October 3, 2008

Soccer complex to be named after Leo "Doc" Traister

It was announced Thursday evening by Eureka College President Dr. J. David Arnold that the school's on-campus soccer complex would be named after long-time Eureka athletics director and coach Leo "Doc" Traister, who was present for the event with his wife, Betty.

Traister came to Eureka in the fall of 1939, eventually graduating in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in physical education after serving in the United States Armed Forces from 1941 to 1946. As an EC student, he earned four letters in baseball, three in football and two in track in addition to serving as an assistant football coach in 1947.

Traister obtained a master's degree from the University of Illinois and built a successful record as coach, teacher and principal at Viola and Winola High Schools in western Illinois before returning to Eureka in 1956. He coached all EC sports until 1966, basketball until 1974, golf until 1984 and assisted with football until 1990. His golf teams won numerous conference championships and he retired as the Eureka's all-time leader in basketball wins (168).

A 1977 EC Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Traister served as athletics director at Eureka from 1956 to 1983, retiring with the rank of full professor in 1984. He was instrumental in the planning and construction of the Reagan Physical Education Center, instituting women's athletics and beginning the first soccer program.

The official dedication will take place at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday, October 24 during Homecoming week. The soccer complex was built in 2006 and is in its second season as the home of the Red Devils men's and women's soccer teams. The complex consists of two irrigated soccer fields, with dugouts and a press box on the performance field. New signage and a plaque near midfield will soon be installed at the performance field.

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For More Information Contact:

Bryan Moore
Sports Information Director
Eureka College
300 E. College Avenue
Eureka, Illinois 61530
309-467-6456
bmoore@eureka.edu