Former Bradley player obituary

[Da Coach]

Former Bradley player Bob Swigris passed away. He starred for the Braves in the late 1960's. He was originally from Peoria and graduated from the old Spalding Academy (now Peoria Notre Dame). He played for Joe Stowell from 1965-1968 on very good teams and was a good passing and good shooting guard who played with Joe Allen, Al Smith, L.C. Bowen, Dave Lundstrom, Cal Criddle, Willie Betts, Greg Berry, Steve Doty, and Chuck Westendorf, among others. He was also a fine baseball player for Bradley under Coach Leo Schrall, and was the team's MVP his senior season. He was inducted into the Bradley Hall of Fame in 1976. After Bradley, he taught and coached at Bergan, East Peoria, and Spalding, and then worked for Caterpillar for many years.
Obit-

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pjstar/obituary.aspx?n=robert-swigris&pid=185273853

The PJ Star did a "Where are they now" column about Bob Swigris a couple years ago-

http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150510/SPORTS/150519988

[wily coyote]

So sorry to hear of Bob's passing. We've been friends since High School and so many memories of what a great athlete he was in both baseball and basketball. I remember his HS coach putting the other 4 Irish in a line outside the lane from the baseline to the free throw line and let Bob go one on one with his man which usually meant 2 points for him. Started my season tickets his first year at BU. Officiated many of his games at all 3 Peoria area schools. So many good memories of Bob RIP.

[Vent]

I remember watching Bob play at the Fieldhouse. He was a tough, hard nosed, fundamentally sound guard. He never made All-Conference but that was in the era of glory for the Valley. Nowadays he very well may have been first team All-Conference.

[tornado]

I agree... I recall watching him play in that era...
Think about this...
Swigris played backup PG behind Al Smith & Davy Lundstrom in 1967 & 1968- and still averaged 2.8 assists per game along with hitting 51% of his shots as a senior.
That would have put him - even as a backup PG - in the top 12-14 MVC players in assists nowadays in the league

[tornado]

Not a player .....but the long time team physician and a great BU basketball fan..
the passing of Dr. Stan Bugaieski

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pjstar/obituary.aspx?n=stanley-bugaieski&pid=186113570&fhid=17648

[Da Coach]

Stan was a wonderful guy and selflessly dedicated countless hours to providing medical care and game coverage for the team for many years.
He was also a huge fan and he will be greatly missed.

[tornado]

For those who are out of town & did not see the obit...

the son of Joe Stowell, Joe Jr., passed away - was present at most games...

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pjstar/obituary.aspx?n=joseph-r-stowell-jr&pid=186586525

[64NIT]

Was a classmate of mine at PHS. I read about his passing on my class' Facebook page, last week, and couldn't believe it. He could really light up a room with his smile and pleasant personality.

[capecod]

Steve Schrader

I am very sorry to hear about Joe Jr.

Joe Jr handled my father's investments for years.

I had some very pleasant conversations with Joe after my father passed in 2008.

RIP Joe Jr.

OT
Another longtime Peorian also passed away a few weeks ago- Steve Schrader who played basketball on the Spalding team that finished 2nd in the State in 1969.

Steve went to Butler on a basketball scholarship.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pjstar/obituary.aspx?pid=186473604

I do not remember if Bradley attempted to recruit Schrader, but the Braves did try to recruit 3 of Steve's Spalding teammates:

Alvin O'Neal
Lamonia Barksdale
Ken Wolbeck

Barksdale actually came to Bradley, and average double digits on the Brave's Frosh team -before flunking out of school(grades being the bane of Bradley Basketball in the 1960s... many never made it through their Frosh academic year...)

O'Neal picked Illinois. Alvin stayed 2 years & then transferred to Morgan State. Alvin started on the NAIA National Champs along with Marvin 'the Eraser' Webster.

Wolbeck was actually a jr that season that Spalding finished 2nd in the State tourney. The next year Wolbeck led Spalding back to the tourney-where Spalding finished 4th.

I remember seeing Joe Stowell taking over the Spalding HS library, where he was deep in discussion with Wolbeck. But Ken picked Notre Dame.

2 other members of those Spalding State Tourney teams were later selected in NFL drafts:

Marty McGann (Northwestern)
Rich Lavin (Northwestern/W. Illinois)

Lavin would be on the Bradley Board of Trustees during his Caterpillar days & send a son to play on Bradley's mid 2000 'Sweet Sixteen' team

[tornado]

as always - love to hear your reminisces capecod

[tornado]

Phyllis Albeck, wife of past Bradley player & head coach Stan Albeck has passed away

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pjstar/obituary.aspx?n=phyllis-albeck&pid=186949759