more than a job for me. It’s more of a vocation.” 

Porter’s calling and dedication to covering sports is the reason he’s this year’s recipient of this year’s Greg Marecek Media Award from the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. Marecek, the founder of the organization in 2009, passed away in 2020 and the award was established in his honor. Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch received the inaugural award in 2002. 

“I’m thankful to receive the prestigious award in Greg’s name. It’s an honor,” Porter said. “Greg had a vision to start and develop the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame, and I was grateful to work with him.” 

Porter spent 45 years in the newspaper business, working 40 years with the Alton Telegraph, three with the Alton Advantage, and two with the Collinsville Herald, where he began his career in 1972. 

“It was a great ride and I’ve been fortunate enough to meet many inspirational people along the way,” Porter said. When he began his journalism career, he covered the likes of legendary coaches Harry Gallatin at SIUE, Vergil Fletcher at Collinsville, and Louis “Pick” Dehner at East St. Louis.  

He later covered Madison’s Larry Graham and East St. Louis Lincoln’s Bennie Lewis guiding their teams to multiple state titles. He also enjoyed writing about coaches Greg DeCourcey at Alton Marquette winning two state baseball titles and Ric Johns at Hardin Calhoun capturing a pair of state football titles. 

“At one time, I thought I had the greatest sports writing assignment in the area,” Porter said. “On Friday nights, I might cover high school basketball or football. Then, on Saturdays, it could be college basketball and football. Sundays were reserved for St. Louis Cardinals’ baseball and football.” 

Porter added, “You couldn’t beat a job like that. You saw the best of all worlds: prep, college, and pros.” 

These days, Porter spends his time serving on various area committees – seven in all. In addition to the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame group for the Illinois side, Porter is a member of three Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame committees. 

He was elected to the IBCA Hall of Fame in 2002, the Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame in 2004, the Alton City Golf Hall of Fame in 2007, and the Alton Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019. He also has received lifetime achievement awards from American Legion baseball and the ASA in the Leroy Emerick Award. 

“I’m still a man in motion. Somewhat of a character with character,” he quipped.