4 memorial benches to be dedicated at Bullard basketball courts on Sept. 28

ALBION – The public is invited to a dedication at 9 a.m. on Sept. 28 when four memorial benches will be unveiled by the basketball courts at Bullard Park.

The coated steel sport benches are the latest addition to the new courts, which opened last October.

Four people or organizations paid $750 for a memorial bench which will have plaques.

Those memorialized include Jonathan Doherty, an active community member who helped with many of the events and fundraisers at the park. Doherty was 38 when he passed away on May 5, 2022. The Greater Albion Community Recreation and Events is paying for the bench.

Another bench is in memory of Jesse Swartout, who passed away at age 21 in 2002 when he was a senior at Skidmore College. He has family in the local area.

A bench will be in honor of Craig H. Anderson who died from leukemia in 1973 following his senior year at Albion.  He was a standout athlete at Albion and the high school gym is named after him.

The other bench will be in memory of Justin Swanger, who passed away in his sleep at age 22 on Nov. 28, 2014. Swanger played on the Albion basketball team and was a three-point specialist.

The Greater Albion Community Recreation and Events, a non-profit that has helped spearhead improvements at Bullard, also is working on a video promoting the activities and recent upgrades. The group is planning a video shoot at noon on Oct. 12 at the park. The community is welcome to be part of the video.