Daniel Eilts

Class of 1971 During Dan Eilts’ time as a student at OTHS, he received 6 Varsity letters, 3 in baseball, 2 in football, and 1 in track – also competing in basketball for 2 years, football and baseball for 4, and track for 3. He was class officer in his freshman and junior years. He then attended Western Illinois University, graduating with a degree in Mass Communication, serving as the Sports Editor of the school newspaper and was a Blue Key Who’s Who honoree. After graduation Dan worked for a short time at the Jackson Daily News as a reporter, then at the Ottawa Daily Times, first as Assistant Sports Editor for 2 years, then Sports Editor for 15 years. He continued to be involved with OTHS as a supporter and volunteer, actively engaged in the Booster Club, and as a statistician for football, and boy’s and girl’s basketball. He has been passionately serving for years on the OTHS Class of 71 reunion committee, spearheading the Class of 71’s multiple donations to the school and scholarships for students. He has served on the OTHS Foundation Board, was instrumental in the founding of the OTHS Hall of Fame, and continues to serve on its selection committee as well as that of the Illinois Valley Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 2017 into the Illinois High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame as a “Friend of Basketball,” and honored as a Lifetime Member of the OTHS Booster Club. He continues to serve the community in numerous other volunteer endeavors.