ST. LOUIS -- The late A.J. Robertson, affectionately known as the Father of Bradley Athletics, was inducted posthumously into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame this morning during the MVC Presidents Hall of Fame Breakfast at The Club at Scottrade Center.  Recognized as an Institutional Great because his career at Bradley occurred before the Braves joined The Valley, Robertson was one of six individuals enshrined as part of the 11th MVC Hall of Fame class.

A native of St. Paul, Minn., Robertson is the ninth Institutional Great selection in the MVC Hall of Fame.  The winningest coach in Bradley Basketball history with 316 victories from 1920-48, Robertson also served as the school's head football coach, head baseball coach and Director of Athletics during his 28 years on The Hilltop.  His combined, three-sport record was a remarkable 704-407-16 (.632).

Among the highlights Robertson achieved on the basketball court, he led the Braves to the first four postseason tournament appearances in the program's history -- the 1930 National AAU Tournament, the first two National Invitation Tournaments in 1938 and 1939 and a third NIT appearance in 1947.

In his role as head coach and athletic director, Robertson also directed Bradley out of the small-school Little 19 conference and into the Missouri Valley Conference.  He also put the wheels in motion for the construction of an 8,000-seat on-campus men's basketball facility.  He died in 1948, however, before the construction of the field house was complete.

Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse was dedicated in 1949 and served as the home arena for the Bradley men's basketball team until 1982.  The Braves amassed a 400-100 (.800) record on the famous raised floor of the Fieldhouse, before returning downtown to the Peoria Civic Center's Carver Arena for the 1982-83 season.  Robertson Fieldhouse has remained the home court for both the volleyball and women's basketball teams and served as the day-to-day practice facility for the Bradley men.  It is scheduled for demolition this spring, however, as Bradley is set to begin construction on a new women's basketball and volleyball performance arena and men's basketball practice facility.

Saturday's other MVC Hall of Fame inductees included retired Evansville coach and athletic director Jim Byers (Lifetime Achievement Award), former Creighton men's basketball player Bob Harstad, former Illinois State women's basketball coach Jill Hutchison (Lifetime Achievement Award), former Cincinnati men's basketball coach Ed Jucker and former Drake track and field sprint star Kevin Little.

Robertson becomes Bradley's sixth MVC Hall of Fame member, following men's basketball legends Hersey Hawkins (1997), Chet “The Jet” Walker (1998), Paul Unruh (2004), head coach Chuck Orsborn (2005) and Mitchell “J.J.” Anderson (2006).