Feb. 11, 2006
Bob Weber is a farmer and an Illinois State fan ... a description which fits many Redbird fans and donors from around the State of Illinois. He doesn't think there's anything special about that, but the gift of the Weber family of an endowed scholarship for Redbird basketball ... that's something really special.
Weber, and his late wife, Audrey, bought their first Redbird basketball season tickets in 1974 and rooting for the Redbirds became a family thing which often included their five children.
At Christmastime, 2005, Weber and his family decided the ultimate gift would be an endowed scholarship, and hence, the Bob and Audrey Weber Endowed Scholarship got its start. Instead of buying him a Christmas gift, Weber asked his children to donate whatever they planned to spend to the scholarship and he would take it from there. The scholarship was announced at Saturday's Illinois State vs. Bradley men's basketball game. It will be awarded to a men's or women's basketball player starting in 2006.
"The family thought that was a fine idea and that's how we put this scholarship together," said Weber, whose family now includes 11 grandchildren. "It's from our whole family."
Bob admits his wife, who died in 1991, might have been a bigger fan than he, although Bob has added women's basketball season tickets in recent years.
"I wanted to do something we could put my wife's name on that would help the program," said Bob. "I thought about the scholarship as part of my estate, but I started thinking `why wait? Why not do it now?'"
Senior Associate Athletics Director Randy Welniak is touched by the gift from the Webers, which is the 13th endowed scholarship for Redbird athletics--the third accepted in just the last five months.
"It was important for Bob and his family to create a legacy, to recognize his late wife, Audrey, and, at the same time, support our men's and women's basketball programs with the establishment of this endowment," said Welniak. "This is truly a great option for our donors to leave a lasting legacy and support their favorite sport or program."
