Hall of Fame
Art Swarzentruber carries with him a number of special memories from the football season of 1934. That was the year that Moray Eby's team won the Midwest Conference championship and shut out six of their eight opponents. The only touchdowns scored against the Kohawks were scored by the team from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Yes, that's right, the West Pointers beat Coe 34-0. Coe won its other seven games and did not allow a touchdown. The only points scored against those Kohawks came on a field goal kicked by Luther College. Art Swarzentruber played guard on the football team at Coe. Guards are not supposed to carry the ball, even in Moray Eby's imaginative offense. But Art recovered a blocked kick and ran 20 yards for the touchdown that beat Grinnell 7-0. Art Swarzentruber's interest and contributions to Coe College sports did not end with his graduation and his work as President of Vigortone Products. He has been a Coe trustee since 1959, and in that role, he has taken leadership in providing facilities for the intercollegiate sports and recreation programs. He was one of the campaign leaders and a major donor to the fund that provided new bleachers for Eby Fieldhouse. Art is a regular at Coe football and basketball games. For years in trustee meetings he extolled the benefits of a swimming pool both to present students and potential students of Coe. When the natatorium project was approved, Art Swarzentruber almost single handedly raised in the range of half a million dollars toward the construction of the pool. Because intercollegiate sports at Coe College has been a high priority in Art Swarzentruber's life, both as a student and as a successful graduate, it is a pleasure for me to add his name to the roster of distinguished Coe athletes who comprise the Coe Athletic Hall of Fame.
