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Young at heart

If it’s the fourth Wednesday of the month, you can bet the Old Fogies will gather.

The members congregate once a month to catch a hearty meal at Sterling Family Restaurant, exchange news and swap memories about the good old days at Bradley University.

Front row (from left to right): Clifford Hasselbacher '49, Bill Chinuge '42, Joseph "Miles" Chamberlain '47.
Back row (from left to right): Ralph Coletta '43, Harold Klesath '42, Jay Glatz '70 MA '73.

The Old Fogies, as they call themselves, are all Bradley graduates from the ’40s, minus one – the youngest Old Fogie – Jay Glatz ’70 MA ’73. Members include Joseph “Miles” Chamberlain ’47, Clifford Hasselbacher ’49, Bill Chinuge ’42, Ralph Coletta ’43 and Harold Klesath ’42.

“I joined for fellowship with several of these men that I had known for years,” Harold said.

None of the members know who exactly started the club 10 years ago; however, the Bradley bond these men share has cultivated since.

Jay Glatz, vice president of marketing at State Bank of Speer, said, “It’s one of those things I make time in my work-month to meet with these guys because I love to hear their stories – their stories of their service to the university and their service to their country.”

All members have been extremely successful and longtime Bradley supporters. Most have generously donated for 30 years or more to different university facets. Harold began donating after his service in World War II and has contributed since. He said he now donates out of habit. He was among a group that opened several regional Sandy’s restaurants, which later became Hardee’s restaurants. He joyfully recalls his baseball and football memories. Additionally, he regularly supports his old fraternity, Sigma Chi.

Joseph “Miles” Chamberlain spent many years away from Peoria while heading a museum in New York and then the Adler Planetarium in Chicago in 1968. He returned to Peoria for his retirement. While director and president at Adler, planetarium attendance rates more than doubled. He taught astronomy at universities and traveled across the world on astronomical expeditions. In retirement, Joe has contributed to Peoria’s own planetarium at the Lakeview Museum.

Bill Chinuge, who is a member of the Bradley Athletic Hall of Fame, recalls sharing the basketball court with some of the Famous Five basketball team. “As I look back over the years, playing basketball at Bradley was really one of the highlights of my life. Those years at Bradley were truly a favorite time for me,” he said. “I will always remember and cherish the important influence of coach A.J. Robertson who motivated me to always set high goals for my future.”

In 1948, he co-founded the Peoria Plastics Company. Under his leadership, Peoria Plastics was the nation’s largest producer of Easter merchandise. They employed 300 people and had an annual sales volume of $12 million.

Ralph Coletta found success as a lawyer and developer. His development company created at least one, if not all, of the Peoria Papa John’s Pizza restaurants. He practiced law with his sons and specialized in family, bankruptcy and estate laws.

Cliff Hasselbacher has been in banking for 60 years and worked from the bottom up. Still working part-time, he has been at the Morton Community Bank for 48 years. Cliff also donated his time to heading the Central Illinois Bradley Alumni Chapter (CIBAC).

These are just a few of their magnificent stories. Each memory elicits another, both of their individual lives and their time together.

The Old Fogies honor members that have passed on: Willard Huber ‘40, Gerald Rapp ‘42, Clarke Chamberlain ‘49, James Ralph Deatherage ‘42, Harry Feltenstein ‘43, Wilson Schroeder ‘40 and Joe Hession ‘40.

The bond these men celebrate runs deeper than simply a monthly lunch with old friends. Each member brings his knowledge, experiences and stories. They bring forth a Bradley spirit that only ripens with age.