Tucked away in a closet on the far side of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is a room filled with treasures. The smell of old leather fills the air. Deflated basketballs from the 1920’s sit on shelves and trophies from tournaments long ago still shine. Lesley Vulgan, artifacts manager for the hall of fame, holds the key to a basketball fan’s heaven.
What started for Vaughn as a weekend shift at the museum, the role quickly evolved into much more. For 34 years, she has cataloged, organized, collected and displayed the donated basketball memorabilia that hangs in the museum.
“I am a giant basketball fan,” Vulgan said.
For 40 years, her father was a season ticket holder for Marion High School. She played in a women’s tournament before IHSAA sanctioned girl’s basketball as a sport.
“I can remember being little and mom and dad holding me by the hand and we would buy the popcorn,” Vulgan said.
Years have passed but her love for basketball remains. In the decades working at the museum, she has handled thousands of pieces of basketball history. And if you asked her about any of it, she could tell you the story behind it.
“It’s just fun going through the artifacts,” Vulgan said.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame showcases history through artifacts
