Friends of Basketball

Val Van DeMeer

Year Inducted: 1977

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations: Ottawa High School

Biography: Val Van DeMeer moved to Ottawa in 1946 as the head of Illinois State Employment Service Office. This started the love affair between Val and the Ottawa High School Pirates. He never missed an athletic event at Ottawa, not even a Booster Club meeting or banquet, in 3 decades. A great friend of retired OHS basketball coach and athletic director, Gil Love, Val’s car was always available to transport boys to road games if needed. Val was a familiar figure at state tournaments helping Ottawa radio stations with statistics and interviews. Val retired in 1970 but still attended as many games as the weather permitted.