FORMER TEAMMATE RECALLS BRADLEY'S EARLY DAYS

When Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley rolls into his hometown of Crystal City Wednesday, he'll see plenty of familiar faces.

Among them will be Southeast Missouri State University biology professor Steve Trautwein.

Trautwein was a boyhood pal of Bradley's. They both grew up in Crystal City and played together on the high school basketball team.

"Despite his skill and what he could do, he passed off a lot," said Trautwein.

In the 1961 state champion game, the Crystal City team lost by one point in double overtime.

"Bill had a chance to shoot and he passed off," recalled Trautwein.

He and Bradley were among about 10 or 15 boys that hung out together.

It was a small high school. Trautwein estimated the senior class totaled around 97 students.

Trautwein said Bradley was studious in everything he did, including basketball.

"Obviously, he had some talent, but he really enhanced that talent with just hard, sweaty work," said Trautwein.

"He always had a good sense of humor and enjoyed a good laugh."

Nice is a word that Trautwein uses to describe his high school buddy, now 56.

That description hasn't changed despite his athletic success at Princeton, his prestigious Rhodes scholarship, his championship years with the New York Knicks and his political prowess as a U.S. senator.

"He is a pretty down-to-earth guy," said Trautwein. "He has always lived his convictions."

Growing up in Crystal City, Bradley regularly attended church. "Bill didn't swear."

Once when they were in basketball practice, Bradley messed up a particular play. "He swore under his breath," remembered Trautwein. "I looked at him and he looked at me and we both just burst out laughing."

Both Trautwein and Bradley attended Princeton, and both graduated in 1965.

The two boyhood friends had different interests in college. "He had a lot of friends who were athletes. We just had a different circle of friends," said Trautwein.

Trautwein said he plans to take his wife and two children to Crystal City for the campaign send-off. "This is a piece of history."

He and other members of Bradley's high school basketball team have been asked to make brief remarks at the rally.

Bradley's aunt, Hardeman Bond, still lives in Crystal City.

The town of Crystal City had a population of about 4,000 when Bradley was a boy. The Pittsburgh Plate Glass factory was the major employer, employing thousands after World War II.

"The town was so alive with activity in those days," Bond said.

Today, the factory is gone. "It's a pretty quiet town now," she said.

Bond said Bradley's mother kept her son involved in numerous activities.

"Their backyard was always the neighborhood backyard," she said.

In winter months, the neighborhood kids often congregated in Bradley's bedroom.

In Bradley's high school days, people crowded into the school gym to watch him play.

"I live two blocks from the school and I couldn't get my car in the garage,' she said.

Even his father, Warren, who suffered from arthritis of the spine, attended the games. He sat in a court side chair.

Bond said Bradley's father always pushed academics. "Bill was expected to achieve academically."

Bradley still maintains the family home in Crystal City.

The 77-year-old Bond keeps busy herself. She likely will join Bradley when his campaign bus travels to Iowa this week.