Hall of Fame
Ben Sebern was, for four years, a member of track and field teams coached by Forest Rittgers, whose teams won eight Midwest Conference championships between 1929 and 1942. Ben Sebern was a high-jumper and hurdler. Against Cornell in 1932, Ben established a new Coe record in the low hurdles, breaking a record which had stood since 1912. The highlight of Ben's career came when the Coe squad hosted the Midwest Conference teams on the Coe field for the 10th annual Midwest Conference Track and Field Meet. With seven first places, the Kohawks captured their first Midwest Conference championship. In that championship meet, Ben Sebern won first place in both the 220- yard low hurdles and the 120-yard high hurdles. He tied for first in the high-jump with his teammate, the late Ben Schiller. These three first places made him the meet's high point man, as he earned 14 of the team's 49 points. Sebern was active in a host of other activities in addition to sports. He was president of the Men's Glee Club and of the YMCA. He sang in the Vesper Choir and was a member of the Student Council and the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. He was selected as a member of Sachem, a senior men's honor society. After graduation, he worked for Armstrong's in Cedar Rapids and Montgomery Ward in Chicago and Louisville. He also worked for Collins Radio and Cedar Rapids Engineering Company. In 1968, he moved to San Diego and was in business there until his retirement. Because Ben Sebern was a champion among champions at the beginning of one of Coe's shining eras in track competition, we are pleased to name him a member of the Coe Athletic Hall of Fame and congratulate him on this induction.
