The only inductee into the 2007 Hall of Fame is Greg Malan. Greg attended Salem Community High School from 1969 – 1972. He was a three sport athlete having success in football, basketball and track.

In football, Greg was a three year letterman and starter on the offensive line. He was elected a captain in his senior year and also played defense. Greg received many post-season honors including 1st team North Egypt Conference in 1970 and 1971. Other awards included 1st team Evansville Courier, 1st team All-South, and the Decatur Herald 1st team. Described as “the best athlete in the league who was very quick and difficult to block, even though most teams tried to avoid him,” Malan went on to Eastern Illinois University on scholarship to play football. He started as a freshman, earned a varsity letter, and was named “Freshman of the Year”; however, a back injury forced him to leave football for track and field.

As a standout basketball player at SCHS, Malan led the 1971-72 Wildcats in scoring, field goal percentage and free throws made. He was named 1st team in the Salem Invitational Tournament, which the Wildcats won. He was 2nd team in the Centralia tournament and 2nd on the N.E.C. All-Conference team. He was known as “a tough competitor and a good rebounder who played around the basket with much taller players.”

In track, Greg lettered all four years as a thrower in the discus and shot put. He set a meet record in the 1972 Salem Invitational track meet, finished 2nd in the 1972 sectional, and 15th in the state meet. He held both the shot and discus records at SCHS until they were broken by Mike Minton. At EIU he threw the shot, discus and hammer. He was a member of the 1976 team that won the NCAA lAA track meet. He finished his career as a 3 year letterman and 7th all time in the shot.

A successful local businessman, Greg has been joined by his daughter, Kristi and son Doug, at the Malan Financial Group. Their company has been recognized as being in the top half of one percent in growth with AIG, the largest financial group in the U.S. As an athlete, he has continued to compete in track and field even today. In the 2006 senior track and field games, Greg won the State competition, throwing the discus and shot put and set a new state record. He has qualified to compete in the National Senior track and field games.

He continues to coach track at Selmaville grade school and has helped the Lady Rockets win two state titles in Class S. Greg has coached basketball at Selmaville and coached football in the Little Cats football program.