Bob Bradley

Worked 502 consecutive football games . . . only person to receive a game ball from football Coach Tommy Bowden . . . in 2000, presented the Order of the Palmetto by the Governor’s office . . . after his death was inducted into the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame . . . in 1983, was inducted into the State of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame . . . served as President of CoSIDA in 1975 . . . received the Arch Ward Award as CoSIDA Man-of-the-Year in 1976 . . . inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 1972 . . . redefined the field of sports information . . . in 1979-80, under his direction, the Clemson Sports Information Department won nine national awards for it’s brochures and press guides . . . during his college days at Clemson was the editor of “The Tiger” . . . served on the Clemson City Council and Clemson Planning Commission . . . earned the South Carolina Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award in 1983 . . . . 1989 recipient of the Clemson Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award . . . inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1985 . . . inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

Former Clemson sports information director Bob Bradley was known as Legend II. For many years he and Howard were quite a pair, telling stories and contributing to the tradition and legend of Clemson athletics. Bradley passed away on October 30, 2001 after a long battle with cancer.

He certainly left his mark on the athletic department, even in his final days. Ravaged by cancer, but still as sharp as a tack mentally, Bradley worked 502 consecutive Clemson football games between 1955 and the October 14, 2000 game vs. Maryland. The 500th in the streak took place at Duke and it was quite a celebration. After the game he was presented the game ball by Tommy Bowden. It is the only time Bowden has given a game ball since he has been Clemson head coach.

On October 28, 2001, while in the Oconnee Memorial Hospital in Seneca, he was presented the Order of the Palmetto by the Governor’s office. After his death, he was inducted into the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame and into the South Carolina Hall of Fame.

Bradley was a giant in his profession. He served as President of CoSIDA and was the recipient of the Arch Ward Award as CoSIDA Man-of-the-Year. In November of 1988 the press box at Memorial Stadium was named The Bob Bradley Press Box.

What was his level of respect? When he first became and was hospitalized in 1998, he received 550 get-well cards. Over 600 people came to his funeral in Clemson. He is buried on cemetery hill just a few 100 yards from the Press Box that bares his name.

Bradley Inducted into Ring of Honor Bob Bradley, who served Clemson for 45 years in the sports information office as director and emeritus director, was inducted into the Clemson Ring of Honor at Clemson Memorial Stadium during ceremonies prior to the Clemson vs. Miami (FL) game. The Ring of Honor, which began in 1994 with the induction of Frank Howard, Banks McFadden and Steve Fuller, is the highest award bestowed by the Clemson Athletic Department.

Bradley, who served Clemson from 1955 until his death on October 30, 2000, was one of the most honored administrators in ACC history. He won the Arch Ward Award as the College Sports Information Directors of America Man of the Year in 1976, the same year he also served as the organization’s national president. He was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame in 1975, the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985, the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame in 2000, and the South Carolina Hall of Fame in 2001. The press box at Memorial Stadium was named in his honor in 1988.

On October 28, 2000, two days before he died, he was presented with “The Order of the Palmetto”, the highest honor accorded a civilian of the state of South Carolina. He was also presented the first Skeeter Francis Award by the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1990 for his contributions to the league.

In many ways Bradley represented the spirit of Clemson. That was never more obvious than in his final days when, fighting the bone cancer that would claim his life, he worked his 502nd consecutive Clemson football game against Maryland at Memorial Stadium. The game was played just 16 days prior to his death.

When he worked his 500th consecutive Clemson game at Duke on September 30, 2000, Head Coach Tommy Bowden presented him with the game ball in the locker room during his post-game talk to the team. It is the only time Bowden has presented a game ball since he has been the head coach at Clemson.

Bradley was known for his dedication to his job. In addition to his famous football streak, he worked 313 consecutive ACC Tournament games between 1955 and 2000. He scored over 2000 Clemson baseball games in his 45 years covering Clemson baseball.

During his career, Clemson won countless publication awards and citations for service to the media. In fact, it was Bradley who devised the publication contests award system that the organization still uses today. He also devised the baseball scorebook that is used throughout the country for college baseball. Many of his former students have gone on to work in the profession.