Hall of Fame
Merle E. Makeever exemplified the "iron man" qualities that are part of the legend of football as it was played in the 1920s. In 1922, he played every minute of every game and in 1923 he played all seven games and 45 minutes of the eighth. Midge Makeever played quarterback and halfback and also did some spectacular kicking and passing. In 1923 he completed 15 of 18 passes, including 9 for 9 against Cornell. In 1922, he made 15 of 17 dropkicks for extra points and in his senior year his 80-yard punt late in the game saved a 7-7 tie with Wisconsin. As a student at Coe, Midge Makeever played basketball and baseball, too. In basketball, he shot all the team's free throws, and in baseball, he led in stolen bases and batted .563 in 16 games in 1922. With those qualifications, he signed with the pros before graduation and played professional baseball for 15 years going as high as AAA teams. He averaged 37 stolen bases a year over those 15 years and had a season-high of 67 thefts in 1925. For 38 years Midge Makeever was a coach of high school, service, and college teams in football, basketball, baseball and track. His teams won many titles, but the quality of his coaching may be seen best in records like 174 baseball games won against 11 lost in eight years at Davenport High School; or 88 football games won against 20 lost in eleven years at Fernandino Beach, Florida. Mr. Makeever rounded out his sports career with 30 years of officiating in high school, college, and military service games in football, baseball, and basketball, including regular appearances in the Iowa High School Basketball Tournament.
