Athletic Hall of Fame
The Gustavus Adolphus College Hall of Fame was established in 1978 at which time 19 "Charter Members" were inducted either as coaches or as athletes. As of the fall of 2022, 348 individuals (321 athletes, 16 coaches and 11 benefactors) have been elected to the Hall of Fame.
The former Hall of Fame room on the second floor of the Lund Center was originally partially endowed by the families of both Dwight Holcombe's (the only father/son combination holding membership in the Hall). The hardwood plaque upon which the individual plates are permanently displayed, now in the Hall of Champions, was donated by the family of former football coach and Hall of Fame member Jocko Nelson, who passed away in 1978.
Bruce Edwards
Hockey and Tennis
Inducted: 2004
One of the premier defensemen in the history of Gustavus men's hockey, Bruce Edwards was a three-year starter during the Golden Era of Gustavus hockey in the late '70s. A two-time all-conference selection, Edwards was a key player on the Gustavus MIAC championship teams of 1975, 1976, and 1977. During that stretch the Gusties posted a league mark of 40-4-0. In addition, Gustavus made three appearances in the NAIA National Tournament, finishing second in 1975 and 1977 and third in 1976. Edwards was captain of the 1977 team that dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to St. Scholastica in the NAIA championship game. He received All-America honors from both the NAIA and the National Hoceky Coaches Association at the end of the 1977 season. Primarily a defensive stalwart for the Gusties, Edwards was also a key part of the power play unit and finished his career as one of the top-scoring defensemen in school history with 11 goals and 35 assists for 46 points. In addition to his hockey career, Bruce also played varsity tennis for two years for the Gusties.
After graduating in 1977 with majors in business and geography, Edwards accepted a position with Space Center, Inc. of St. Paul. After 10 years with Space Center, Bruce accepted a job offer with Exel in the Americas, Inc. He has advanced up the ladder at Exel over the pasts 15 years and is now the chief executive officer of the company, which specializes in supply chain management. Bruce lives in Westerville, Ohio, with his wife Susan (Gustafson '78) and their three children, Emily (19), Kelsey (17), and Blake (14).