York Community High School Alum receives a prestigious honor. Bob Graham, a 1977 graduate was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame on Sunday May 1, 2022.
Bob started his hockey career at a very young age, playing for the Elmhurst Huskies Hockey Club, at the YMCA. Once in high school, he played for the York hockey team as well. Bob went on to play D1 Hockey for The University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he was awarded his letter.
Bob married his high school sweetheart, also the class of 1977, at the age of 23. The two began coaching and managing a team at the Huskies Hockey Club, now in Downers Grove. Then came children and grandchildren. All have followed in his footsteps, playing “The Greatest Game on Earth.”
Bob’s career took him to many places in the hockey world. He coached at a couple AA clubs, a AAA club, sat on the Central District Development Board and became the President of the Huskies Hockey Club, all while coaching multiple teams. In the end his love was for the Huskies, starting in his hometown of Elmhurst. His mentoring of each and every child that stepped on his ice, was his number 1 priority. Bob not only taught them hockey skills, he taught them life skills.
Tragically on May 24, 2017, he suffered a heart attack, and passed away at the age of 58. His wife, children, grandchildren and mother-in-law, were there to watch his daughter Ashley accept his award. Though bittersweet, Bob will be remembered but the hockey community at large.
Every child he coached, he left a positive, everlasting memory of “Coach Bob!”
