I took a friend to SLU Hospital yesterday. Their was a lady sitting next to us in the waiting room with her Chief Illiniwek sweatshirt on. Told her it was nice seeing someone wear a Chief shirt. She told me her husband and father in law were both Chief Illiniwek at one time. Her father in law was Robert Bitzer, Chief 1945-1946. Husband John Bitzer 1970-1973. She said when the 1947 Illini Rose Bowl team arrived in California, Robert was setting on a horse saluting the team as they got off the plane.
The lady told us several story's and the nurse came to tell her she could go back and see the patient. I left the waiting room. My wife said while I was gone they wheeled out who she assumed was John Bitzer because he also had his Chief Illiniwek shirt on.