By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – He’s considered one of the legends of Illinois Wesleyan athletics even though many might not have known him.

That’s because Ed Alsene spent much of his time promoting the achievements of others. Alsene died on Sunday at age 92. His death comes eight months after the university named its Sports Information Department in his honor – an office he served with distinction for 23 years from 1965 to 1988.

PODCAST: Listen to WJBC’s interview with Dennis Bridges.

“It’s amazing the number of athletes – the guys that were on the team who appreciated and recognized what Edgar had done for them – and came back,” retired IWU athletic director Dennie Bridges said.

Bridges said Alsene brought professionalism to an athletic program at a time when coaches were used to doing everything, including stats and player information on their own.

“He just made us a much more professional organization,” Bridges said. “At that time I don’t know whether Augustana and Millikin and the other schools had SIDs, but boy it was really great that we did.”

Bridges added Alsene was instrumental in helping Wesleyan students become Academic All-Americans. To this day, IWU ranks among the best in the country in that area with more than 100.

In 1986, Alsene was elected to the Hall of Fame of the College Sports Information Directors of America, at the time becoming only the second person from a small, private school to be so honored, according to IWUsports.com.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home in Bloomington.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].