Degree: Fourth
Member since: 2011
Hometown: Altoona, Iowa
Tony Powers Polich, once a familiar face and voice in the world of sports reporting for Newsradio 1040 and WHO 13 TV, now dedicates his days to walking and volunteering with the St. Francis of Assisi Knights of Columbus Council.
Tony grew up on a farm with seven siblings in Altoona. His father died when Tony was young, and Tony recalls helping his mom and siblings with chores to sustain the family. The family attended St. Joseph Catholic Church, and Tony studied at St. Joseph Catholic school before moving on to Dowling High School.
He graduated high school and attended college at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, where he played football and earned his associate’s degree.
Military Service
His mom needed help at the farm, so Tony returned to Altoona to assist her. In 1968 while working on the farm, Tony was drafted and served in the Vietnam War. He trained at United States Army’s Noncommissioned Officer Candidate Course (NCO) school in Fort Benning, Georgia, which he says prepared him for Vietnam and “saved his life.”
He served as an Army platoon sergeant in Vietnam, acting as a bridge between the officers and enlisted men. While serving in Vietnam, Tony was wounded and received two Purple Hearts. His second injury took him out of action, and he returned to the United States, where he recovered at a VA hospital in Denver, Colorado.
Broadcasting Career
Tony had a passion for broadcasting. In the summer, when he and his brother put up hay, he’d listen to WHO-AM radio on his transistor radio. This led Tony to pursue a degree in radio and television from the University of Indiana in Bloomington, Indiana. He graduated in 1972.
Upon graduating from college, Tony accompanied a friend on a trip to San Diego, California. While visiting California, he traveled with resumes, and he had the opportunity to deliver one to a station called KGTV. Coincidentally, the sports director there was from Iowa and previously worked at WHO. He hired Tony, and Tony spent three years at the station.
An opportunity to work at WHO in Des Moines came up, and Tony left sunny Southern California for Central Iowa. He was a sports reporter at WHO for 16 years.
“My dream came true,” Tony says, speaking of the opportunity to work alongside Jim Zabel in the sports department.
His highlights include covering the University of Iowa football team under head coach Hayden Fry. During Tony’s time as a sports reporter covering the hawks, the Iowa football team was routinely playing in bowl games, including two Rose Bowls.
Tony also had the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles in 1984 to attend and report on the Summer Olympics.
After a successful career in broadcasting, Tony left WHO in 1990 for a different line of work: helping veterans. A job through the Iowa Workforce Development enabled Tony to become a veterans employment counselor. As a veteran himself, he found the work rewarding, helping veterans find employment.
Knights of Columbus Service
Tony joined the Knights of Columbus later in life, partly at the request of his late brother Fr. Jim Polich. Since then, Tony has made the most of his experience in the fraternal organization.
“Being a Knight of Columbus has humbled me,” he says. “It’s kept me grounded.”
It’s not uncommon to see Tony taking out the trash during a Lenten fish fry or mopping the parish hall floor afterward. He’s also a fixture at the annual CPID fundraiser, smiling and greeting people as they walk by.
Throughout his life, Tony says he’s remained faithful to the Catholic Church. He credits his mother’s upbringing as an important reason why he’s kept his faith.
Tony, thank you for your service in the U.S. military and the Knights of Columbus.
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