SIUE alumnus joins Illinois Sports Hall of Fame – The Edwardsville Intelligencer

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus Steve Porter, ’73, was inducted into the Illinois Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 on July 25 in Springfield.

A veteran in print media, Porter worked as a sportswriter for 45 years with the Alton Telegraph, Alton AdVantage and Collinsville Herald. Throughout his distinguished career, he has been actively covering athletes, teams and events that had a lasting impact on the athletics community of Illinois.

Porter graduated with a bachelor’s in mass communications and is currently an Alumni Association Board member. 

“When I enrolled at SIUE in the summer of 1969, I wasn’t certain what I wanted to do. But when I started in broadcasting and then gravitated toward journalism, I knew I found a worthwhile endeavor,” reflected Porter. “SIUE became a second home for me, and I’ll be forever grateful for the instructors, fellow students, and experiences I gained on campus. Without SIUE, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It was a destination for me.” Porter is the first SIUE Mass Communications graduate and the second SIUE alumnus to be inducted after soccer Olympian Steve Trittschuch was enshrined last year.

Three of Porter’s stories published in the Collinsville Herald in 1972 remain on display at The Old Herald Restaurant and Bar in Collinsville. Porter has continued sharing his perspective on local sports, including his 2025 Intelligencer column, “Once a Cougar, Always a Cougar,” reflecting on the history and success of SIUE men’s basketball.

Porter is also an inductee into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame, The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, The Alton Athletics Hall of Fame, The Illinois Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame and the Alton City Golf Hall of Fame.

Porter remains actively involved with his alma mater with his continued advocacy for opportunities to enhance student experience.

The Illinois Sports Hall of Fame is a distinguished state tribute established to honor and celebrate the athletic excellence. The organization will officially induct its class of 2026 at a ceremony in July, recognizing Porter and other fellow contributors, athletes and leaders who have shaped the state’s rich sports legacy.