A Short Tribute to the Legendary Bogie Redmon
By Mark Jurgena
Kahok legend Bogie Redmon passed away Monday, he was 77 years old.
Redmon was the most recognizable figure on the legendary 1960-61 Collinsville basketball team.
“Bogie is an all-time Kahok legend,” said Collinsville boys basketball coach Darin Lee. “He was an all-American in 1961 and led the Kahoks to an undefeated 32-0 season, the state championship, and national championship. He also continued to support and influence the Kahoks while always sitting in the first row at games. He will be missed greatly by all of Kahok Nation.”
He pumped in 31 points in the 1961 state championship game, an 84-50 win over Harvey (Thornton).
Additionally, as a senior, he was named All-State and to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-District East team in both basketball and football.
After graduation from Collinsville, he attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He played basketball for four seasons for the Illini. Additionally, he was the Big Ten champion in the discus his senior season.
After his senior year in 1965, Redmon was named to the Converse All-American team as an Honorable Mention selection. That same year he was a 10th round pick of the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA Draft.
Declining an NBA career, he went into the business world. Eventually, he worked his way back to Collinsville to work with his father at the Redmon Insurance Agency. He passed along the tradition to his son, Kai, who currently runs the agency.
“He was a great athlete but the first to direct any praise to his teammates,” said Kahok Sports Network announcer Todd Duke. “He went on to be a business owner and a great part of the fabric of his community while always supporting the purple and white. He was a true Kahok.”
As Lee pointed out earlier, Redmon was a mainstay at Kahok games. He was given the honor of making the first basket in the renovated Fletcher Gym in September of 2016. When the Collinsville boys basketball program won its 2000th game in school history in December of 2018, Redmon was selected to accept the plaque.
“Bogie Redmon is a Kahok!” said Collinsville Athletic Director Clay Smith. ”He is the person that every young person should strive to be. The legacy he leaves behind for Kahok Nation for the things he accomplished on the basketball court will never be forgotten! For me…. his smile, generosity, kindness, and words of wisdom will always separate Bogie from the rest. Truly a great athlete with a huge heart!”
Devastated…Bogie was a lifelong family friend of my parents, Don and Eileen Davisson. Bogie was the magnate of Collinsville Basketball, amid the true “glory years” of the Kahoks. RIP Bogie.
Condolences…
Eric and Sarah Davisson
I knew of Bogie since I was a youngster. His Kahoks always beat my Tigers. Later in life I had the pleasure of knowing him up close and personal. What a nice man. Always a smile. Bogey, the sofa at Gateway BMW was all yours. And will always be yours.
Actually, Tigers beat Bogie’s Kahoks in the old Eville gym in 1960. That was remedied when they met in the Regionals!
A warm, kind, lovable human being and friend to all. Bogie will never ever be forgotten.
I first met Bogie on a dirt bike trail behind gaslight in 1971. I was just a young kid and he seemed like a giant to me, yet he treated me as just another rider on the trail, regardless of my age. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of having him as my insurance agent and joining him at local restaurants from time to time. Bogey always made you feel welcomed; he will be truly missed.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family,
Mark Campbell
Wow, it is 23:00 at night here in Israel and I am so sorry to hear the sad news of my Fighting Illini teammate since starting out as Freshmen in Huff Gymnasium then the next season opening up the Assembly Hall(Statefarm) arena. Boogie was a teammate, a friend and more.
My sincere condolences to all the family. Boggie’s loss is felt 6,000 miles away from Collinville and will never be forgotten,
Tal Brody
Boggie’s Fighting Illini teammate 1962-3-4&5.
What beautiful memories together:
3rd in the nation rankings
BIG Ten title
Kentucky Invitational winner
Holiday Festival Winner Madison Square Garden
Greatest Double Header in Chicago’s old Stadium
Bogie would bring his white dress shirts to my grandma to be ironed and when I was there as a kid he look like he was a giant and as I grew and he was my insurance man I knew his was a giant in life and as a person RIP Bogie
I knew Bogie for many years mostly because of motorcycles. He was one of those people that when you would ran into him somewhere he made you feel that he was really glad to see you. He will be missed.
Really nice man.
My parents had season tickets to Kahok basketball (my dad played for Collinsville). Their seats were right behind the Kahok bench. As kids we would play basketball and take turns being Bogie. I was blessed to have known him as an adult and would see him regularly at Bob Evans for breakfast. He ALWAYS had a smile on his face and always told me he loved my laugh. I will miss him.
A great athlete but more importantly a great and gentle man. His smile will be missed.
Known Bogie since I was a grade school kid. He lived a couple blocks away. My sister was class of 1961. Bogie and ’61 kids were around the house regularly. Even though I was the little brother, I knew all the ’61 kids even better than my class of ’66
He was my insurance agent when I lived back there. I last saw him at sister’s services when she passed. They were life long friends. He made it a point to spend time with me. He is a gentle kind man that any child should aspire to be like.
That smile!
Always enjoyed seeing him and his lunch group that assembled at Bandanas on Tuesdays. We lost a true legend and a gentleman. So sorry for his loss.
My grandma graduated in 1950 from CHS. She is a huge sports fan. I know for sure they always had their insurance there, because I personally took it there many times. I would assume that there must be other people who do not quite know this. Although they must have a popular one. I will keep this in mind for sure!
He was a great man. I knew him all of my life.
Great man. Knew him all my life.