Friends of Basketball

Richard Kelso

Year Inducted: 1993

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:

Western Illinois Area Schools

Biography:

Dick Kelso’s life has been very closely tied to Illinois basketball from his years as an outstanding player at Bardolph High School to his induction into the IBCA Hall of Fame.  Dick played four years of basketball at Bardolph.  After leaving as the school’s leading scorer, he moved on to nearyby Western Illinois University.  There he was a member of two Leatherneck teams.  After college, in 1956, he was hired as basketball coach at Timber Township High School (now a part of Illini Bluffs High School) in Glasford.  Dick served six years as basketball ccoach and in 1972 became the athletic director at Illini Bluffs and served in that capacity until retiring in 1990.  Dick has been a strong supporter of the basketball program at Illini Bluffs, its players and coaches during his career and afterwards.  Dick attended 43 straight state basketball tournaments starting in 1948 and 44 of 46 leading up to his induction.  He also attended the IBCA All Star Games, including the Thursday and Friday scrimmages.  Dick not only attended games at Illini Bluffs but and many other area schools as well.  No basketball program has ever had a stronger supporter than Dick Kelso.