Knox College Athletics

Evar Swanson had an extraordinary athletic career in his 4 years at Lombard college.  He won a total of 16 letters, a record achieved by Rody Lamb.

His athletic career included the following credentials- he was considered by sports writers to be the best all- around athlete in the state.

1.  4 letters in football- named All- State and All- Western in his sophomore, junior, and senior years.  He was honorably mentioned All- American in his 3^rd year.  He was named to Notre Dame’s All- Opponent team.
2. 4 letters in basketball- named All-State 3 times- leading scorer his junior year- elected captain of the team.
3. 4 letters in track- set the state record in the 100 yard dash -elected captain of the team.
4. 4 letters in baseball.

While at Lombard Evar ranked second scholastically in his class.  He was elected president of the sophomore class as well as the junior class, in addition to serving on the Student Council.

Following graduation in 1926, Evar took to the professional sports, football and baseball.  He played with the Chicago Cardinal football team.  He became a member of 2 major league baseball clubs, the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox, during which he set the still unbroken record of rouding the bases in 13.3 seconds.

In 1934 he retired from baseball and took residence in Galesburg where he became a business man until 1951 when he joined the Butler Manufacturing Co.  IN 1957 he was appointed Galesburg’s postmaster, a position he held until 1972 when he retired.

Evar Swanson died July 17, 1973.  He is survived by his widow Sara Willits (L’ 26” who makes her home in Galesburg and 2 sons, Courtney and David.