Hall of Fame
In his sophomore year of football at Coe College, Merle Buck's defensive guard play was so outstanding that he was named by the International News Service to the All-Midwest second team, even though his team didn't win a single game. In this INS poll, he was topped at his position only by players from Notre Dame, Minnesota, and Indiana. Merle Buck came to Coe from State Center, Iowa, where he played football for four years. In the U.S. Army, he played on a European championship team. After World War II he entered Coe and won four football letters. His sparkling play caught the eye of those who passed out the football honors and many came his way. Three times he was named to the All-Midwest Conference second team. He won the Annual Football Award from the South Side Civic Club of Cedar Rapids and in his senior year he was named most valuable player and honorary co-captain by his team- mates. Merle Buck distinguished himself in campus life also. He served as president of the junior class and was named to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. After graduation from Coe, he earned his master's degree at Drake University and the designation of Certified Public Accountant. At a time when Coe football was struggling to pull out of a post-war depression, Merle Buck earned national attention for the quality of his play. For that reason, it is appropriate that we present him now for induc- tion into the Coe College Athletic Hall of Fame.
