Today’s “Streaks Alumni Profile” features Kevin Trueblood from GHS class of 1999.
Kevin did a little bit of everything in high school. He played tennis, was a basketball manager, and active with the school newspaper. To say he took advantage of his high school experience would be an understatement.
What year did you graduate?
1999
What was your favorite class (classes), favorite teacher (teachers)?
Favorite teachers: Ms. Hinman, Mrs. Vitale, Mr. Busse, Mr. Heath, Mr. Chernin. Loved journalism, electronics, and my civics class.
What are a few of your favorite memories from GHS?
Being the manager of the boys basketball team. I wasn't the athletic type but I loved the sport and helping support the team's success. After my freshman year I talked to Coach Mike Miller and asked to jump straight to varsity because I knew what was coming. I was surprised he said yes, and as a result I got to be part of the team that went to state in 97/98. That year was an incredible ride, and there were so many good teams we played both in the conference and around the state. The fact that we're still talking about it nearly 30 years later speaks to how good of a team we were and how good the competition was that year.
I also had a ton of fun being part of the GHS Budget newspaper. I developed a love for writing and photography. I will never forget being a 16-year-old high school student sitting next to all the professional photographers from newspapers around the state on the sidelines of Redbird Arena in Normal during the girls' state basketball tournament. I felt terribly out of place with my tiny camera. But I spent a lot of time talking to Register-Mail photographers Kent Kriegshauser and Richard Dickin and was inspired by their work. I was able to get some really great photos for the newspaper. My senior year I was an Editor-In-Chief and we had a good group of people working on the paper together. It was a great collaborative effort and I was glad I got to be part of it.
Beginning my sophomore year I played tennis with Coach Laurie Aten and Coach Bill Sargeant. By my senior year, I was on the varsity team and got to be pretty good with it.
What did you do right after high school?
My junior year of high school I got a job working at the Galesburg Broadcasting Company, home to WGIL, FM95, 92.7 The Laser, and 105.3 KFM. I continued working for them while I went to Carl Sandburg College. After my first year I transferred to Northern Illinois University and worked for radio stations in Rockford, DeKalb, and Chicago while I got my degree. Right after college I was invited to come back and be the PA announcer for a handful of GHS basketball games. I was so excited to fill the role Jim Savory did so well and had a lot of fun with it.
Where and what did you do for a career?
I've been working in radio and television. I spent the first part of my career managing radio station programming, and now I work behind the scenes managing the technical operations. I've worked for stations in Burlington, IA, Bloomington/Normal, IL, Madison, WI, and I've been in Fort Myers, Florida since 2015.
What are you up to today?
My full time job is the head of technology for the public radio and television stations in Fort Myers, Florida. I also own a consulting and contracting service helping other broadcast stations, digital media outlets, and houses of worship manage their technology. I am still on the radio, having been on the air most recently in Rockford and Springfield, IL and currently do a daily show for a station in Cookeville, TN. I produce those shows from my home studio in Florida.
I've been married to my wife Jess since 2007 and we have a 15 year old daughter together.
My brother Ted lives in the Quad Cities and has been a basketball coach for Galesburg and United Township. Even from afar, it's been great to stay connected with the goings on of the Western Big 6 conference and watching my nieces and nephews play basketball in it. Reminds me of the magic that happens in a high school gymnasium on a Friday night in the winter.
What advice would you have for today’s Silver Streak students/athletes?
Make your own luck. Take the opportunities presented to you, and if the opportunities don't find you, go find them yourself. It's OK if they don't work out. It's a journey. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But each opportunity presents a chance to grow, learn, and do better.
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