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It’s a simple statement that Dave Agee has taken to heart in over three decades of service to his hometown.
“I just like to see things get done,” he said of his involvement in the community, for which he’s being recognized with the VIP Award from the Centralia Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2022.
It is a long list that includes numerous boards and committees as well as charitable organizations in addition to developing and maintaining Sprehe Fields.
Currently, Agee is serving positions on eight different organizations with the longest times on the Centralia Jaycees Charitable Foundation (33-plus years), the Centralia Halloween Parade Committee (29 years), Centralia Foundation Trustee (20-plus years), and the Carillon Charitable Foundation Committee (20-plus years).
He also currently holds posts on the Centralia Industrial Development Commission, the Centralia Recreation Advisory Board, the Centralia Sports Hall of Fame Committee and has served as a Illinois State Senator with the Junior Chamber of Commerce International.
As a trustee with the Centralia Foundation, he has helped oversee the operation of numerous projects for the betterment of the area which include the Foundation Park System, the Carillon and Park, and the Recreation Complex.
His past activities and positions include Centralia Clean & Green Board, Centralia Public Library Board, Centralia Airport Advisory Committee, Centralia Cultural Society Board, Officer and Drive Chairman of Centralia Area United Fund, Past President of the Centralia Jaycees Chapter, Secretary of Camp New Hope Board, Board Member of Little Egypt YMCA, Community Ambassador of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Past President of Centralia Booster Club, Centralia Image Committee, Board Member of Centralia Noon Rotary Club, Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and two-time member of Centralia City Manager Search Committee.
During the spring, summer and into the fall months, Agee can be found at Sprehe Fields. With his late wife, Linda, they were among those who were the driving force behind the planning, building and maintenance of the baseball diamonds at Sprehe Fields, which is home to the Centralia High School Orphans, the Centralia Budweisers of the Clinton County League, the Nelms Post 446 American Legion Baseball team, various travel/select teams and has been utilized in years past by the Centralia Recreation Department. With a community building that also houses concessions adjacent to the fields, it is recognized as one of the best facilities in Southern Illinois.
His other activities regarding sports in the community include serving as an assistant wrestling coach at Centralia High School, a program he was very familiar with as a CHS wrestler from 1972 to 1976.
He also served as Head Coach and Adminstrator for the Centralia Youth Wrestling Program and assisted longtime CHS Head Coach Dick Carpenter with hosting and managing tournament and clinics.
His wrestling resume also features a decade-long stint as an official for the Illinois High School Association and while still in college, Agee officiated matches and tournaments at SIU-Carbondale and Southeast Missouri State.
In high school, he was a two-time IHSA District champion, two-time Mattoon Tournament champion and twice a South 7 Conference champion and while a varsity wrestler, placed first in every regular season tournament he took part in, including the Murdale Invitational and the Eastern Illinois University Tournament of Champions, both in 1976.
Agee was also a team captain his senior season, led the team in most pins and had the most takedowns both his junior and senior years, and was the team point leader in 1975. He also received the Loren Gerrish Memorial Award for dedication and determination, was a two-time Southern Illinois Coaches Association All-South selection and had a winning percentage of .814 both his junior and senior seasons.
For over 40 years, he has been in the field of investment services and presently is a branch manager with Raymond James Financial Services as a registered principal-investment adviser.
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