Inductee Details

If anyone could be called Ottawa University's No. 1 fan, that individual would be Bill Swift, longtime Ottawa banker and resident. For more than 60 years, he was familiar with every member of the football team. He knew the coaches and players personally and could tell countless stories of their adventures. Bill found as much pleasure in attending practice sessions of the football and basketball teams as he did attending the actual games. Bill was a familiar sight at all home football games and many of the away games. In the 30's during the depression, the school did not furnish football shoes for its players. It was not uncommon for a dozen players at a time to be wearing shoes purchased by Bill. He also provided small loans to players to tide them over when spending money was hard to find. To this day, the Bill Swift Scholarship that he established has been awarded to countless students to assist with their educational costs.