Iowa Wesleyan College announced the 2007 inductees into its Athletic Hall of Fame at the October Homecoming banquet. This year’s inductees included the 1952 and 1953 football teams and former professor and athletic director Betty Sammons.
1952 Football Team
With a season record of seven wins and a single loss, the 1952 football team was the Southern Division Iowa Conference Champion. Coached by Everett R. Jarvis and Lawrence “Pops” Harrison, the team was Iowa Conference runner-up.
Front Row: Dan Dunlap, George Moran, Carmen DeAngelis, Russ Ribando, Duane Semler, Richard Furjanic, Clifford Brees, Wendell Hester, Gene Cassioppi, Bob Morse, Charles Bland and Gary Gordy.
Second Row: Bill Franklin, Gene Koble, Harry Gerkits, Bob Gavrick, Phil Weiny, Pierre Roche, Tony Ferrandino, Don Moxley, Howard Messer, Keith Lamm, Bob Bogdonas and Bill Wilson.
Top Row: Assistant Coach Pops Harrison, Coach Everett Jarvis, Jack Tanner, Marvin Jarvis, Don Bogdonas, James Stewart, Albert Abbadessa, Jack Fedele, Joe Rovetto, George Weiny, Henry Hummell, Walt Donahue, Dick Schmitt and Merlin Evans
SeasonRecord: 7-1
IWC 34 Central 0
IWC 33 Simpson 7
IWC 1 Dubuque 0
IWC 20 Parsons 0
IWC 58 Eureka 0
IWC 62 Culver-Stockton 0
IWC 12 Luther 6
IWC 7 Buena Vista 12
HONORS
Southern Division Iowa Conference Champion
Iowa Conference Runner-up
Coaches
Everett R. Jarvis, Head Coach
Lawrence "Pops" Harrison, Assistant Coach
Olan G. Ruble, Director of Athletics
1953 Football Team
The 1953 football team built on the 1952 success. Under coaches Fred Ekstrand and Jack Spencer, the 1953 team was the only undefeated and untied college team in Iowa, and one of only 19 undefeated teams in the nation. They were Southern Division of Iowa Conference Champions, and set a state scoring record by defeating William Penn 103 to 0. The team was invited to Iowa Wesleyan’s first-ever bowl game, the Corn Bowl in Bloomington, Ill.
Front Row: Jim Chevalier, Joe Rovetto, Jim Stewart, Bob Gavrick, Tony Ferrandino, Wendell Hester, Charles Bland, Chuck Harnisch, Bob Morse, Keith Lamm, Gary Gordy, Phil Weiny, Bill Wilson, Jack Tanner and Carmen DeAngelis. Second Row: Leo Patino, Les Kane, Pat Donahue, Blaine Wagoner, Dick Schmitt, Al Abbadessa, Dick Hartzell, Les Horn, Mike Lofgren, Frenchy Sieradsky, George Moran, Duane Semler, Dick Griffiths and Tom Woodall.
Top Row: Assistant Coach Jack Spencer, Coach Fred Ekstrand, Dan Pine, Jack Evans, Deane Whaley, Lyle Aulwurm, Ron Griggs, Ed Everett, Bob Herr, Dan Dunlap, Harry Gerkits, Norman Havel, John Freeland, Gene Bauer, Harold Semler, Cliff Hammann, Dick Bozman, Vaughn Canby, Rosario Caputo, Manager Bud Lister and Manager Ralph Warren.
SeasonRecord: 9-0
IWC 27 Upper Iowa 7
IWC 20 Central 6
IWC 33 Simpson 14
IWC 25 Dubuque 0
IWC 39 Parsons 6
IWC 19 St. Ambrose 13
IWC 103 Penn 0
IWC 47 Navy Pier 7
IWC 33 Wartburg 14
IWC’s first bowl game: Corn Bowl in Bloomington, IL
HONORS
Southern Division Iowa Conference Champion
Only undefeated, untied college team in Iowa
One of 19 undefeated teams in the nation
State scoring record of 103-0 vs. William Penn
Coaches
Fred Ekstrand, Head Coach
Jack Spencer, Assistant Coach
Olan G. Ruble, Director of Athletics
Betty Sammons
Betty Sammons began her career with Iowa Wesleyan College in 1965 as an Assistant Professor. She became an Associate Professor in 1971, head of the Department of Physical Education in 1980, and Athletic Director in 1982. From 1965 to 1985 she coached field hockey with a national qualifying team in 1982. She coached women’s basketball from 1965 to 1977 with national qualifiers in 1965, 1969 and 1970. Sammons also coached women’s volleyball from 1979 to 1990. From 1971 to 1990 she coached softball, and the Sammons Classic Annual Softball Tournament is named in her honor.
Betty Sammons passed away in August 2005. Dr. Carol Nemitz, Special Assistant to the President of Iowa Wesleyan College accepted the award in her memory.
1952 Football Team
With a season record of seven wins and a single loss, the 1952 football team was the Southern Division Iowa Conference Champion. Coached by Everett R. Jarvis and Lawrence “Pops” Harrison, the team was Iowa Conference runner-up.
Second Row: Bill Franklin, Gene Koble, Harry Gerkits, Bob Gavrick, Phil Weiny, Pierre Roche, Tony Ferrandino, Don Moxley, Howard Messer, Keith Lamm, Bob Bogdonas and Bill Wilson.
Top Row: Assistant Coach Pops Harrison, Coach Everett Jarvis, Jack Tanner, Marvin Jarvis, Don Bogdonas, James Stewart, Albert Abbadessa, Jack Fedele, Joe Rovetto, George Weiny, Henry Hummell, Walt Donahue, Dick Schmitt and Merlin Evans
SeasonRecord: 7-1
IWC 34 Central 0
IWC 33 Simpson 7
IWC 1 Dubuque 0
IWC 20 Parsons 0
IWC 58 Eureka 0
IWC 62 Culver-Stockton 0
IWC 12 Luther 6
IWC 7 Buena Vista 12
HONORS
Southern Division Iowa Conference Champion
Iowa Conference Runner-up
Coaches
Everett R. Jarvis, Head Coach
Lawrence "Pops" Harrison, Assistant Coach
Olan G. Ruble, Director of Athletics
The 1953 football team built on the 1952 success. Under coaches Fred Ekstrand and Jack Spencer, the 1953 team was the only undefeated and untied college team in Iowa, and one of only 19 undefeated teams in the nation. They were Southern Division of Iowa Conference Champions, and set a state scoring record by defeating William Penn 103 to 0. The team was invited to Iowa Wesleyan’s first-ever bowl game, the Corn Bowl in Bloomington, Ill.
Front Row: Jim Chevalier, Joe Rovetto, Jim Stewart, Bob Gavrick, Tony Ferrandino, Wendell Hester, Charles Bland, Chuck Harnisch, Bob Morse, Keith Lamm, Gary Gordy, Phil Weiny, Bill Wilson, Jack Tanner and Carmen DeAngelis. Second Row: Leo Patino, Les Kane, Pat Donahue, Blaine Wagoner, Dick Schmitt, Al Abbadessa, Dick Hartzell, Les Horn, Mike Lofgren, Frenchy Sieradsky, George Moran, Duane Semler, Dick Griffiths and Tom Woodall.
Top Row: Assistant Coach Jack Spencer, Coach Fred Ekstrand, Dan Pine, Jack Evans, Deane Whaley, Lyle Aulwurm, Ron Griggs, Ed Everett, Bob Herr, Dan Dunlap, Harry Gerkits, Norman Havel, John Freeland, Gene Bauer, Harold Semler, Cliff Hammann, Dick Bozman, Vaughn Canby, Rosario Caputo, Manager Bud Lister and Manager Ralph Warren.
IWC 27 Upper Iowa 7
IWC 20 Central 6
IWC 33 Simpson 14
IWC 25 Dubuque 0
IWC 39 Parsons 6
IWC 19 St. Ambrose 13
IWC 103 Penn 0
IWC 47 Navy Pier 7
IWC 33 Wartburg 14
IWC’s first bowl game: Corn Bowl in Bloomington, IL
HONORS
Southern Division Iowa Conference Champion
Only undefeated, untied college team in Iowa
One of 19 undefeated teams in the nation
State scoring record of 103-0 vs. William Penn
Coaches
Fred Ekstrand, Head Coach
Jack Spencer, Assistant Coach
Olan G. Ruble, Director of Athletics
Betty Sammons began her career with Iowa Wesleyan College in 1965 as an Assistant Professor. She became an Associate Professor in 1971, head of the Department of Physical Education in 1980, and Athletic Director in 1982. From 1965 to 1985 she coached field hockey with a national qualifying team in 1982. She coached women’s basketball from 1965 to 1977 with national qualifiers in 1965, 1969 and 1970. Sammons also coached women’s volleyball from 1979 to 1990. From 1971 to 1990 she coached softball, and the Sammons Classic Annual Softball Tournament is named in her honor. Betty Sammons passed away in August 2005. Dr. Carol Nemitz, Special Assistant to the President of Iowa Wesleyan College accepted the award in her memory.
