Other Hall of Fame

A 1956 graduate of Peoria High School, Ralph Lawler has continued the area's tradition of supplying some of the nation's top sports broadcasters.  Already an established broadcaster among the nation's major sports leagues, Ralph became the voice of the NBA's San Diego Clippers in 1978 and announced more than 3,000 Clippers game in 41 seasons. He began his broadcasting career at Pekin's WSIV radio station while he was a student at Bradley University.  The 1976 Pennsylvania Broadcaster of the Year, he enjoyed stints as the radio voice for the Philadelphia Phillies (Major League Baseball), Flyers (National Hockey League) and 76ers (National Basketball Association). Moving to the West Coast, he served as the voice of the National Football League's San Diego Chargers before locking in as the long-time Voice of the Clippers. Upon his retirement in 2019, Ralph was presented the Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.