Friends of Basketball

Ola Marie Bundy

Year Inducted: 1993

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:

IHSA

Biography:

It may have been that Ola Bundy’s older brother, Eugene, was preparing her for future employment when she was 7 or 8 years old back in Allerton, IL.  He taught Ola how to shoot baskets.  “And when the neighbor boys came to play basketball in the haymow, ” said Bundy, “and when they needed another player, my brother would choose me and then screen for me so I could shoot.”  

At the time of her induction, Ola was in her 26th year with the Illlinois High School Association and was the senior ranking state association woman administrative officer in the nation.  Since beginning her duties with the IHSA on August 1, 1967, girls’ interscholastic athletic programs have come into their own in Illinois and throughout the nation.  Ms. Bundy was recognized as a pioneer in girls’ athletics and as being the promoter, facilitator, and administrator responsible for the implementation and development of the girls’ interscholastic programs in the high schools of Illinois.  Through Ola’s persistence, dedication, hard work, and outstanding leadership, the IHSA with its approximately 800 member schools, was able to boast one of the best statewide girls’ athletic programs in the United States.  In 1993, the IHSA conducted girls’ championships in 12 sports–the most of any state in the country.  Maybe her brother, Eugene, knew what was ahead as Ola was the first administrator in charge of girls’ basketball in the IHSA office.  Before joining the IHSA she taught at Grant Park, Thornton Fractional and Champaign Central High Schools for a total of 8.5 years.

Ola Marie Bundy died on February 18, 2006 at the age of 70.