“I made one of the finest administrative decisions in my long career at Eastern Michigan University in 1974 by hiring Jim [Streeter] as sports information director,” former EMU Vice President of University Relations, John Fountain, said.
Effective Oct. 19, Jim Streeter will be retiring from his position as the associate athletics director for media relations for EMU Athletics after 39 years.
Streeter grew up in Albion, Mich. and attended Albion High School in 1966. While he was in high school, he played basketball and baseball where he earned two varsity letters in each.
Along with earning a bachelor’s degree with a major in physical education and a minor in journalism and history from EMU in 1973, Streeter was also the sports editor of The Eastern Echo for two years.
Streeter was a sports writer for The Ypsilanti Press for a two-year period as well. In 1974, he became an assistant sports information director and in 1975 was named SID.
“For more than 39 years, Jim has been a fixture not only inside the Athletic Department but throughout the university as well,” EMU Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations Greg Steiner said in a statement.
“I would not be in the position I am today if it was not for Jim Streeter and I am personally grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to work with him these past 11 years,” Steiner said.
From 1990-94, Streeter was the secretary of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters and Writers Association and in 2007 he earned an award for being “Best of the Best” from DSBWA.
At the 2004 Ryder Cup Golf competition, Streeter was selected as one of nine media marshals and during the 2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional and the 2009 Final Four in Detroit, he was part of the media relations staff.
“Jim has been a guiding and critical component at EMU Athletics for almost 40 years,” EMU Director of Athletics Derrick Gragg said. “His awards at regional and national levels only tell a fraction of the success story of his successful portrayal of EMU Athletics across our country. All of his contributions are greatly admired and appreciated by the Eastern Michigan family.”
Streeter was the longest tenured Division 1 sports information director in the state and the dean of Mid-American Conference SIDs.
“As the sports information director, Streeter has made an indelible mark on EMU,” Steiner said.
