Thom Cornelis Named Leatherneck Club Quad Cities Coordinator

Western alum to help Athletics grow in the Quad Cities area

MACOMB, Ill. – Longtime television personality, and Western Illinois University graduate ('71), Thom Cornelis has joined Leatherneck Athletics as the Leatherneck Club Quad Cities coordinator. WIU Athletic Director Tommy Bell announced the hire, to help expand membership and outreach in the Quad Cities area.

"We are pleased to have such a distinguished alumnus assisting our efforts with Leatherneck Club in connecting with alumni, friends, and fans in Quad Cities area," said Bell. "Thom is a well-known personality in the Quad Cities area and been a great supporter of Western Illinois University and the athletics department. As we focus on increasing our Leatherneck Club membership drive to 800 this year, I know Thom's passion and energy will help expand our support in the Quad Cities."

Cornelis will work on cultivating membership in the area, and assist with social events put on by the Leatherneck Club and Athletic Department.

"As a life-long Quad-City resident and after 44 years of broadcasting in this market, I have met many WIU alums/athletes from this area. I'm excited about tapping into this resource to generate support for the Leatherneck Club both here in the Quads as well as the Macomb campus."

Cornelis began his distinguished broadcasting career in 1972 with WQAD-TV in Moline. In 1984 he went to KWQC and worked there until his retirement last September. During his career, he was inducted in the Quad-City Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. Cornelis served as a long-time play-by-play announcer of the popular Quad-City Times Bix 7 race and helped in the development of the John Deere Classic golf tournament.

A 1966 graduate of Alleman High School, Cornelis was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2008. Thom and his wife Marcia have four children and six grandchildren.

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