HOF Friends

Name: Barney Vilk

Year Inducted: 1988

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:
Westville High School

Biography:   When you think of Westville athletics you think of Barney Vilk, a lifelong resident of the small east central Illinois community. Vilk served Westville as a top player, basketball coach, athletic director and principal. After being named best sportsman at Westville in his senior year in 1944, Vilk served two years in the Navy. From 1946 to 1951 he attended Illinois College, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. From 1954-1956, Vilk served as assistant basketball coach and football coach at Westville High School. In 1956, Vilk became head basketball coach and produced a 148-78 record before stepping down in 1968. In 1967, Vilk became assistant principal. In 1969, Vilk decided to relinquish his coaching responsibilities to become the school’s principal. In 1979, Vilk also stepped down as athletic director. Vilk has the distinction of playing on a Vermillion County Tournament championship team, coaching a Vermillion County champion team, and was a principal of a Westville team which won a Vermillion title. During his tenure at Westville, seven former students taught there, three coached basketball—varsity boys, varsity girls, assistant varsity boys. In addition, one coached varsity girl’s track and one varsity football. The impact Vilk made at Westville has been great. His friendship of basketball and athletics at Westville could be no greater.

Name: Paul Spudich

Year Inducted: 1988

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:
Collinsville High School
Edwardsville High School
Metro Area Schools

Biography:  Paul “Moody” Spudich of Livingston had one goal in life—attend state high school basketball tournaments in Champaign for 50 straight years. It’s a good bet Spudich will attain that goal, since he hasn’t missed since 1947 when Pinckneyville defeated East Rockford for the crown. In 1973, Coaches Louis Dehner of East St. Louis, Joe Lucco of Edwardsville and Vergil Fletcher of Collinsville were IBCA Hall of Famer charter inductees. It wouldn’t even be a contest for them to name basketball’s No. 1 fan in the state of Illinois. All would point to Spudich. For years, he’s been a season ticket holder at Collinsville and Edwardsville, but wherever there was an important basketball game or tournament you could count on Spudich being in the crowd. His sincere devotion to basketball’s fandom not only included high school but also college games. Spudich is no stranger to the NCAA, having seen three championship games. Spudich’s allegiance is not only East St. Louis, Edwardsville or Collinsville, he was also an avid follower of Livingston, Mount Olive, Staunton, Carlinville, Litchfield and Hillsboro. His travels could quite likely land him in Peoria, Benton, or Lincoln if he thought there was a game there he wanted to see. Spudich can also be found at grade school games. Fletcher says of Spudich, “He is a basketball nut and a real friend of basketball.” Few friends of basketball have kept the coaching company Spudich has befriended. He certainly is most deserving of any IBCA honor.

Name: Bill Tucker

Year Inducted: 1988

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:
Taylorvillle High School
 

Biography:  Bill Tucker moved to Taylorville when he was transferred by Commonwealth-Edison to timekeeper at its Kincaid Station in 1966. The Streator native became office supervisor in 1975 and has been with the company for more than 30 years. Active almost immediately in youth baseball programs, Tucker was encouraged to help at the scorer’s bench in 1969 by Taylorville Junior High Coach, Carl Blice. He soon aided the high school in the same capacity and for more than 20 years, he has kept score for Taylorville when it’s been on the road. Tucker has served Taylorville basketball, but also wrestling and football as scorekeeper, statistician, and trainer. At his own expense, Tucker has attended training clinics on the east coast as well as the Taylorville area. He transports Taylorville athletes to therapy at Mahomet and the University of Illinois. He has kept up with all advances in athletic injury treatment. His only reward has been the satisfaction he has received from aiding Taylorville young people. Tucker has been honored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Parent and Teachers Association and in 1986, was named Taylorville’s “Outstanding Citizen” by the Association of Commerce and Industry. It is impossible to overestimate the contribution Bill Tucker has made to the athletic program at Taylorville High School and his community.

Name: Claus and Berneda Smith

Year Inducted: 1988

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:
(Peoria) Manual High School
 

Biography:  The Peoria Manual basketball team has many loyal followers and rightly so. Heading the list are Don and Harriet Clauson, Norm and Nancy Post, and Claus and Berneda Smith. “Crazies” they were called by the Peoria Journal Star in 1987. The avid fans agree Manual Coach, Dick Van Scyoc and his staff are responsible for their enthusiasm and exuberance. The smiths have followed the Manual program for 40 years, the Posts 15, and the Clausons 27. Nancy Post has been the team’s unofficial nurse at games. Harriet Clauson is a Manual teacher and with husband Don provided transportation for the Rams’ cheerleaders to tournaments. Claus Smith started following the Rams as a freshman there and after marrying Berneda brought her into the fold. Active in Manual Booster Clubs and Parents Clubs, the “Crazies” have given untold hours soliciting funds and backing for Manual teams. All heartily agree, “There’s nothing like watching and cheering a Manual basketball team for an evening’s entertainment.”  Claus Smith died on April 12, 2009 at the age of 79.  Berneda died on May 19, 2019 at the age of 84.