March 29, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. -
Former Illinois State football and track and field star Walter Laitas passed away Saturday, March 27, at the age of 88, in his Metamora, Ill., residence surrounded by his family.
Laitas was an all-conference football tackle for four seasons (1940, 1942, 1946, 1947), despite having his career interrupted by military service. The Redbirds won two Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles during that span, and he was the team captain of the 1947 team, while being voted the Carter Harris Most Valuable Player that season as well. Laitas also lettered in track and field before and after World War II.
In between his stints at Illinois State, Laitas was a sergeant in the Army Air Force during WWII from 1941-1945. He served in the Medical Dept. in the 6th Air Corps Troop Carrier Squadron in the Pacific Theater under General Douglas MacArthur.
After receiving his bachelor's degree from Illinois State, Laitas taught at Metamora High School from 1948 to 1988. He was Metamora's second football coach, and coached the program for five years.
He was inducted into the ISU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1974.
Liatas is survived by five daughters and seven grandchildren.
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