Hall of Fame
One word best describes Walter A. Kinch and the life he has lived. That word is SERVICE. Walter served his college, his country, the communities in which he lived, the young people of those communities, and his family. His life at Coe started in 1936 and stretched out until 1941 when he received his degree. Those years were not the best of times to be young, in college, and optimistic about the future. The Depression was still with us and war was coming. Athletics were an important part of Walter's life. For three years he was on the Coe football team and for three years he was an outstanding hurdler on the track team. There were many memorable moments for Walter in both sports. In 1938 he caught the pass, after a fake drop kick, that won the football game over Monmouth, 19-13. He was a member of the 1939, 1940, and 1941 Midwest Conference championship track teams. It was in his last race as a low hurdler in a dual meet with Cornell that he tied the Coe record. He taught and coached at Churdan, Iowa, before he was called to serve his country. He spent 33 months in the South Pacific and participated in the Solomon Islands, Bougainville, and Luzon campaigns. During the long war months, he corresponded frequently with the Alumni Office, expressing his affection for his college and concern for his fellow students also caught up in the war. He wrote once that he looked forward to that "biggest ever homecoming." After the war, he returned to teaching and coaching in Iowa, first at Mt. Ayr and then at Manchester. From Manchester, he moved to the Cedar Rapids school system and 29 years of service to the schools and the community. In 1956 he received a master's degree from the University of Iowa in secondary administration. He retired in April, 1981. In February, 1980, Walter was honored at the Cedar Rapids Sports Club's 11th Annual Tait Cummins Awards as an "outstanding citizen." We honor Walter A. Kinch today as a new member of the Coe College Athletic Hall of Fame. At the same time, we honor him for a lifetime of service.
