University of Minnesota Athletics
GEN: Sixteen Former Gophers to be Inducted into M Club Hall of Fame
6/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The 2005 M Club Hall of Fame inductees are: Kenneth T. Bartlett, Gymnastics, 1953; Merrily Dean Baker, Athletic Director, 1982-88; Katrien DeDecker, Volleyball, 1996; Jim Dutcher, Basketball Coach, 1975-86; Marty Knight, Swimming, 1969; Jim Mattson, Hockey, 1954; Rebecca “Becky” (Fettig) Siekmeier, Track & Field, 1985; Karie (Ploof) Tuttle, Gymnastics, 1983; Kathy Williams, Golf, 1981; Dan Zilverberg, Wrestling, 1980.
Six individuals will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as Legends: Theodore “Ted” J. Cox, Football, Track & Field, Basketball, 1924; Ralph Green, Track & Field, 1937; Dwight T. Reed, Football, 1937; Lorin Solon, Football & Baseball, 1915; Beverly Gammon Vanstrum, Golf, 1952; Fred O. Watson, Cross Country, Track & Field, 1916.
This year’s annual Hall of Fame Banquet will be held at the McNamara Alumni Center on the University of Minnesota campus. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. with a dinner to follow at 6:30 p.m. Banquet tickets cost $75 per person (or $480 for table of 8) and are available by contacting the M Club at (763) 566-5895 or by logging onto www.GopherMClub.org.
Hall of Fame Inductees, Bios:
Kenneth T. Bartlett, Gymnastics, 1950–1953
Kenneth Bartlett’s senior year is celebrated as one of the finest in the history of Golden Gopher gymnastics. At the Big Ten Championships in 1953, Bartlett won the all-around and parallel bar titles, also placing second in the flying rings and horizontal bar. He continued to excel at the NCAA Championships, winning the flying rings and taking third in both the all-around and the parallel bars. During that season he also served as team captain and undergraduate “M” Club president. Bartlett was also the Big Ten flying rings champion his junior season and finished third at the NCAA Championships. All-American status did not exist at the time. Using today’s standards, Bartlett would have been a four- time All-American.
At the time of graduation, Coach Ralph Piper rated him the top all-around performer in Golden Gopher history.
Upon graduation, Bartlett was commissioned in the Marine Corp and served as an air controller in Korea. Bartlett went on to a very successful teaching and coaching career at Long Beach State University from 1959-1996. During his 13 years of coaching gymnastics, he had five conference or state championship teams, produced two All-Americans and 30 state or conference champions. He was appointed Professor Emeritus of Physical Education in 1993. In 1997, Bartlett was inducted into the Long Beach State University Hall of Fame.
Merrily Dean Baker, Athletic Director, 1982-1988
Merrily Dean Baker was very instrumental in taking the University of Minnesota women’s athletic department to a new level of funding as well as a new level of respect in the collegiate world. She helped raise women’s athletic scholarships to $350,000 in 1984-85, and created “Friends Groups” for each woman’s sport at the U of M. In 1985-86, the State of Minnesota financed the operations of the women’s athletic programs largely due to Baker and her staff’s lobbying efforts. In 1988, her last year with the Golden Gophers, she was named one of the 100 most important women in America by the Ladies Home Journal. Dean Baker was a key member of the university’s effort to build the Aquatic Center in 1990.
Before coming to the U of M, she spent 12 years as Associate Director of Athletics at Princeton University, helping to build many of their women’s programs from scratch. She also served as Vice President and President of the AIAW before the NCAA allowed women. During her time at Minnesota she also simultaneously served as a member of the NCAA Executive Committee.
After her time at Minnesota, Dean Baker worked with the NCAA as the Assistant Executive Director before becoming the first female athletic director of a combined men’s and women’s department in the Big Ten when she became AD at Michigan State University. She was only one of three women to hold an athletic director post at a Division I-A institution. In recognition of her exemplary performance as an athletic administrator, Dean Baker has been selected for induction into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics in 2006.
Katrien DeDecker, Volleyball, 1993-1996
Throughout her career Katrien DeDecker’s stellar play did not go unnoticed. She broke into the collegiate volleyball scene in 1993, being named the Big Ten Newcomer of the Year. What she accomplished in her time at the U of M puts her in an elite category of volleyball players. She was one of only five Golden Gophers in school history to claim First Team All-America honors (1996), and one of only six Minnesota players to be named First Team All-Big Ten in three different seasons (1993, 1995, 1996). To cap it off, she received the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1997, which is given to athletes who demonstrate outstanding academic and athletic proficiency.
With the statistics she compiled, it is no surprise that she was named the team MVP in her junior and senior seasons. She is first on Minnesota’s career attempts list with 5,708, which is second on the Big Ten list. She is second on the Minnesota career kills list with 2,300, which is also third on the Big Ten list. In 1996, she tallied the most kills in a single- season by a Minnesota player with 738 - the same year she tallied the second most attempts in a single-season with 1,743.
DeDecker was also a member of the Belgium National Team from 1990-1999. In 1999, she led the team to a Spring Cup Championship, one of the most prestigious European volleyball tournaments.
Jim Dutcher, Head Basketball Coach, 1975-1986
During his 11 seasons at the helm of Golden Gopher basketball, Jim Dutcher compiled a 190-112 overall record. The highlight of his career was a memorable 1981-1982 team that won the Big Ten Championship and advanced to the NCAA sweet sixteen. That year he earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors as well as being named NCAA District 11 Coach of the Year.
Throughout his time at the U of M, his teams qualified for the NCAA tournament three times (1976, 1977 & 1982) and the NIT three times (1980, 1981, 1983). The 1980 team made the NIT final and Dutcher was awarded the UPI Big Ten Co-Coach of the Year. His success was not limited to the hardwood as he also recruited some of the best Golden Gopher basketball players in the program’s history. The list of Minnesota Hall of Fame members that he coached includes: Ray Williams, Mychal Thompson, Kevin McHale, Trent Tucker, Randy Breuer, and Phil “Flip” Saunders. Four of these players (Williams, Thompson, McHale, and Saunders) were members of the 1977 team that compiled a 24-3 record and is widely regarded as the best team in U of M history.
Dutcher’s success in coaching preceded his arrival at the U of M. While at Eastern Michigan University, he compiled a 127-49 record, third most wins in EMU history. In recognition of this achievement, EMU inducted Dutcher into its Hall of Fame in 2003. After coaching at the U of M, Dutcher had a successful career with RBC Dain Rauscher.
Marty Knight, Swimming, 1966-69
A multi-talented swimmer who was an All-American for three consecutive years, Marty Knight burst on to the Minnesota scene in 1966 and broke the freshman record in the 200-yard backstroke. In 1967 he was the Big Ten Champion in the individual medley, breaking the conference record at 1:58.60. An exceptional accomplishment came in 1969 when he became the Big Ten Champion in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:42.19, which was the fastest time in the nation heading into the NCAA Championships. His time held as the fourth fastest time after three other swimmers, including Mark Spitz, swam faster.
Knight was a model student-athlete earning as much praise, recognition and honors for his work in the classroom as for his talent in the pool. He was a Williams Scholar Athlete throughout his career. In 1969 the faculty voted him the Outstanding Physical Education Student of the Year. That same year he received the American Athlete in Action Award based on academic, athletic, and ethical leadership.
After his days at the U of M, Knight earned a PhD in physical education and went on to teach and coach. He coached swimming at Hamline University for many years, earning coach of the year honors during his tenure. Knight is currently a professor in the Physical Education Department at Hamline University.
Jim Mattson, Hockey, 1952-54
Jim Mattson is one of the most accomplished goalies in Golden Gopher hockey history. His success during the 1952-53 and 1953-54 seasons is relatively unmatched in Minnesota’s record books. In 1952-53, the Golden Gophers were the MCHL champions and NCAA runners-up. Mattson was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team for his efforts. In 1953-54 the Golden Gophers were the WIHL champions and NCAA runners-up yet again. Mattson was named a first-team All-American and was named to the NCAA All- Tournament Team. In 1954-55, Mattson was a co-captain.
Mattson still remains a common name among goalie records at the U of M. He is first in Golden Gopher history in career goals against average with 2.48, career save percentage with .906 and season goals against average with 2.36 (1952-53). Mattson is second in Golden Gopher history in season shutouts with four and career shutouts with seven. His 50 career wins places him seventh all-time in Golden Gopher history.
After college, Mattson signed with and played for the Detroit Red Wings organization of the National Hockey League. After playing for Edinburgh, Scotland, and Brighton, England, in the British Ice Hockey League, Mattson ended his professional hockey career by playing 12 seasons for the Green Bay Bobcats of the United States and Central Hockey Leagues while working for Green Bay Broadcasting. Mattson continues to play hockey three times per week.
Rebecca “Becky” (Fettig) Siekmeier, Track & Field, 1982-85
Becky (Fettig) Siekmeier was a pioneer for Golden Gopher female discus throwers. She is touted as the U of M’s first dominant female thrower. Siekmeier was Minnesota’s first ever field event competitor at the NCAA Track & Field Championship. She competed at the NCAA outdoor championships three times in the discus (1983, 1984, 1985) and once in the NCAA indoor championships in the shot-put (1984). In 1985, Siekmeier attained All- American status in the discus.
In 1983 and 1985, Siekmeier was the Big Ten discus champion and placed second in 1984. She set the school discus record in 1982, 1983, and 1984. In the shot put Siekmeier placed fifth at the Outdoor Big Ten Championships in 1984 and 1985. Recognized for these accomplishments, Siekmeier was selected for the 1985 All-Big 10 Track and Field Team and was named Outstanding Athlete of the Year for Track and Field in 1985 by the U of M. Her school record of 181-6 in the discus stood for 15 years. She was the honored recipient of the Patty Berg Scholarship Award in 1983, 1984, and 1985.
She competed nationally in the discus at the 1984 and 1988 US Olympic trials, was a member of the North team at the US Olympic Festival in 1985, 1986 and 1987, and competed in the USATF (TAC) championships in 1985, 1986, 1987, placing fourth in 1988. Siekmeier is currently a Traffic Production Analyst at Best Buy Corporation.
Karie (Ploof) Tuttle, Gymnastics, 1979-83
An outstanding all-around gymnast for the Golden Gophers, Karie Tuttle had one of the most successful seasons in women's gymnastics history at the U of M. During that season she was the Big Ten balance beam champion and took fifth place in the all around at the Big Ten Championships. At the AIAW Region 6 Championships Tuttle won the balance beam title and placed second in the all around and the floor exercise. At the AIAW National Championship she placed third in the balance beam and tenth in the all around. Her efforts made her an AIAW All-American.
During that fantastic 1982 season, Tuttle scored above a 9.000 in every event except for the vault. When she ended her career Tuttle held the school and Big Ten record on the balance beam with a score of 9.5.
Tuttle was named to the University of Minnesota 80's All Decade Gymnastics Team. In 1999 Tuttle was inducted into the Minnesota Women's Gymnastics Hall of Fame and in 2000 into the Shakopee High School Hall of Fame.
Kathy Williams, Golf, 1977-81
Kathy Williams was a member of the Minnesota’s women’s golf team from 1977 to 1981. By the end of her tenure, she had rewritten the school record book for individual achievements. She still maintains two individual marks: most career tournament wins with 17 and most titles in one year at six. Williams shared in Minnesota’s first Big Ten Conference Team title in 1978. She started her career with a bang by winning the AIAW Region 6 Championships in both her freshman and sophomore years. She was the first Minnesota woman to be named an Evans Scholar, a gift given by the Evans Scholar Association of a full scholarship to deserving caddies.
Williams’s name appears throughout the women’s golf record book at the U of M. She is second in Golden Gopher history for low score for 18 holes with a 67 at the Indiana Invitational in 1977, and for 36 holes with a 143 at the same event. She is sixth in Golden Gopher history for low score for 72 holes with a 305 at the 1980 AIAW National Tournament. In the 1978 season, her season scoring average was 76.55, placing her fourth all-time at the U of M. In 1978 Williams finished second in the USGA Public Links Championship. In 1980 she placed 23rd at the AIAW National Championship. She was a team captain for three years from 1978-79 to 1980-81. In 1981, Williams was an AIAW All-American, the Evans Scholar Athlete of the Year, a Patty Berg Award Recipient, and the U of M Senior Athlete of the Year.
Williams went on to coaching after a career in the LPGA. She coached at her alma mater from 1991-1999, earning more accolades that included Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1992, Big Ten Coach of the Year 1992, and the LPGA Midwest Coach of the Year in 1998. Williams is currently the golf specialist at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton, Illinois, for its Golf Medicine and Therapeutic Programs and the LPGA teaching professional at Prairie Landing Golf in West Chicago, Illinois.
Dan Zilverberg, Wrestling, 1978-80
An extremely accomplished wrestler who put together two of the best seasons in Golden Gopher history, Dan Zilverberg posted a 43-3-0 record in 1979, to rank third in school history for single-season victories. He was the Big Ten champion at 158 pounds that year and was an All-American and selected to the East/West All-Star Team. In 1980 he continued his dominance as team captain, posting a 45-3-0 record that ranks second all- time in school history for single-season victories. He won his second straight Big Ten title at 158 pounds, was named Outstanding Wrestler in the Big Ten Tournament, and earned All-American honors, and was selected to the East/West All-Star Team for a second consecutive year.
One of Zilverberg’s most remarkable accomplishments occurred in the 1980 season when not a single point was scored against him during the Big Ten season or at the Big Ten Tournament. The Big Ten honored Zilverberg as Minnesota’s recipient of the Conference Medal, the highest award bestowed upon a senior student-athlete who represents the very best achievements in all areas: academic excellence, athletic achievement and leadership. The NCAA also recognized his academic achievements by awarding him a post-graduate scholarship.
Zilverberg was also a National Junior Greco Roman Champion, member of the Junior World Greco Roman team, and a National Senior AAU Freestyle Champion. He is a member of the MN Wrestling Hall of Fame and was selected by Amateur Wrestling News to the U of M 25- year modern day Dream Team. Zilverberg is currently a practicing Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in Belle Plaine, Minn.
Legend Inductees
Theodore “Ted” J. Cox, Football, Track & Field, Basketball, 1922-24
One of the most athletic performers to ever don the Maroon and Gold, Ted Cox was a letter winner in three varsity sports at the U of M. He lettered three times in track and field and football and once in basketball.
Following his junior year, Cox was elected football captain. Playing offensive tackle, he was a major and memorable contributor to the 1924 football team. Season honors included being named to the All-Big Ten first team and to Walter Camp’s All-American second team. Although Cox wanted to play basketball all three years, concern by the football coaches about an injury-prone knee kept Cox out of basketball until his senior year. Capping off an accolade filled senior year, Cox placed second in the hammer throw at the NCAA Championships in 1925. Although All-American recognition was not awarded in the 1920s, Cox would have been named a track and field All-American applying today’s standards.
After his playing days Cox coached football, most notably at Tulane and Oklahoma State. Some of his accomplishments included becoming the only Tulane football coach of more than two seasons who never failed to field a winning team and taking Tulane to the first ever Sugar Bowl, beating Pop Warner’s Temple team. He retired from coaching to work as Personnel Director at Wheeling Steel in Wheeling, W. V. Ted Cox passed away in 1989.
Ralph Green, Track & Field, 1935-37
A three-time letter winner for the U of M, Ralph Green earned his reputation as one of the university’s most successful jumpers. Green excelled in the broad jump event, setting the Memorial stadium record in the broad jump in 1936. In 1937 he became the first Minnesotan to broad jump over 24 feet, jumping 24 feet 4 inches setting a new U of M and Minnesota State record. Besides jumping, Green was a dash man. His most memorable race was at the University of Michigan in the 100-yard dash when he finished a close second to Jesse Owens, when Owens set the world record.
After graduation, Green never stopped giving back to his alma mater. He helped in the recruitment of Minnesota athletes and served on the M Club Board of Directors for eight years. In 1994, the College of Liberal Arts Alumni of Notable Achievement (ANA) initiative was created to celebrate and honor the significant achievements and contributions of its alumni who have distinguished themselves in their careers and in service to their communities. Green was a member of the first group of honorees and was recognized for using his broad-based education in an exemplary fashion as an inventor and entrepreneur at Milaca Mills. Of the college’s 120,000 graduates, only 1,500 have been selected for this honor.
Dwight T. Reed, Football, 1935-37
A great blocking end that played opposite All-American Ray King, Dwight Reed was a great all-around athlete and comparable end to King. He played on the University’s 1935 and 1936 National Championship teams and its two Big Ten Conference Champion teams (1935 and 1937). During his three years at Minnesota, the football program compiled a 21-3 record.
Reed played during a time of national racial prejudice that prevented some minorities from playing college football and gaining the recognition that they deserved. The Big Ten offered the greatest opportunities; however, blacks had to have extraordinary ability to play for desegregated college teams. In 1935, Reed received unwanted national attention, when Tulane University refused to play the U of M’s homecoming game if Reed played. Reed spent the game in the press box, and the U of M took southern schools off future schedules.
Besides being a great football player, Reed was also a light-heavyweight intramural boxing champion and played semi-pro basketball for the Galloping Gophers.
After his playing days and serving in the United State Army’s infantry during World War II, Reed spent 44 years at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., coaching every major sport for at least three years and produced 93 All-Americans and numerous conference and NCAA individual champions. As a football coach he posted a 135-75-6 record in 23 years and placed over a half dozen professional football players in the NFL, as well as the Canadian Football League. He has the most wins and is the most successful football coach in Lincoln’s history. He also served as athletic director, men’s and women’s track and field coach and men’s basketball coach. During his tenure as athletic director he added five sports: women’s tennis, men’ basketball, wrestling, golf and baseball. His 1975 track and field team placed third at the NCAA Track and Field Championships. In 1981, Reed was named head track and field coach for the West team at the US Olympic Sports Festival. Lincoln University honored Reed in 1985 by naming it football stadium and track in his honor. That same year, he was also inducted into the Drake Relays Coaches Hall of Fame. He also served as a Big 8 and NCAA track referee. Reed passed away in 2000.
Lorin Solon, Football & Baseball, 1913-15
One of the most talented athletes to play football for the U of M, Lorin Solon was elected team captain and entered his senior year set to become the U of M’s first three-time All- American. In his first three games as a senior, Solon scored 51 points. However, his college career ended when the University found that Solon played semi-pro baseball in Havre, Mont. in the summer of 1915. He also played catcher for the Minnesota baseball team.
During his sophomore football season, Solon played at end, kicked, punted and occasionally played in the backfield as a quarterback and running back. His dominating end play was recognized by his selection to many All-Big Nine Conference Teams and All- Western Elevens. All-American first team honors included the Associated Press. Walter Camp selected him to his All-America third team.
In 1914, Coach Doc Williams switched him to fullback but still relied on Solon’s versatility and athleticism to play end, placekick and punt. The post-season honors exceeded the previous year as seven organizations selected him as a consensus pick on their All-Big Nine Conference Teams or All-Western Elevens, six at fullback and one at end. The Associated Press again recognized him on its All-American first team at fullback as did others, but Walter Camp kept him on his third team despite calls from the local press to give Western players more recognition. Solon remains one of the few players to be selected an All-American at two different positions.
Even after leaving the team mid-season his senior year, Solon remained extremely popular as evidenced by University President Vincent holding a farewell dinner in Solon’s honor when he left the U of M to play professional baseball. Solon also went on to play professional football, at one point becoming the highest paid professional football player in the country. He served in both world wars, rising to the rank of Colonel. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Oak Leaf Cluster for his service. Solon passed away in 1967.
Beverly Gammon Vanstrum, Golf, 1952
Before women’s golf developed at the U of M, Beverly Gammon made national headlines as one of the most talented female golfers in the Midwest. Legendary men’s golf coach Les Bolstad invited her to practice with the men’s golf team using their facilities and coached her in the same manner as he did the men. In 1949, she joined the University Golf Club, which allowed her to play in the Minnesota Women’s Golf Association tournaments. Her status as a U of M legend became solidified in 1952 when she took second place at the Western and at the Women’s National Collegiate Championship, losing by one stroke on the 19th hole.
From the mid-1950s until the late 1960s and as a senior player into the late 1980s, Vanstrum was the dominant player in women's state amateur play. She won seven state match-play titles, six state stroke-play championships and four State Amateur crowns. In 1957, she became the first to win all three major championships in a single season. She also took second place six times, becoming a medalist (or shared honors) 16 times in 16 years. As a senior golfer, Vanstrum won four Senior Women's State Amateur titles and finished second four times. In total, she won 21 state titles and was runner-up 10 times. The Minnesota Golf Association PGA inducted Vanstrum into its Hall of Fame in 1991, recognizing that in winning 17 non-senior Minnesota golf championships she had accomplished a feat that no other female golfer had.
In 1999, the Star Tribune compiled a list of Minnesota's top 10 all-time greatest golfers - women and men. Vanstrum ranked sixth behind Bolstad, John Harris, Tom Lehman, Jimmy Johnson and number one, Patty Berg.
Fred O. Watson, Cross Country, Track & Field, 1913-16
Fred Watson was the first dominant long distance runner in the history of the U of M. He was the first Minnesota and Big Nine Conference runner to capture the league individual cross country championship in three consecutive years from 1913 to 1915. That mark held for 56 years until tied by another Minnesotan and Hall of Fame member, Garry Bjorklund. Watson won every cross country race in which he competed and lowered the league record each year, finishing with a time of 25:42:2 in 1915. In 1914, his strong running and leadership as captain helped Minnesota capture its second Big Nine Championship. Fred Watson remains in elite company as one of only four U of M athletes to win a conference Cross Country Championship. During his tenure he set a number of U of M and conference track records in the mile and two mile events, one of which lasted for 30 years.
In 2002, Watson was inducted into the USATF Minnesota Track & Field Hall of Fame. The U of M honors its most valuable men’s cross country runner with the Fred O. Watson award. He was the president and founder of Watson General Contractors, and was one of the founders of the "M" Club. Fred Watson passed away in 1965.
