From left to right: Jack Dugan and Joe Brickner.
business, Jack being an eye surgeon, Mike and Patrick being lawyers, and Gene being a dentist. “John Dugan has been a financial and moral supporter of Benedictine College for 70 years,” said Stephen D. Minnis, president of Benedictine College. “It is only fitting that Jack follows his dad’s example with such a generous gift to the college. We are truly blessed to be able to call the Dugan’s Ravens.” Brickner, a native of Lima and a longtime family friend of the Dugans, said the senior Dugan had always had a fairly intimidating presence. But it was John Dugan who first approached him about playing basketball in Atchison. “I actually signed my letter of intent with Coach (Ralph) Nolan at Mr. Dugan’s house at Hawthorne Hills Golf Course,” Brickner said. “He believed in me and he believed in SBC. He knew it was a good match, and here we are, 42 years later and I am still vitally connected to BC. As the years went by, our relationship grew. Every time I go home to Lima, even to this day, I make it a point to spend quality time with Mr. Dugan.”
At 90 years of age, all reports are that John is still going strong. He’s enjoying his time visiting Dan in Florida and his memory is sharp. He’s even still driving. Mrs. Irene Dugan passed away in 1988. “He is still his old feisty self, and it is an honor for me to be able to work in a beautiful office named after him,” said Brickner. Brickner also spoke about John’s son, Jack, who gave the money and named the suite out of love for his dad. The two were on opposite ends of the spectrum during that historic 1967 season, with Brickner being a freshman and Dugan being a senior. But there was real inspiration there. Brickner told the story of how Jack Dugan had helped re-establish the basketball program’s success after several losing seasons.
In Dugan’s sophomore year and with the help of Darryl Jones and others, the team went 26-3 and made it to the quarterfinals of the national tournament. The next year, Dugan injured his knee during warm-ups before the first game of the season. “Back then, once you hurt your knee, you were pretty well done – but not Jack,” said Brickner. “He came back his senior year and, wearing a huge brace on his knee, came off the bench as one of Nolan’s ‘7 starters’ and averaged 13 points a game. He was a co-captain and helped lead the team to the 1967 National Championship. It was truly an amazing ending to what could have been a sad story.” Brickner can still remember the dedication Jack showed that season. He said Jack would work every day after practice with Coach Tom Colwell and Brickner took notice. “I remember seeing the pain on Jack’s face when he would do the drill daily,” he said. “That painful look was imprinted on a young freshman’s mind, and it really inspired me to give it everything I had every day.”
15