Inductees The name of Corwin "Cornie" Clatt has become a household word among area football fans. Clatt, a high school, collegiate, and NFL football standout, later coached at East Peoria High School, his alma mater.
During Clatt's four years of play at East Peoria High School, the Red Raiders amassed a record of 26-5-1. As a senior in 1940, Clatt was chosen as a first-team allstater and was named the outstanding high school player in Illinois.
Playing for Notre Dame under Coach Frank Leahy, Clatt was the leading Irish ground-gainer in 1942, with 138 carries for 698 yards. That team's record was 7-2-2. Clatt was also an outstanding defensive player in the days of two-way football. He once ran 82 yards for a touchdown on an intercepted pass play, and was selected a third-team all-American defensive player. Clatt also played on two Notre Dame national championship teams in 1946 (8-0-1) and 1947 (9-0).
Clatt played several seasons as linebacker for the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL, playing in the championship game in 1948 against Philadelphia. In 1957, Clatt become East Peoria High School football coach and also coached the track team, which won the Mid-State 8 title in 1963.
| PAUL HERZOG A 1974 Bradley University graduate and longtime financial consultant for MassMutual Financial Group, Paul Herzog has served as the public address "Voice of the Braves" for nearly 600 Bradley men's basketball games for the past 39 seasons, including every game the Braves have played at Carver Arena and Renaissance Coliseum. In addition to his volunteer service for Bradley, Herzog has served as the volunteer public address announcer for every game the Peoria Civic Center has hosted in the IHSA Boys Basketball State Tournament during its 20-year run in the River City. While "PA" Paul is well-known for his role with Bradley Basketball and the IHSA, his community service extends far beyond Carver Arena. A Braves Club Board of Directors member for 20 years and a past president (1992-94) of the organization, Herzog also served as president of the Central Illinois Bradley Alumni Chapter (1983-85) and the Bradley University National Alumni Association (1990-91). He also has began emceeing the IHSA State Cross Country Championships awards ceremony in 1996. Closer to his home in Germantown Hills, Herzog has coached in youth baseball and basketball house leagues and from 2006-13 he was a member of the Germantown Hills Athletic Association Board of Directors. He served as a committe co-chair in the effort to acquire land for the expansion of youth sports in Germantown Hills, which led to the addition of 20 acres to school district property. Herzog also brought a little of the Bradley Basketball experience to the Germantown Hills Grade School Boys Basketball program by serving as the public address announcer from 2008-12. Herzog is the recipient of numerous service awards, including the Bradley Varsity Club Billy Stone Service Award, the Bradley University Lydia Moss Bradley Award, the IHSA March Madness Volunteer of the Year and the IHSA Distinguished Service Award. He was inducted into the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011. |  |