Bradley University Athletics

Stowell to be Honored at Weekend Events

Bradley icon Joe Stowell will be honored at Friday's Braves Club Game Day Luncheon and Saturday men's basketball game

Game Day Luncheon and Pre-Game Party Dates

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Men's Basketball 12/6/2016 9:05:00 AM

PEORIA, IL - Joe Stowell, an icon of Bradley Athletics for more than 70 years, will be honored during the year's first Braves Club Game Day Luncheon, presented by Busey Bank, Friday and during halftime of Saturday's men's basketball game versus Chicago State at Carver Arena.

Stowell will celebrate his 90th birthday Dec. 24 and Bradley Athletics invites fans to join in the birthday celebration during this weekend's activities. All of Stowell's former Bradley teammates, as well as all of the freshman and varsity men's and women's basketball student-athletes to play for him during his 24-year coaching career on The Hilltop, have been invited back to campus this weekend. Hall of Fame Voice of the Braves Dave Snell is preparing a "This-Is-Your-Life" themed program for Friday's luncheon featuring several of the returning Braves, while Stowell and the alumni gathering will be recognized during halftime of Saturday night's men's basketbal home game versus Chicago State.

Stowell began a lifetime association with Bradley Athletics as a student-athlete from 1947-50 and he was a senior on the famous 1949-50 men's basketball team that played in the championship game of both the National Invitation Tournament and NCAA Tournament after winning the first Missouri Valley Conference championship in program history. He returned to Bradley as varsity assistant coach and freshman head coach from 1956-65, then served as the men's basketball team's eighth head coach from 1965-78. The second-winningest coach in Bradley Basketball history with 197 career victories, he later served two years (1981-83) as the women's basketball head coach, helping to transition the program into NCAA Division I status. He also worked as assistant athletic director and a long-time radio analyst for the Braves. Stowell also served Bradley University as a professor of health and movement science from 1956-86 and he is an emeritus faculty member.

Tickets for Friday's Braves Club Game Day Luncheon ($20 Braves Club members, $25 non-members) are available by contacting the Braves Club Office at 309-677-2667. The luncheon will be held in the Renaissance Coliseum Basketball Performance Center with doors opening at 11:15 a.m., lunch at 11:30 and the speaking program at noon. Tickets for Saturday's men's basketball game versus Chicago State begin at $8 and may be purchased in advance through the Bradley Athletics Ticket Office (309-677-2625) in Renaissance Coliseum or online through BradleyBraves.com.

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