Michael Tobin, Sports Information Director • 1922-44

Louis Michael Tobin was hired by George Huff as the first Sports Information Director at Illinois and first full-time sports publicist in collegiate sports. He served the Illini from 1922-44 and is, credited for archiving the rich Illinois athletics history. Tobin knew every newspaper sportswriter in the Midwest, and most around the nation. He developed relationships with media from coast-to-coast and helped spread the incredible exploits of the legendary Red Grange in the mid-1920s to the fabulous Whiz Kids of the early 1940s. Tobin was the selected to the initial College Sports Information Director of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame class in 1969. Died at 64 years in 1944.