Skip to main content

2022 Homecoming Parade Route

2022 Parade Grand Marshall

Gene Honda 

A 1978 Illinois graduate and a member of the Triangle Fraternity, Honda is the public address announcer for the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Blackhawks. He is a 2022 recipient of the Lou Liay Spirit Award, presented to those who have consistently demonstrated extraordinary spirit and pride in support of the university, the Alumni Association and related organizations.

“When I showed up on campus in 1972, I wanted to be an engineer,” Honda told Illinois Alumni magazine in 2019. “That was the year of my best GPAs, but it didn’t feel right. Not good enough at math. I switched to finance before finding my way to WPGU, the University’s radio station, and going down the rabbit hole to my future.”

Honda’s resume includes not only the aforementioned Chicago professional sports teams, but also DePaul Blue Demons basketball, the Big Ten Tournament and the Final Four, and duties at WTTW-TV, Chicago’s PBS station. “Not to mention a special favorite of mine, Fighting Illini football.”

Photo credit: Steve Woltmann