Iowa Association of Track Coaches Hall of Fame

Peggy was a distance specialist in a time when state and national track leaders didn’t understand that women could run more than a 400. She soon became a world record-holder in three distance events. Neppel set three world records during her running career. In 1976, she ran three miles in 15 minutes 41.69 seconds to…

Al has been active in officiating sporting events since 1978 in the Adel and Dexter area. Prior to that time he started his working career with the Northwest Bell Telephone Company in 1959. And was inducted into the US Army in 1961 where he spent four years stationed in Germany. He returned from the Army…

Inducted into the IATC Hall of Fame in 2002. Dean was born in Des Moines in October 1934. He was raised in Lake City and graduated from high school in 1952. He participated in many activities in high school. He was a member of the 1952 state championship track team.After graduation from high school, Dean…

John Niemeyer was raised on a farm near Waverly, Iowa. He began his love of track and field when the famous Waverly football and track coach, Mart Brandis, asked him to join the Waverly track team in 1956. His areas of expertise became the hurdles, relays and long jumping. His success at Waverly led to…

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Worked at the Boy’s State Track Meet for many years. Serves as one of the Clerk’s of Course at the Boy’s State Track Meet. Has worked at the Boy’s State Basketball Tournament as Bench Supervisor for many years. Worked 24 years in High School Football Playoffs, including 5 Championship games. Conducted Rules Meetings for…

Attended Clinton High School graduating in 1941. Hugh was an outstanding swimmer. He was a State champion, held three national and eight State Swimming Records and was an All-American his senior season. He attended the University of Iowa and captain of the swim team in 1944. Know as “that one legged swimmer” from Clinton, he…

Gary O’Daniels became active in track and field officiating while working as the guidance counselor and Cross Country coach at North Bend Central High School in North Bend, Nebraska. Nebraska went to a co-ed format for their state track and field championships in the mid 1980’s and Gary worked on the timing crew.   He continued…

Collins (Athlete) 1990 The year was 1970 at the State Track & Field Outdoor Meet and the expression was C C C. Cathy Carroll from Collins. All she did was win four events at the Meet. Collins started girls’ Track & Field in 1969. Cathy finished fourth in the 220 at the Federation Meet her…

For over 50 years Track and Field and Cross Country have been a big part of Larry Parker’s life. From his days as a state qualifier and school record holder in Track and a state Mile Team Race and state meet qualifier in Cross Country while at Grinnell High School; to being a 4 year…

Graduated from Lamoni High School in 1933 and from Sacramento Junior College, Sacramento, California in 1935. He was a two year letter winner in track and football in college. He received Honorable Mention by the Des Moines Register for High School Honor Role in Football in 1933. He single handedly placed his team to the…

Gary Paulsen was born in Rock Rapids Iowa, as he stated, “before WWII, so you know he isn’t a youngster anymore!” Gary attended and graduated from Hills, Minnesota. While there he participated in football, basketball, track, baseball, and fine arts. He received his undergraduate degree from Westmar College. He began teaching and coaching at Floyd…

Badly wounded one September night in France 1918 during World War I a German shell ripped into his body in four places. In 1919 at age 23 he entered Grinnell College. During a physical education class Paulu ran a sprint and won. The Grinnell coach suggested he come out for Track. He became a national…

Hall of Fame Coach Bruce Henderson thought he had a good one when she came out for track her freshman year, but when she won her first of four state titles in the 100 hurdles, he knew he had a great one. Tiff Pedersen, now Tiff Maliszewski, helped to put Atlantic on the Iowa High…

Girls state track and field meets in Iowa began in 1962. In the 56 years that we have had state meets for both boys and girls, only one head coach has led a team to state titles in both genders. That is an accomplishment that only Randy Peters has on his resume. Peters coached the…

He didn’t think of himself as a miler, even though he finished as the state runner-up in that event in 1978. He says he was known as a “relay guy” because relays were worth more points back in the day. He would run 48 second quarters and sub 2 minute halves while anchoring some pretty…

Our inductee into the Hall of Fame was born and raised in Anthon, Iowa. He graduated from Anthon-Oto High School in 1970. During his high school career he participated in Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Track. He served as the team captain in Football and Baseball and was selected to the All-Conference teams in both sports….

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Started running track at an early age in Gary, Indiana. Competed in Cross Country and Track. Continued running for seven years after competing for Drake University. Won several City and Conference 880yd championships and ran on several City and Conference Mile Relay teams. Placed 2nd twice and 3rd once in the 880yd run at…

Born in Canton, Illinois and grew up in Birmingham, Iowa. Completed his graduate and post-graduate woork at Northwest Missouri State. Coached 5 years at Central Lee, 4 years at BGM, 1 year at Urbandale and now at Waverly – Shell Rock. Boy’s Cross Country – State Meet runner-up at Central Lee. State Champions in 1970…

Attended East High School in Sioux City, Iowa. High School accomplishments – State indoor 880 Champion as a sophomore. National Junior Olympic Champion – 1:52.5 Runner-up at the Prep All-American Meet at a junior – 1:52.3 State Mile Team Individual Champion – 4:23.0 All-Time 880 record holder – 1:52.3 Anchored four relay teams to Drake…

John “Raff” Raffensperger is a very modest person who has been coaching Track & Field since 1963. John graduated from the University High in 1958. While in High School he was the State Class “B” Champion in the 220, in a time of 22.3, ran on the 440 Championship Relay Team and was selected 3rd…

To qualify for the Iowa High school state Track and Field championships is a big deal. To win an event at the Track and Field state championships is a dream for most. To be on a state champion Track and Field team is something very few ever experience. For a single athlete to accomplish all…

Athletic competitions need officials who are calm and collected and someone athletes and coaches can trust and have faith that they will do a good job.When it comes to track and field, Jeff Richards is one of those officials. Jeff got started in track and field officiating in the early 80’s when his 11 year…

In the spring of 2019, one week prior to the Drake Relays and 2 weeks before his passing, I visited with IATC Hall of Fame Coach, and IATC Hall of Fame Committee member John Raffensperger. As I was leaving, Raff said to me, Mike, please do me a favor and ask the committee to someday…

Coach Gary Roberson dedicated much of his life to helping others achieve beyond their natural talent and what they may have perceived as limitations. Gary graduated from New Hampton high school and Iowa Teachers College, now UNI. He taught both French and English at Bettendorf high school for 27 years, retiring from teaching in 2000….

A graduate of Lenox High School. He lettered in Football, Basketball, Track & Field and Baseball. He attended Simpson College and graduated in 1949. Some of Dean’s accomplishments: Records: Football – 132 – 41 19 seasons Girls Basketball – 552 – 232 36 seasons Boys Basketball – 129 – 73 10 seasons Track and Fiels…

In the spring of 1926 discussions were held about starting a junior college in Webster City. By fall, the Webster City Junior College officially opened. Orville Rust, Director of Athletics & Men’s Physical Education

Steve Rutz has spent his entire professional career working with students and student athletes in one way or another. Steve spent 6 years at Western Dubuque as a Math and PE teacher followed by 33 years in Administration, 28 of those at Cascade. He became a registered track official in 1972 and is a charter…

Our inductee into the Hall of Fame was born and raised in Denison, Iowa. He graduated from Denison High School in 1946. During his high school career, he participated in Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Track. After graduation, Bernie attended Buena Vista College receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1950. Bernie participated in Football and…

George Saling was born in 1909 in Memphis, MO. When he was 3 months old the family moved to Corydon, Iowa where he graduated from high school in 1927. George’s first love was basketball and he was captain of the Corydon team in 1926 and 27. He went out for track, partly because that was…

After graduating from Beaman-Conrad high school in 1967, Tim Sanderson went on to college to continue his athletic career and get a degree. Tim found himself at Westmar College in LeMars earning a degree in Elementary and Secondary Education and starting all 4 years on both the baseball and football teams. He earned his Masters…

He came to Iowa from Indiana knowing little about track and field. Chuck Schoffner was born in Lima, Ohio and lived there for 16 years before his family moved to South Bend, Indiana. He played basketball and baseball at Clay High School, graduating in the spring of 1968. He made the move to Des Moines…

Bob was born on February 20, 1935, in Rochester, Minnesota. He attended Chatfield High School, graduating in 1953. He participated in football, basketball, baseball, and track & field while in high school. He participated in the 1953 Minnesota State Track & Field Meet. Bob graduated from Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota with a Bachelors…

If you’ve ever wondered if coaching high school track and cross country would help you to take on bigger things in life, just ask Dick Seivert, now retired from coaching at Le Mars Gehlen. Dick was born in Elkton, South Dakota in 1950 and took his first teaching job at Armstrong High School in Armstrong,…

Chuck Silvey was born in Bethany, Missouri but lived out his love for track in field in Iowa.After receiving his degree from Iowa States Teachers College (UNI), Silvey began his long time coaching career at United Community Schools, coaching boys and girls basketball. His next stops were at Prairie City and Calmar before accepting the…

Graduated from Sheldahl High School and Simpson College. He coached the Indianola Track & Field teams to many invitational, conference , and district championships. His team was runner-up in the state indoor and were outdoor champions in 1957. His team came back in 1958 and won both the state indoor and outdoor championships. He was…

Graduated Cum Laude from St.Olaf College with a B.A. in 1954. He was a three year letter winnerin Track & Field and Team Captain his senior season. Following two years in the Army John began his coaching and teaching career at Fairibalt, Minnesota – one year. He then moved onto Northfield High School in Northfield,…