If you’ve spent any time at all around the high school or in the stands at a Momence football game, you’ve likely seen him—Ted Rounds, the man behind the scenes, making sure everything runs smoothly as the Athletic Director. What you might not know, however, is that Ted’s dedication to service extends far beyond the football field. As a father of three, a son of a Vietnam veteran, and a man who has lived his life in service to education, Ted embodies the spirit of leadership and family pride.

Ted’s story is one of quiet strength and deep connection to the people and places that have shaped him. Born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, Ted grew up in a hardworking family. His father, Ted Sr., was a Vietnam veteran who shared not only the name but also a deep sense of duty with his son. “My dad’s a triplet,” Ted says, “and two of the brothers were in Vietnam at the same time. They gave them the option to split up, but neither wanted to leave. It’s that kind of dedication that I grew up with.”

Ted’s pride in his father is evident, but it’s not just his dad who’s made a lasting impact on his life. As a father himself, Ted beams with pride when talking about his own three children— Teddy, Gabby, and Tom. “We’ve got the whole naming thing going on,” he laughs. “None of us are juniors, though. It’s always a different middle name, but we keep the family tradition alive.”

Teddy, the eldest, recently returned from studying abroad in Spain and will graduate from Grand Valley State with a dual degree in finance and accounting. “Spain was a great experience for him,” Ted says with a grin. “But the Spaniards didn’t know what to make of the name ‘Ted,’ so they called him all sorts of things.” Gabby, the middle child, is at the University of Louisville studying to become a Cardinal in her own right. And Tom, the youngest, is still in high school, thriving in Momence thanks to the dedicated teaching staff Ted so strongly believes in.

“It was important to me that my youngest go to school here in Momence,” Ted says. “I had to convince my wife at first, but I believe in this community, in our teachers, and in the opportunities my kids can have here. Tom’s fit right in, and the way the students have embraced him says everything about the welcoming spirit of this town.”

Ted’s connection to Momence runs deep. Having arrived in 2005 after working in private and public schools, he fell in love with the community’s diversity and close-knit nature. “It’s a melting pot,” he says, “with kids from all backgrounds, all getting along. It’s special to see.” And as the Athletic Director, Ted has had a front-row seat to the town’s love of sports and the sense of pride that comes with it. “Our new Memorial Field is something to be proud of,” he says. “We didn’t raise taxes to pay for it—we were smart with our finances and made it happen. It’s not just for football, either. Now, we’ve got soccer, youth programs, and even band practice under the lights.”

But Ted’s journey into education wasn’t always a given. Like his father, he worked in a steel mill during the summers to pay for college. “I worked with my dad,” Ted recalls. “He was an electrician there, and I got to see firsthand what hard work looked like.” His father’s influence loomed large, but Ted’s passion for education came from his own experiences with coaches and teachers who shaped his life. “Coaches helped me become a better person,” Ted says. “I wanted to do the same for others.”

Ted’s coaching background gives him a unique perspective as an Athletic Director, and he’s quick to highlight the important role sports play in shaping young lives. “Education is critical, but sometimes you get to know a kid even better on the field or in the gym. That’s where real connections happen,” he says. “Sometimes, we’re the only positive adult influence these kids have. We’ve got to be there for them.”

Ted’s pride extends not only to his own children but to the students and athletes he works with every day. “There’s nothing better than seeing our kids walk onto that new field with their heads held high, knowing they’re part of something special,” he says. “It’s not just a football field; it’s a place where memories are made.”

And as for Ted’s father, the man who shaped so much of who he is, the pride is mutual. Ted recently took his dad on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., a trip that honors veterans by flying them to visit war memorials. “It was one of the best days of his life,” Ted says. “And mine too.”

At the end of the day, Ted Rounds is a man driven by service—whether it’s to his family, his students, or his community. “I’m just trying to live up to what my dad taught me,” he says humbly. “And if I can pass that on to my own kids and the kids I work with here in Momence, then I’m doing something right.”