IATO HoF 2024
Who knew that throwing the Discus at Urbandale High School in the late 50’s and early 60’s would lead you to Iowa State where you would become a member of the Letterman’s Club and a school record holder. That was the athletic career of Richard Leutzinger in a nutshell.
After graduating from Iowa State, Richard taught and coached at Des Moines East, Garner-Hayfield and Bedford. Teaching Mathematics was a real love for Richard. He taught Talented and Gifted students in Des Moines, as well as those who were on the opposite end of the spectrum, many of which went onto earn college degrees, including a student from Roosevelt who received her PhD in Mathematics from Harvard.
It is for his 50 plus year career as a certified official that we honor Richard here today. He has worked as a starter, director of meet operations, weights and measures, worked as a finish judge, worked with the timing crew, and perhaps his favorite duty is working as an official for the throwing events.
He has been an official at the Drake Relays since 1978. In addition to Track and Field he has worked the state football playoffs several times and officiated many basketball, softball, baseball and volleyball competitions in his career and has served as a Certification Chair for USATF.
Richard has worked at every major Track and Field meet held in Iowa for more than 50 years, is a Vietnam Veteran, and we thank him for his service.