Most of you probably just knew him as Bruce. He and Vi Gearding were Highlands' two most popular and famous fans during the Shields era. .

 

He was a fixture at Highlands and NKU games, and Coach Shields maintained a relationship with him throughout the years.

 

Bruce would nearly break your hand with his enthusiastic high fives, and was known to wear a blue fright wig and lead cheers at Bluebirds games.

 

Bruce was a special, special person, who met and married Donna. The couple had a wonderful ten years together before she passed away seven years ago of ovarian cancer.

 

More recently he has lived at Lakeside in Cold Spring and liked to walk over to Krogers and back on a daily basis. He loved to chat, and regardless of the topic of conversation, it would eventually evolve to the University of Kentucky and more specifically, their basketball program.

 

Bruce was one of the more colorful characters in Northern Kentucky high school basketball lore. A gentle giant with a big heart. He passed away this weekend at the St. Luke Hospice unit after a brief battle with cancer. He will be missed.

Sad day. I'll never forget Bruce came and visited me in the hospital my Jr. year, when I had an appendectomy. He sure did love his Highlands basketball.

Bruce was a great guy. He will definately be missed by the bluebird community. I think I met Bruce when I was like 5yrs old. He lived with his mom at the bottom of my street where I grew up.. RIP Big Bruce...:cry:

Bruce was one guy you hated to see running out of the locker room before a game at Highlands because you knew you were going to get that high five that would hurt for a good 10 minutes while you were warming up. Besides Vi Gearding there was no bigger fan. Bruce always had a smile on his face and loved everyone that he came in contact with. He will be missed greatly within the Highlands community along with the NKU community. So to Bruce Here's one last HIGH FIVE BACK AT YOU FOR A WONDERFUL LIFE AND BEING A GREAT FAN.

Edited April 27, 200917 yr by Ram
Rule 13

I cannot think of anyone more loyal to the Bluebird programs other than Vi.

 

Bruce, your warm smile and genuine personality will be sorely missed. RIP and give Vi a hug!

RIP Bruce............I can remember everyone shouting BRUUUUUUCE!, when he came into the gym with that blue and white wig on.....it was always fun to watch him during games....he will be missed.:cry:

I learned of this yesterday standing at a HS baseball game and everyone there had a Bruce story/memory ...........mine is the year playing baseball (about age 10-11) and "big bruce" was an "assistant" coach. He never missed a game or practice and was the most positive person I had met to that point. I loved running into him through the years....... his innocent view of the world was certainly refreshing. We will all miss those encounters......love ya BRUCE !

RIP Bruce, you will be missed.

I hated to hear this. Dang shame. I got to know Bruce when I was a young child through Tom Morris and maintained a friendship with him all these years. Bruce was one heck of a fine human being. Heaven just got a little bit better and the world a little worse. We'll miss him for sure.

RIP Bruce............I can remember everyone shouting BRUUUUUUCE!, when he came into the gym with that blue and white wig on.....it was always fun to watch him during games....he will be missed.:cry:

 

That was Bruce to me. Rest in peace Bruce, heaven just got another great Bluebird.

God bless Bruce! He helped us all remember how easy it is to have fun, let your hair down and cheer like there is no tomorrow. He was loved and will be missed.