Hundreds of people over the last few weeks have offered up personal memories of special experiences that have occurred at the John Glas Fieldhouse on the campus of Bemidji State University since its opening in 1967.
For one man who was heavily involved in the facility in its early years, the special memories are centered around one person - the building's namesake.
Chuck Grillo was a teacher and coach at Bemidji High School in the 1960s and 1970s. An industrial arts teacher, Grillo also served as the BHS head baseball and hockey coach.
More recently, Grillo has been involved in the National Hockey League as executive in player personnel and scouting for 30 years. He also operates Minnesota Hockey Camps in Nisswa and has done so for more than three decades.
Currently, Grillo is a scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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"Knowing John Glas personally, he deserved to have a building named after him," Grillo said recently from his cell phone after just returning from Minsk, Belarus on a scouting trip.
"I've never known a finer person. He was so humble, yet so dynamic. He was a man of strong character who lived a simple life and raised a wonderful family. What a beautiful person he was -- his family deserves all the recognition they receive."
The former BHS coach said he can directly trace any professional success he's had in life to experiences at the John Glas Fieldhouse.
"I'm pretty lucky," he said. "There's no way I'd be talking to you now as an NHL scout without my experiences there. One of my earliest experiences at the building, Craig Patrick came up and introduced himself.
Patrick is a longtime NHL executive and was assistant coach to Herb Brooks on the 1980 Winter Olympic men's hockey team.
"I said, 'I'm just a high school coach.' He grabbed me by the shoulders and said 'there's no such thing. All coaches at every level are important.'
"A couple of years later he hired me to work for the New York Rangers. That started my association with the NHL and it all went back to the John Glas Fieldhouse."
Bemidji was fortunate it had quality people like John Glas and others who laid the foundation for success in the early years. That strong foundation has led the success of the Bemidji High School and BSU athletic programs that has carried on through the years.
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"There have been so many great players and coaches who have gone through the doors of that fieldhouse over the years," Grillo said."There were so many great games that were played.
"But some of my best memories are of all the people who made up the support system. When I was a BHS coach, there was a pep band for our games (the Banana Band). So many students wanted to be involved they had tryouts. Those who didn't make it were very upset.
"The place was packed and rocking for every game. Whether you were a player, or in the band, or a family member, or had friends on the team, everyone wanted to be a part of it.
"That was pretty special -- it was truly high quality entertainment. That's what it's about at any level -- developing a program that people are attracted to and want to be a part of. That's what Bemidji has -- in large part because of the fieldhouse and the groundwork laid by quality people like John Glas.
"Just look at what has happened with the BSU men's hockey team since they went to the DI level. When they made the move, many people questioned whether it was the right decision. Now, the team is competing on even terms with the University of Minnesota. That's pretty impressive."
Once again it all comes full circle to the man for whom the building was named.
Grillo said he treasured his friendship with John Glas.
"It was him, and people like him, who are the reason the community is as wonderful as it is," Grillo said.
