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Tony Karas

WIU Athletics Mourns Loss of Athletic Hall of Famer Tony Karas

MACOMB, Ill. - Anthony "Tony" Karas, a Western Illinois University alumnus and 14-year WIU athletic administrator, passed away on April 23 in Naperville. 

During his time with WIU Athletics, Karas served as the Leathernecks' golf and junior varsity basketball coach. His 1986 golf team won the Mid-Continent championship, and in 1993, he received the athletic department's highest achievement with an induction to its Hall of Fame. 

Karas began his coaching career at Kirkland High School and later served as athletic director at St. Charles High School. He and his family moved to Macomb in 1965, where he spent time as Western Lab School's athletic director before working for WIU Athletics. 

Karas was also the Macomb/WIU Holiday Basketball Tournament director for 20 years and was instrumental in developing the WIU Leatherneck Club and the Junior Golf Camp. He was one of the original organizers of Macomb's Heritage Days.

He is survived by four children, Regina Devers, Peter Karas, Liz Brown and Mike Karas; 11 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago or to the Western Illinois University Leatherneck Club.
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