Thomas “Tom” Grady

Class of 1964 Tom Grady was a multi-sport athlete at Ottawa High School competing in football, baseball, and track. He was also active in intramurals, the military program attaining the rank of Captain, and in numerous Ottawa High clubs. After graduation from Ottawa High he received a B.S. degree in Physical Education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and a M.S. degree in Educational Administration from Northern Illinois University. He was inducted in the U.S. Army in 1968 and served in Vietnam for 15 months. He attained the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with V Device for heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, and the Purple Heart. Tom Grady began a teaching career at Milton Pope Elementary School in Marseilles, Illinois where he taught for 33 years. He taught numerous subjects at Milton Pope, including Science, World History, Language Arts, Math, Art, and P.E. and coached Boys and Girls Basketball, Boys Softball, Boys and Girls Track, and Girls Volleyball, and also served as Athletic Director. In 2007 he was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for outstanding achievement in basketball, with an overall record of 1022 wins and 623 losses and 19 Boys Fox Valley Conference Championships and 16 Girls Championships in his 32 years of coaching. In 1989 and 2002 he received the Excellence in Education Award for Outstanding Contribution and Dedication to the Students of LaSalle County, Illinois.