Friends of Basketball

Bruce Saurs

Year Inducted: 1993

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:

Peoria Area Schools

Biography:

Many Peoria basketball fans know Bruce Saurs as the owner of the Peoria Rivermen franchise of the International Hockey League and as a successful new car dealer at Velde Ford.  Bruce served as an elementary school coach while still in high school at Peoria Central HS.  While attending Bradley University, he coached Lee Elementary School to three straight city championships.  Saurs returned to his alma mater and served as an assistant coach to legendary IBCA Hall of Fame Coach Dawson Hawkins from 1949-1955.  During his last three seasons at Central, Saurs coached the sophomore team to Greater Peoria Championships.  Bruce also worked as a sportscaster for WSIV Radio and did a one-on-one show with the coach after Central games in the 1960’s.  In 1968 Bruce covered Pekin Community High School basketball for WSIV, as that team was now coached by Coach Hawkins.  He took a break from the position while his son, Tim played for the Pekin squad.  After his son’s graduation, Bruce was back at the microphone.  Though Saurs moved to different fields, his love and devotion to the sport of basketball never diminished.  Through his Velde Ford Dealership, he assisted in helping the transportation of local teams.  In 1992, his dealership donated cars and vans to Peoria Richwoods High School as they competed in the IHSA Class AA tournament.

Bruce Saurs died on July 10, 2014 at the age of 88.