Gustavus Adolphus College

A Brief History of the G-Club and Other Groups:

Financial and moral support for Gustavus athletics has been a constant throughout the years. In general, all that has changed is the banner under which this support has been realized. The past has been sprinkled with three main organizations: the G-Club, the Hilltoppers, Inc., and the St. Peter Booster Club.

The G-Club was first organized in 1918 as a means to add administrative and financial support to the new athletic teams on the Gustavus campus. Operating funds were derived from dues and donations coming largely from Gustavus student athletes. Eventually, money was raised through the operation of concession stands at various athletic events. G-Club members staffed the concession stand for all home athletic events and any high school tournament hosted on the Gustavus campus. Baseball players worked at football games. Football players worked basketball game concessions. A hodge-podge of athletes worked high school tournament games. And so it went. For decades, the membership was known for their service-oriented activities, enthusiasm, and overall good-hearted support of Gustavus. The active recruitment of top-notch high school students, and an annual banquet honoring current student athletes and alumni rounded out G-Club activities. The G-Club thrived until 1984 when the concession operation was transferred to the Dining Service. For many years the G-Club had been a highly visible and active student organization on campus touching diverse constituents.

In the early 1950s the Hilltoppers Club was organized as an alumni association designed to support Gustavus extra-curricular activities. Its major focus was originally Gustie football, but with the additional success of basketball during this era, the Hilltoppers supported a broad range of activities including such activities as debate. The Hilltoppers held regular luncheon meetings in the Twin Cities area and had quite an extensive membership. They hosted award banquets for the various championship teams, but this soon became too difficult due to the size of squads and the frequency of Gustavus providing MIAC championship squads.

Lastly, an obscure group of local businessmen formed a booster organization within the St. Peter community. Little information is known except this group held weekly luncheons in town, and that their purpose was to support Gustavus Athletics.