About
Mahomet native Fred Kroner’s autobiography is his seventh book.
He also authored Parkland Perfection ‘Be together, not the same’ (2016); ‘A Saucer Coming To Rest’ A Half-Century of the Assembly Hall (2013); Catching Up, The Official History of the Eastern Illinois Baseball League (2010); Are You Ready? Jim Sheppard – A career announcing Illinois football and basketball (2007); Brian Cardinal: Citizen Pain (2001) and Asphalt Celery (1974).
He has written for Central Illinois newspapers for more than half a century.
From 1968-73, he wrote sports articles for weekly Mahomet Sucker State. This began while he was in junior high school.
From 1974-78, he wrote part-time as a sportswriter for the Champaign-Urbana Morning Courier, covering an area of approximately 50 high schools. This was while he was attending the University of Illinois.
From 1978-81, he wrote full-time as a sportswriter for the Bloomington Daily Pantagraph, covering an area of approximately 60 high schools.
From 1981-2015, he wrote full-time as a sportswriter for the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, covering an area of approximately 50 high schools. He retired as the newspaper’s sports editor.
From 2015-17, he wrote for Mahomet Citizen, first as a sports columnist and then as the newspaper’s editor;
From 2017-19, he has written for the online Mahomet Daily, covering both sports and news stories.
Among his numerous career achievements:
–2015, Won the Distinguished Media Award, presented annually to a person or persons from the entire state by the Illinois High School Association;
–2009, Inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame;
–2008, Chosen by the Illinois Coaches Association as Softball Writer of the Year for the entire state of Illinois;
–2000, Listed in Marquis’ millennium edition of Who’s Who in America;
–2001, Chosen as the state of Illinois recipient of Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. This award goes annually to one individual per state, regardless of size of newspaper;
–1985, Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize;
–1984, 1988, 2000, 2009, Chosen as the winner of the Newsman of the Year award for the entire state by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association. He was the first person to win the recognition four times. He was also a finalist with the IWCOA in 1986, 1987, 1989 and 2014;
–Recognized numerous times by either The Associated Press or the Illinois Press Association for articles he wrote that were judged to be top five in state or national competitions. These awards included, but were not limited to, first place 2017; second place 2004; third place 1989; fourth place 1978 and fifth place, 1985.
There have been numerous other behind-the-scenes activities which he did without fanfare.
–For 19 years, through 2016, he volunteered as an instructor at the Sports Media Camp for Kids, in Danville, and provided transportation to three different Mahomet teen-agers in order for them to attend the week-long camp;
— For 25 years, through 2015, he handled selections for The News-Gazette’s All-State teams in girls’ basketball and volleyball;
–For 20 years, through 2015, was a member of The Associated Press panel that voted in the weekly state rankings for football as well as for boys’ basketball and girls’ basketball;
–For 20 years, through 2014, he was one of eight media members selected by the Chicago Bears to pick a weekly High School Coach of the Week in football;
–In 2001, he was one three Illinois journalists to participate in the Second-Annual Sports Media Practitioner Workshop in Antigua.
Kroner is married to another Mahomet-Seymour High School graduate, the former Emily Moon, who is the owner and operator of Lucky Moon Pies & More, in Mahomet.
Between them, they have four children: Devin (Elizabeth) Kroner; Sal (Shea) Belahi; Jamel Belahi and Malika Belahi. They have seven combined grandchildren: Titus Kroner; Matthan Kroner, Larkin Kroner; Esli Kroner; Brayden Anthony; Addison Anthony and Preston Belahi.