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Awards > Hall of Fame > IADA Hall of Fame Inductees > 2018 > Bob Swanson - Rock Island High School
Bob Swanson - Rock Island High School

Robert Swanson
Rock Island High School
Inducted 2018

Bob Swanson has been a member of the Illinois Athletic Directors Association for 16 years, beginning in 1998.  In that time frame, Bob had served the IADA as the member of the IADA conference committee for 8 years as Corporate Sponsor Chair, he also has been a mini session facilitator and presenter.

Prior to his 16 years in athletic administration, Bob was a teacher and debate coach at Maine East High School, leading them to a state title in 1972.  Bob left the educational field but returned in 1998 when he became the Athletic Director at Rock Island High School, which is a position he held until his retirement in 2014. Bob contributions to the community of Rock Island have been remarkable.  Bob has served on the Rock Island-Milan Board of Directors for Youth Football, Youth Basketball, and Booster Club.  Additionally, Bob has held leadership positions in the Rock Island Rotary Club, which he was awarded the A.T. Peara Award for Rotarian of the Year in 2014, and the Distinguished Service Award in 2012.  Bob was also president of Rock Island Exchange Club, and for 24 year he was chairman for the Rock Island Tailgate Fundraiser.

Thom Sigel, former boys’ basketball coach at Rock Island High School, said, “His loyalty to our school is almost unmatched.  His love for the Rocks was evident during our time working together.  He seemed to be at every event during every season.”

Retired Football coach from Rock Island High School, Vic Boblett, states that “The single trait, which distinguishes the great educator from the good one, is “caring.”  Bob truly cares and enjoyed working with young people and coaches.  Our young people and coaches were willing to take direction from Bob because they knew he had their best interest at heart.”

Bob’s extensive contributions to high school athletics and his dedication to the IADA are a few of the many reasons that led Bob to this selection as a member of the Illinois Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame.


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About IADA
The mission of the Illinois Athletic Administrators Association is to take an active role in preserving, enhancing, and promoting eductional based athletics within the State of Illinois.  The IADA provides a commitment to professional development of its members in areas of education, leadership, and service.  Working in conjunction with the Illinois High School Association, National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, and National Federation of High Schools, the IADA wishes to create quality interscholastic athletic participation opportunities for all Illinois students.
Message From IADA
The IADA Board would like to thank you for all that you do for the student athletes of your schools.  We all know the time and effort we put into our positions.  We come from small schools, large schools, middle and high schools; but no matter what, we all share in a common goal, and that is to provide the best educationally based athletic program for our students.

Peter Goff, IADA President