Record Setting Amount to City Schools from Koerner Golf Outing

($34,500 WAS RAISED FOR EACH CITY HIGH SCHOOL'S  SPORTS PROGRAMS AT THURSDAY'S CARL KOERNER MEMORIAL SPORTS SPECTACULAR. PICTURED WITH THE CHECKS FOR EACH SCHOOL IS TROY GREENE OF KOERNER DISTRIBUTOR; ST. ANTHONY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR KEVIN PALMER; PAUL KOERNER OF KOERNER DISTRIBUTOR; EFFINGHAM UNIT 40 ACTIVITY DIRECTOR DAVID WOLTMAN; PHIL KOERNER OF KOERNER DISTRIBUTOR; AND MARK MAYHOOD WHO HAS HELPED ORGANIZE THE EVENT SINCE ITS BEGINNING)

A record-setting amount of money was generated Thursday for the St. Anthony and Effingham High School athletic programs at the Carl P. Koerner Memorial Sports Spectacular.

The event at Effingham Country Club generated $34,500 for each of the city's sports programs. 

The golf tournament, the 24th annual, has produced more than $800,000 for the city schools.

(MEMBERS OF THE KOERNER FAMILY GATHERED WITH EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TOM MICHAEL AFTER THURSDAY'S OUTING. FROM LEFT: PAUL KOERNER, JORDAN KOERNER, TOM MICHAEL AND PHIL KOERNER)

Eastern Illinois University Athletic Director Tom Michael was the guest speaker. Michael, who played on a state champion basketball team at Carlyle, also played on two NCAA Tournament teams for Coach Lou Henson at the University of Illinois.

Michael said he's reminded many mornings of just how many years it's been since his Illini playing days, which extended from 1991 to 1994. He still holds the Illinois single season record for three-point field goal percentage.

Michael worked in the athletics program at the U of I, including as associate athletic director, before being named AD at Eastern. This is his third year at EIU.

Greg Sapp talked with Tom Michael after Thursday night's program...