‘Hoop It Up: Gonzaga’s Basketball Heritage’ Exhibition Opens in Foley Center

This photo depicts Gonzaga's first 7-foot basketball player, Jean Claude Lefebvre. The exhibition even includes Gonzaga's most famous alumnus Bing Crosby wearing knee-high socks in a photo for his intramural team. Photo Courtesy Gonzaga University Archives.

By Peter Tormey
For the first time, Gonzaga University Archives and Gonzaga Athletics have teamed up to offer the public a free exhibition titled “Hoop It Up: Gonzaga’s Basketball Heritage.” The exhibition, which includes items dating from 1906 to the present, is on display in the Cowles Rare Book Reading Room in Gonzaga’s Foley Center Library and will remain through May 10.

More than 150 items depicting the history of men’s and women’s basketball at Gonzaga are on display. The exhibition includes rare photographs, Josh Heytvelt’s size 18 basketball shoe, trophies, uniforms, news-clippings, tickets, signed basketballs, even the Championship Surfboard from the 2009 Maui Invitational, among other rarely seen Gonzaga athletics memorabilia.

In addition, visitors will be able to see the highlights from the 1959 Gonzaga men’s basketball game against Seattle University, which includes footage of former Gonzaga All-American Frank Burgess.

The 1960 Gonzaga women's basketball team. Photo Courtesy Gonzaga University Archives.

Even Gonzaga’s most famous alumnus, Bing Crosby, is depicted wearing knee-high, striped socks for his intramural basketball team photo.

Gonzaga University Archivist Stephanie Plowman, who designed the exhibition, said even longtime Zags’ fans will be surprised to see much of the material on display at the Foley Center exhibition.

“This exhibition displays items that the public normally does not get to see. While the Gonzaga University Archives provided the historical materials, the Athletic Department supplied the current items,” Plowman said. “It is a great opportunity for our two departments to collaborate on this exhibition.”

Because Gonzaga wants as many people as possible to view the exhibition, special Saturday viewing hours have been added, Plowman said.

“My hope is that the visitors will leave with a much better understanding of – and appreciation for – the development of Gonzaga basketball over the years,” Plowman said. “The relatively recent success of the men’s and women’s teams are the result of a historical foundation that has been in place for years.”

The exhibition will remain open through May 10. Weekday viewing hours are 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. The exhibition is open on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m., and closed on Sundays. For more information, please contact Stephanie Plowman, Gonzaga University archivist, at (509) 313-3847 or via e-mail.