ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- The Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri, sat in absolute silence. A place usually filled with volumes of cheering fans, referee whistles and media chatter stilled as a black ribbon with the initials JMJ filled the arena screens.
It may seem like a simple gesture to some, but for Bellarmine University and its men’s basketball team, it meant more than simplicity. It meant the world.
Bellarmine President Joseph J. McGowan, 71, died suddenly this past Tuesday. In his 26-year tenure as president, he led the Bellarmine community to academic and athletic success, campus-wide expansion and, most of all, he led with a heart that touched the lives of many.
Knights head coach Scott Davenport said that Dr. McGowan was “an absolute superstar in caring” who poured his whole heart into every task he was given.
“He cared about everybody,” Davenport said. “I have said it all week, ‘how would society be if everyone cared like he cared?’ We would have an unbelievable world.”
Dr. McGowan was not only a staple in the Bellarmine community, but in the Great Lakes Valley Conference as well. He was a tenured member of the GLVC Council of Presidents, and he left a special mark on the entire conference through his leadership.
GLVC Commissioner Jim Naumovich released a statement about his passing that read: “He raised the expectations of the conference and has left an indelible impression on the league. Our bar will always be set higher because of Dr. Joseph J. McGowan.”
As the Knights stared at the black ribbon embedded on the court in his memory before their first GLVC tournament game this afternoon, they wanted nothing more than to play this game for him.
The Knights accomplished that feat with a 76-73 victory over the University of Southern Indiana to advance to the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament.
Senior forward and GLVC Defensive Player of the Year George Suggs played one of the best games of his career as he finished with a career-high 25 points and an overall shooting percentage of 72.7.
He gave it his all on the court, but the sadness of Dr. McGowan’s death still remains.
Coach Davenport said that Suggs was devastated to hear of Dr. McGowan's passing as his graduation fast approaches.
“He knows in two months that man (Dr. McGowan) won’t hand him his diploma,” Davenport said. “He expressed that all week to the team. It was unbelievable leadership; as good as I have ever seen him.”
Dr. McGowan always made time to attend the basketball games during the season. He would sit in his seat at mid-court smiling and cheering loudly for his Bellarmine Knights, but now, his seat remains empty.
Today, he would have been nothing but proud of their performance and the lessons they have learned on and off the court. He took pride in the accomplishments of his students, student-athletes and faculty. It is what made Dr. McGowan the wonderful, caring man he was.
“As they grow as young people, there are going to be difficult times,” Davenport said. “They are learning life’s lessons through basketball.”
The sounds of the arena faded into the background, and the Knights walked back into their locker room proud of what they accomplished. They were ready to continue their journey in the GLVC tournament. Most importantly, they were ready to continue for their superstar, Dr. Joseph J. McGowan.