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 second place finish in the State Track and Field meet by scoring 18 points. He placed 2nd behind Jesse Owens in the Long Jump at the National Interscholastic Track and Field meet at Soldier's Field in Chicago his junior year with a leap of 23'1.25". In 1936 he qualified for the Olympics in Berlin as a member of the Decathlon. At the Berlin Games he won the Bonze Medal, this completed the American's sweep of the event. Roger died in May of 1964.

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 Valley, serving there from 1962-1969.  Following the completion of his school administration degree from the University of South Dakota, Gary became middle school principal and athletic director in Ogden in 1969 where he served until his official retirement in 2002.
Gary has been an active official for the IHSAA and IGHSAU, as well as NAIA, NCAA and NJCAA in the sports of baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, and of course, track and field.  He has officiated many state meets as well as the Drake Relays and NCAA meets in Des Moines and surrounding states.

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 star for the Pioneers twice winning the National Collegiate 100 and added the 220 1922. Leonard taught and coached in Cedar Rapids from 1925 until 1964. His best time was 9.6 at Drake, and won the NCAA 220 with a record-setting 21.8   Leonard ran as an amateur as much as time and finances would allow, often going against Eric Wilson.  A year later, at Stagg Field in Chicago at the first NCAA meet ever, the dark horse from Grinnell won the 100 in :10. He finished third in the 220, won by Eric Wilson, the future sports information director at Iowa.   Eric never beat Leonard at 100 and took only two of their five 220 duels.  Leonard taught chemistry, physics and math in Oskaloosa until moving to Cedar Rapids in 1925.

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 School Girls Track and Field map.   She was never beaten in a Hawkeye 10 Conference meet, winning 16 gold medals in her career, and was nearly as dominant on the blue oval at Drake Stadium.  Tiff won 15 medals at the state meet, 12 of which were gold, and helped lead the Trojanns to 4 straight team titles, and four times she was an elite all state selection.  At the Drake Relays, Pedersen was named the meets Outstanding High School Female performer her senior year, 2001, after winning the 100 M hurdles and the Sprint Medley relay.
It was in track and field that Pedersen would shine above all, but she was dominant in other sports as well.   She also earned all conference and all state accolades in Volleyball, Basketball and Softball.  Her overall athletic prowess led to her selection into the IGHSAU Hall of Fame.  When asked what set her apart from her teammates, other than athletic ability, Coach Henderson said it was “Her attitude and her smile.  Her parents saw to it that she was never spoiled or let her success go to her head.  It was never about her, but always about the team.”
After graduating from Atlantic in 2001, Tiff headed to the east side of the state and the University of Iowa.  It was at Iowa that she put all of her athletic ability to use in one sport and became an All Big 10 Combined Event performer.  She ended her career as a four time letter winner and a five time Big 10 medalist in the Pentathlon and Heptathlon.  She ranks in the Hawkeye’s top Ten in six events; 60 meter Hurdles, 100 meter Hurdles, Indoor Long Jump, Outdoor Long Jump, Pentathlon and Heptathlon.
Tiffany was born and raised in Atlantic.  Her parents are Larry and Dixie and she has a sister, Nicole and brothers Troy and Corby.  She graduated from Iowa in 2005 and married Iowa baseball pitching Coach Chris Maliszewski in 2007.

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. After graduation Al attended Buena Vista College receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1974. He began his teaching career at Marathon Consolidated Schools teaching K-12 P.E., and U.S. History. He later became the K-12 P.E. teacher at the Laurens-Marthon High School. During his tenure at Laurens-Marathon, Al had an outstanding record in both Football and Girls Track and Field. In football some of the highlights were the 1989 Class 1-A State Championship, a Class 2-A Semi-Finalist in 1993 and a Quarter-Finalist in 1995. His career record is 109-19. In girls track our inductee was exceptional. His teams won 3 consecutive State Championships from 1985 to 1987. They were the state runner-ups from 1990 to 1991. Al also had two squads finish 3rd in 1982 and 1983. Laurens-Marathon became one of the premier teams in Iowa Girls Track and Field under Al's guidance. They won 118 major titles and have had numerous state individual and relay champions. Coaching Honors won during his time at Laurens-Marathon include in Football, District 2-A Coach of the Year, Toyota Class 1-A Iowa High School Coach of the Year, Twice Storm Lake Pilot Tribune Coach of the Year, and the Northwest Iowa Sports Banquet Coach of the Year, twice the Storm Lake Times Coach of the year, and is a member of the Northwest Iowa Coaches/Officials Association Hall of Fame. In Track and Field, six times Northwest Iowa Regional Coach of the Year, four times Class 1-A Coach of the Year. He was nominated for National Coach of the Year by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches in 1991 and 1996. Al served as the Girls High School Referee at the 1989 Drake Relays. He was inducted to the IGHSAU Honor Team Hall of Fame in May of 1999. Al and his wife Carol have been married for 27 years. They are the proud parents of two sons Clinton age 17 and Cody age 13. Al and Carol now reside in Spencer where Al serves as the Head Football Coach and will be the Co-Head Girls Track & Field Coach.

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 the State Meet in Indiana. Ran on three State Championship Mile Relay teams. His school record in the 880yd run still stands today. Ranked in the top 10 Internationally for three years during his post graduate competition specializing in the 400 meter hurdles. He coached High School Track, both in Iowa and Indiana, where he had several competitors qualify for the their State Meets. He won over 50 dual and triangular meets in the eight years of coaching. HONORS: Officiated his first meet in 1959 at the Pan Am Games as an Umpire. Worked several meets at Notre Dame, Purdue and Valporaiso University as an Umpire from 1960 thru 1963. Joined the Drake Relays staff in 1964 as an Umpire Was named Assistant Chief Umpire 1970 and was elevated to Chief Umpire in 1971 served in that capacity until 1998. Was named Supervisor of Officials for Drake in 1996. He has officiated at both the Boys and Girls High School State Meets for many years. Other Meets; 14 NCAA National Outdoor Championships, numerous Missouri Valley, Gateway, Central Collegiate Championships, Big 8, Big 10, Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Worked at three Olympic Trial Meets and the 1984 Olympics.

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 at BGM. Fourth or better at all meets as a Boy's Cross Country Coach. Girls' Cross Country - Stsrted the programs at BGM and at Waverly-Shell Rock. Three time State Meet Champions at BGM - 19969 - 1970 - 1971. At the time of his induction he has won 7 conference titles, one district title, and two State Meet runner-up finishes at Waverly-Shell Rock. The first Iowa coach to win both the Boy's and Girls' State Meet in the same Year, 1970. While being in two places at once. The Boys in Marshalltown and the Girls in Adel. Yes, he made it to both meets. Girls' Track & Field - While at BGM he won the indoor, outdoor and State Pentathlon. His Waverly-Shell Rock team won the State Meet in 1983, 5 district championships, and 9 consecutive conference championships. "I take pride in having emphasized the TEAM concept of Track & Field although I may have sacrificed some individual honors".

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 Relays and four State Meet titles. At Kansas State University - Three time Big 8 indoor Champion - meet record in 1977. Double Champion in the 600 and 880 - 1976. 1976 - Team Champions at the Big 8 indoor meet, Ran leg of the mile relay team, Named the meet's Most Valuable Athlete. Twice NCAA 880 indoor Champion. Best Times - 800 - 1:47.1 at the Drake Relays - 1977. Mile - 4:07 at Missouri - 1977 400 - 48.1 and 46.1 relay splits. Robert Graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering and a 3.97 grade point, along with being named to the Dean's List all four years.

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 team All-State in Football, as a quarterback. After High School John attended the University of Northern Iowa and had great success in Track and Field. He was the conference Champ in the Low Hurdles, won the small college NCAA 220 Hurdles in a time of 23.7, set the University of Northern Iowa's indoor school record in the 440 in a time of 50.9 as well as running on several relays, and served as captain of the Track and Field team. Aside from his Track and Field performance John participated in Football and received All-Conference recognition two times as a receiver. Following college John began his coaching career at Mid-Prairie High School in Wellman, for one year, four years as an assistant at Davenport Central, two years as an assistant at City High before becoming Head Coach in 1970. John is the first to say that good athletes can bring success to any program, but it takes leadership to mold great teams. As of 1997 these are his coaching accomplishments {with many more to come]: 6 State Team Championships 14 Mississippi Valley Conference titles 90 major meet titles 38 Individual and Relay State Champions 5 Drake Relay's High School Division MVP Athletes 30 Drake Relay's Individual and Relay Champions Coached 2 Iowa All-Time State Record Relays Coached 2 Iowa All-Time State Record Individual bests John has been awarded 6 State Coach of the Year Awards 12 Mississippi Valley Coach of the Year Awards He has served as the Meet Director for the National Junior Olympics in 1985 The High School Boys Division Referee at the Drake Relays in 1997 A Big Ten Official since 1988 A person very concerned about the well being of Track and Field in Iowa, John has served the IATC as a regional representative, Vice-President, President and Newsletter Editor. John and his wife Sharon were blessed with two sons - Mike and David who both competed in Track and Field. Mike is a volunteer Assistant Coach at City High.

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 accomplishments: State indoor and outdoor Champions - 1963 to 1968 State Runners-up indoors in 1967 & 1968 State indoor - 1969 3rd State Cross Country Mile Team Race - 1968 & 1969 2nd His list of individuals and team championships is tremenduous. Dean likes to mention Norman Johnson when he talks about his great individual performers, along with Joe and Mike Henderson, and Rex Harvey. Dean is a member of the Iowa Football Coaches Hall of Fame. Awarded the Golden Plaque of Distinction. The Boy's High School Referee for the Drake Relays in 1982.

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