Hall of Fame
Near the end of the 1937-38 school year, the Coe Cosmos stated that sophomore John Prasch might be the first athlete since the great Elmer Keith to win nine letters. John had won letters his sophomore year by playing end in football, guard in basketball, and by running the middle distance events in track. This quotation was taken from that same article: "He is best known as a team player and for consistency." In the spring of 1940, the Cosmos confirmed that John had indeed earned those nine letters. In his senior year, John captained the football team for a 9-8 Homecoming victory over rival Cornell. He was selected as an All-Midwest Conference end his senior year. When John ran on the freshman track team, the team traveled to Beloit where John watched the varsity win the first annual Beloit Relays. As a varsity runner John was on the 1939 and '40 teams that equaled that feat. These same two teams also won Conference titles. John's other activities and honors as a Coe student included: Student Council President, Sachem National Honorary Society, and graduation cum laude. During a leap year of 1940, the Associated Women Students presented John to the College as "Oomph boy of Coe," signifying that he had been selected as their most eligible bachelor. John's professional career has been marked by success in coaching high school teams, service to his country as a U.S. Naval Officer, and thereafter as a school administrator. While serving as Superintendent of Public schools at Lincoln, Nebraska, John and his schools have been honored on several occasions for exemplary performance, and John has served in numerous national and regional administrative posts. Coe College is especially proud of John Prasch and is pleased to induct him into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
