Edward Arthur Hegvold

Edward Arthur (Eddie) Hegvold never played basketball however his two sons, John and Paul, were both Queensland representatives. It was through his sons and their involvement in basketball that Eddie himself became involved in the game and became one of Rockhampton Basketball’s major benefactors and contributors over an unbroken period of more than 35 years.

Eddie worked tirelessly behind the scenes for basketball in Rockhampton since 1956 and in 1961 was present at a meeting at which the Rockhampton Basketball Association was granted land by the Rockhampton City Council.

Rockhampton had been granted permission to conduct the 1962 Queensland Championships and the local association now had to build the courts, complete with backboards and other infrastructure, before the championships commenced.

Eddie prepared the plans and specifications for the construction of the stadium; he arranged for all engineering work to be undertaken at no cost to the association; he called tenders and personally oversaw the construction of the stadium. That all of these facilities were completed the evening before the championships commenced was a testament to Eddie’s leadership.

Eddie served as president of Rockhampton Basketball between 1964 and 1969 and was a patron of the association from 1969 until his passing in 1991.

It is indeed fitting that Eddie Hegvold be inducted posthumously into the Queensland Basketball Hall of Fame in the Class of 2021.