Category: Lewis

Stories about Lewis

“Frannie-Lewie U”: The Merger That Was Denied

"The faculty at Lewis and St. Francis were on board with the merger that we kiddingly referred to as Frannie-Lewie U."Dr. Joe "Tippy" McFadden, Lewis Dean and Faculty Member Between 1967 and 1971, Lewis College and the College of St. Francis laid plans that would have merged the two Catholic institutions into one university that … Continue reading “Frannie-Lewie U”: The Merger That Was Denied →

My Day in Stateville: Facing a Killer

"As I stepped into the batter’s box, I realized that I was facing pitcher 'Shotgun' Bilcher, a convicted killer. At age 19, I just wanted to get a hit and 'Shotgun' was just another ballplayer. Right." Every year Lewis College and my semi-pro team, Nielsen Gas Station, scheduled baseball games at the two Joliet penal … Continue reading My Day in Stateville: Facing a Killer →

Letters to Grandkids #3: Other Racial Incidents in the 1960s

Dear kids: The last two letters about racism during my college days were focused on events off the basketball court and away from the Lewis campus. I am reasonably sure that racial bias was at Lewis, but it never was obvious to me.  I haven’t said much about racial discrimination in sports because my roommate, … Continue reading Letters to Grandkids #3: Other Racial Incidents in the 1960s →

Letter to the Grandkids #2: Racism in College Years

Lewis Basketball 1958-59 This is the second of a series of letters to my grandkids. I try to convey my reactions and emotions to the world that I was encountering as I grew older, and why, at age 79, I have these convictions. I share these letters with the public with the hope that other … Continue reading Letter to the Grandkids #2: Racism in College Years →

Records Show that Gordie was the Greatest Coach in American Sport: A “Coach for All Seasons.”

Special thanks to Pat Sullivan for his research on Gordie records and more than a few hours of discussion. Past blogs on Gordie Gillespie have focused on teaching and coaching athletes, not on his statistics. It was an effort to document how he directly and indirectly influenced thousands of young people’s lives. By sharing these … Continue reading Records Show that Gordie was the Greatest Coach in American Sport: A “Coach for All Seasons.” →

The Humility of Coach Gillespie: A True Leader

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.”C.S. Lewis When people talk about the wondrous accomplishments of Coach Gordie Gillespie, topics usually center on baseball and football championships, the number of wins over his long career, halls of fame, captivating speeches, and the impact made on thousands of students and athletes.  Indeed, … Continue reading The Humility of Coach Gillespie: A True Leader →

Stories of Paul Ruddy of Lewis: Funniest Man Ever

 “Great stories happen to those who can tell them.” Ira Glass The first time I remember seeing Paul was at Joliet Catholic High School when I was a freshman. Walking through the old gym, I saw a gangly junior practicing free throws and a buddy of mine said, “That’s Paul Ruddy. He’s on our team.” … Continue reading Stories of Paul Ruddy of Lewis: Funniest Man Ever →

Starting a Soccer Program: Lewis College

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt https://braidwoodguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/55851_1624521213648_1804800_o.jpg?w=1024 Evan Fiffles, Alex Hernandez, Steve Janczak, Tom Kennedy In the spring of 1967, I was hired part time at Lewis as the JV baseball coach and assistant to Coach Gillespie on the varsity level. In the fall of that year, Coach … Continue reading Starting a Soccer Program: Lewis College →