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Earlier today, I attended a funeral for Bob Gfeller. Most of you won't know him or recognize the name. Bob's birthday is on Halloween. He would have been 88.
So, what about Bob?
Mr. Gfeller was a season ticket holder for WSU men's basketball for 60 years. 60 YEARS. My math says that was 1954, the year before Levitt Arena opened. One day I asked him when he started attending Shocker games. He replied, "1949". That blows me away. Sixty-five years! I may not live the number of years he went to Shocker games. He told me stories of attending games at The Forum downtown and how he remembered when Levitt Arena opened. He remembered Ralph Miller and Cleo Littleton starting their careers at WU. He claimed that Dave "The Rave" was the best Shocker player of all time and I trust his judgement. I think he missed a total of five games in that stretch of time, but even if it's 10 or 20 games, that's incredible dedication. The last couple of seasons, he was relegated to a wheelchair in the handicapped section of Koch Arena, but he didn't care. He was there and that's all that mattered. He attended baseball games and volleyball games, pre-season luncheons and post-season banquets. He and his wife Shirley went to Hawaii and Puerto Rico to follow the Shockers. I drove them to Ames, Iowa for the NIT game against Iowa State in 2004 or 2005. They went on bus trips all over the country. He had November 8, the Shockers' first game, burned into his personal mental calendar. Despite his failing condition over the past week, he had plans to be there, as he always was.
Bob was born in Junction City and grew up in Florence, northeast of Newton. He served in the Army and the Merchant Marine, retired from Beech and has infused his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids with a love for Shocker basketball. His wife, Shirley, her daughter and the grandkids will share the use of his ticket in Section 120 now.
Bob was a quiet, humble man, never seeking the limelight. He was small in stature but is a towering figure in the history of Shocker fan-dom, a legend few of us can emulate. He was always uncomfortable when my wife and others would alert Debi Kennedy when his birthday rolled around or he passed a noteworthy milestone for which the Alumni Association or the SASO Office would recognize him.
Occasionally, someone will describe me as the biggest Shocker fan around. I laugh at the absurdity of the statement. I shrug it off and say "Let me tell you about a friend named Bob."
He will now have the best seat in the Roundhouse. A heavenly view, if you will.
So, what about Bob?
Mr. Gfeller was a season ticket holder for WSU men's basketball for 60 years. 60 YEARS. My math says that was 1954, the year before Levitt Arena opened. One day I asked him when he started attending Shocker games. He replied, "1949". That blows me away. Sixty-five years! I may not live the number of years he went to Shocker games. He told me stories of attending games at The Forum downtown and how he remembered when Levitt Arena opened. He remembered Ralph Miller and Cleo Littleton starting their careers at WU. He claimed that Dave "The Rave" was the best Shocker player of all time and I trust his judgement. I think he missed a total of five games in that stretch of time, but even if it's 10 or 20 games, that's incredible dedication. The last couple of seasons, he was relegated to a wheelchair in the handicapped section of Koch Arena, but he didn't care. He was there and that's all that mattered. He attended baseball games and volleyball games, pre-season luncheons and post-season banquets. He and his wife Shirley went to Hawaii and Puerto Rico to follow the Shockers. I drove them to Ames, Iowa for the NIT game against Iowa State in 2004 or 2005. They went on bus trips all over the country. He had November 8, the Shockers' first game, burned into his personal mental calendar. Despite his failing condition over the past week, he had plans to be there, as he always was.
Bob was born in Junction City and grew up in Florence, northeast of Newton. He served in the Army and the Merchant Marine, retired from Beech and has infused his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids with a love for Shocker basketball. His wife, Shirley, her daughter and the grandkids will share the use of his ticket in Section 120 now.
Bob was a quiet, humble man, never seeking the limelight. He was small in stature but is a towering figure in the history of Shocker fan-dom, a legend few of us can emulate. He was always uncomfortable when my wife and others would alert Debi Kennedy when his birthday rolled around or he passed a noteworthy milestone for which the Alumni Association or the SASO Office would recognize him.
Occasionally, someone will describe me as the biggest Shocker fan around. I laugh at the absurdity of the statement. I shrug it off and say "Let me tell you about a friend named Bob."
He will now have the best seat in the Roundhouse. A heavenly view, if you will.
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