Bucknell University Athletics
Hal Biggs Celebration Weekend a Huge Success
2/7/2008 7:00:00 AM | General
Feb. 7, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell Department of Athletics and Recreation took the time last weekend to remember one of its own, former head athletic trainer and Bison Hall of Fame member, Hal Biggs. "Biggsie," as he was known by the thousands of student-athletes he treated over his four-decade career with the Orange and Blue, began his career at Bucknell in 1948. He touched the lives of countless student-athletes, student trainers and the colleagues he worked with, and made friends in all walks of his life. Biggsie retired in 1988 and passed away in January of 2006.
To honor Biggsie and pay privilege to the man who made so many contributions to Bucknell's athletics program, the Department put together a three-day celebration beginning with a seminar for the University's pre-med students on Friday afternoon. Dr. John Bergfeld, Dr. Michael Axe and Dr. Joel Boyd, all former Bison football players, shared their career paths with the Bucknell students in Rooke Auditorium for an hour before taking one-on-one questions during a reception which followed. Dr. Bergfeld, a giant in the field of orthopaedic surgery, has run the Cleveland Clinic and been the team physician for the Cleveland Browns. Dr. Axe, a recent inductee into the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame, is a clinical professor at the University of Delaware and an orthopaedic surgeon at First State Orthopaedics in Newark, Del. Dr. Boyd, the winner of the athletic department's Alumni Achievement Award last spring, is an orthopaedic surgeon with the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx and the Minnesota Wild. All three had fantastic stories to share about Biggsie's influence on them and their eventual career paths.
On Saturday, the day began with a luncheon in Zeller Lounge followed by a tour of the Bucknell Sports Medicine facilities led by current head athletic trainer, Mark Keppler. Members of the Biggs family were impressed with the obvious changes that have been made over the decades at Bucknell. The group reconvened for a dinner in Hal's honor at Damon's Grill in Lewisburg.
On Sunday, the entire Biggs family, along with friends and supporters, enjoyed the Bucknell-Army men's basketball game from the McGee Room. Former student-athletes shared their stories of Biggsie with Yvonne and the rest of the family, which included children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. At halftime, the entire group assembled at mid-court where Yvonne was presented with a framed commemorative poster, signed by all the guests who attended the events over the course of the weekend.
It was a fitting weekend tribute to a man who gave his life to Bucknell and its student-athletes.
