St. Louis University head basketball coach speaker at Elks sports banquet April 29

Staying true to form, the Elks All-Sports Banquet honoring Du Quoin High School male athletes will have an outstanding area sports personality as its featured speaker.

Jim Crews, Saint Louis University's head basketball coach and a finalist for national coach-of-the-year honors, will be the featured speaker at this year's banquet to be held at the Elks' Club Tuesday, April 29.

Crews will be making his second appearance at the Elks' banquet as he was in the same role in 1999 following an outstanding season as coach of the Evansville Aces.

This year Crews led the Billikens to a school record of 28 victories as well as the championship in the Atlantic 10 Conference. He received several national coaching awards and was a finalist for coach-of-the-year honors.

A native of Normal, Ill., and son of Warren Crews who was one of Elkville's outstanding prep athletes, Jim has won 382 games at the college level while coaching at Evansville, Army and Saint Louis University.

Tickets for the Du Quoin event are available from any member of the Elks' committee or at the lodge located in St. Johns. Cost is $10 and includes dinner.