Friends of Basketball

James Schwander

Year Inducted: 2011

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations: Collinsville High School
Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville

Biography: Along with fellow Hall of Fame inductee, Ed Sarhage, Jim helped initiate the Collinsville Christmas Tournament.  Jim and Ed took time off from work, sought sponsors, ordered tickets, organized workers, and spent every minute of the three-day event at the gym.  They were there from 7:00 am until 11:00 pm each day, all for the satisfaction of knowing the basketball community had witnessed high school basketball at its best.  Jim and Ed also ran the scorer’s bench at SIU-Edwardsville games for many years.  James Schwander died on August 30, 2023 at the age of 76.