Tuesday, November 08, 2011

John Friend was inducted into the Lipscomb athletics Hall of Fame on Nov. 5. John Friend was a member of the Bison basketball team from 1954-57 playing a leading role in Lipscomb’s march to the VSAC tournament all four years, including the championship game in 1956. He served as director of athletics at Purdue University-Calumet from 1980-2001 and was the conference commissioner of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

His athletic accomplishments have been acknowledged by his selection to six Halls of Fame: Purdue Calumet, the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, the National College Football Coaches Association, the American Football Coaches Association, the Indiana Football Hall of Fame, and the NAIA Hall of Fame.

Director of Athletics Philip Hutcheson on John Friend:
"As a student athlete at Lipscomb, John was a leader on and off the floor, and he has continued to lead ever since then. He has made a positive and lasting impression on every team and program of which he has been a part, and his having already been inducted into an incredible six different sports Halls of Fame across the nation attest to the tremendous work he has done over the years. John has been a winner and helped to build winning organizations wherever he has gone, but it is the humility and class which he has displayed in his many different roles that has served as such a great representation of the type of servant-leaders that Lipscomb strives to produce. We are happy to add one more Hall of Fame to his resume as we welcome him as a part of the 2011 Hall of Fame class."