2023 Tom Stluka

Tom Stluka, a 1978 graduate of Beecher High School, was a trailblazer in leading the Beecher cross-country and track teams into state-level prominence in the early years of Class A competition in the State of Illinois. In addition, he was a 3-time MVP of the Beecher cross-country team. The first Beecher runner to receive All-State Honors.

Tom began to gain area recognition his sophomore year (1975-76) by sweeping the Kankakee Valley Conference (KVC) fresh-soph distance running titles, winning the individual cross-country title in the fall, and both the mile and 2-mile events in track in the spring.

During his junior year (1976-77), Tom won the individual KVC varsity (15:07) and district (15:15) cross-country titles, while leading the team to a district team title and a 14^th place finish at the state meet. This was the first team, in any sport from Beecher High School, to qualify for a state-level team competition. Individually, he placed 8th at the sectional meet and 27th at the state meet.

During Tom’s senior year (1977-78), he asserted himself as the dominant distance runner in the Kankakee area, while distinguishing himself at the state level as well. In cross-country, he repeated his titles as KVC varsity (15:47) and district (15:04) individual champion, while adding the individual sectional title to his resume. Tom placed second individually at the Class A state meet with a time of 14:55 over 3 miles, becoming the first male athlete in BHS history to earn all-state honors in any sport. He also led the team to a second-place finish at both the sectional and state meets, the latter resulting in the first state team trophy in Beecher High School history. In track, he won the KVC 2-mile (10:04) and the Kankakee All-Area mile (4:34), while leading the All-Area honor roll in both events and qualifying for the state meet in the 2-mile.

In 1980, after enrolling at DePaul University during his junior year of college, Tom became DePaul’s most valuable runner in cross-country in 1980, and a 3-year captain and letterman from 1980-1982. While residing in Beecher with his wife Katie and their children Megan (Ben) and Travis, Tom continued using his leadership skills through community service by becoming a Beecher school board member from 1997 to 2013, acting as the school board president from 2003 to 2011. He has also been the chairperson of the Beecher Athletic Hall of Fame since its inception in 2017.

Tom has continued his love of running after his competitive days by completing a marathon in all 50 different states. He was the 1,752 person in the country to be certified to do this marathon accomplishment.