Hall of Fame
John W. Pence '24 Jack Pence was an integral part of that golden era of Coe athletics that came in the early 1920s. In football, quarterback was his position, but kicking was his fame. He was a master of the art of dropkicking, a potent scoring threat in those days, but today a lost art. In his four years of Coe football Jack Pence made more dropkicks longer than 45 yards than any other collegiate player. His booming dropkick field goal of 59 yards against Drake in 1923 is an Iowa record, and is the fourth longest in the all-time football record book. Baseball claimed Jack Pence's interest also when he was a student at Coe. For three years he batted over .300 and led the squad in home runs during that time. After graduation Mr. Pence fashioned a meaningful career in high school coaching that spanned 30 years in Columbus Junction, Red Oak, Mitchellville, Anamosa, and Ottumwa, Iowa. Wherever he taught he emphasized to his students that education came first, then athletics. He paved the way to college for a large number of student athletes, including many who came to Coe. Jack Pence was my high school coach. In memory of those special days it is an honor for me to present him for induction as a Charter Member of the Coe College Athletic Hall of Fame. October 26, 197
