Induction Video
(Written: July 2018)
Jim Bollinger ranks as one of the best all-around athletes in Blugold archives. He earned 12 letters and played on four conference championship teams in football, men’s basketball and baseball. Bollinger captained the men’s basketball team for three years and secured all-conference recognition three times. He was a member of the 1955 squad that won the conference championship and posted a 20-2 record. The following year, UW-Eau Claire shared the conference title, played in the NAIA Tournament and finished with a 20-5 mark. Bollinger scored 1,057 points in his career. As an underhand free throw shooter, he still holds the school single-game record with 17-of-19 free throws made against UW-Superior on Feb. 5, 1955.
As quarterback, Bollinger helped the football team to the 1956 conference crown and earned All-Conference First Team honors in 1955 and 1956. In 1957, he helped the baseball team to the conference title.
Bollinger served as vice-president for administrative services at UW-Eau Claire from 1970-97 and a 40-acre recreation complex on campus is named in his honor – “Bollinger Fields”. In 1999, he was the recipient of the university’s Alumni Distinguished Service Award. Bollinger was inducted into the NAIA District 14 Hall of Fame in 1980 and UW-Eau Claire Hall of Fame in 1975.
Bollinger earned a bachelor’s degree in math education from UW-Eau Claire and master’s degree in school administration from UW-Madison. He resides in Eau Claire, Wis.