Bruce was born in Kellogg and raised in Lewiston. He was an all around outstanding athlete and received a scholarship to the University of Idaho to play basketball and baseball.
Bruce played both sports as a freshman then played varsity for the next three years. He was named captain and Most Inspirational Player his senior year in basketball and NCAA All Star first baseman his senior year.
He was also active in other activities at Idaho. His senior year he was elected to the ASUI Executive Board and was a member of the Blue Key and Silver Lance honoraries, the highest award on campus. He was also president of the junior class and a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.
He played baseball for the Spokane Indians in the summer of 1953, but then entered the Air Force for two years. He returned to Lewiston and played professional baseball for the Lewiston Broncs while working on his Masters Degree which he received in 1958 at the University of Oregon.
For the next 40 years Bruce worked for the U.S. Air Force mainly as a recreational director working his way up the ladder of success. He retired in 1994.
Bruce's family consists of his lovely wife, Margery, who he met at the U of I. They have two children and two grandchildren. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2003.