Hall of Fame
Edsel Bester is a 1957 QU graduate with a degree in elementary education. He was one of the first African American student athletes at Quincy College.
Edsel was a member of the Quincy Hawks basketball team of 1954-55, the first Quincy basketball team to compete in the national tournament, but his talent was most visible on the baseball field.
Edsel played on the 1955, 1956, and 1957 baseball teams. He was a force to be reckoned with at the plate with a combined batting average of .395 over three seasons.
Ed was an outstanding fast ball hitter and could hit any pitch with authority. He was a line drive hitter who could also hit the long ball, and he was a dangerous hitter with runners in scoring position. As the third batter in the lineup, Edsel believed that striking out was unacceptable.
Since his graduation in 1957, Edsel has remained committed to staying connected with Quincy University. In the words of his friend and teammate Norm Ochsner, “Edsel never abandoned his primary focus to give service to his Alma Mater, which continued long after graduation and much beyond his performance on the basketball court and baseball field.”
Edsel taught health and physical education in St. Louis public schools for 39 years. He also officiated men's basketball for 37 years.
