Hall of Fame
Walter C. Schwank '34 Dr. Walter C. Schwank has devoted his life to athletics and physical education as a competitor, coach, teacher, and athletic administrator. He came to Coe carrying all-state honors from Davenport, Iowa, and in college he won three letters and a captaincy in football. After graduation in 1934 he coached for 16 years in five Iowa cities, where he won two out of every three games and had four undefeated seasons. Armed with an M.A. and a Ph.D. Walter Schwank came to Coe in 1956 after six years as freshman football coach at the University of Iowa. At Coe he coached his football teams to a record of 25 wins and seven losses, the best percentage record among Coe football coaches. In the four years at Coe he had two championship teams and went undefeated in 1959. Wally continued his career at South Dakota State for a year and then moved to his present school, the University of Montana, where he has been Director, Chairman, and Professor in the field of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletics for the past 11 years. But Dr. Schwank's contribution to sports and recreation extend to a much wider audience than the students in his classroom or on his team. On the national scene he has been notably active in the work of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. He is a past president of the Association's Division of Men's Athletics and he chaired the Committee for the Development of Little Known Olympic Sports. He has been chairman of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. Thus, it is a particular honor for me to present Dr. Walter C. Schwank, who has represented the highest ideals of sports throughout his career, for induction as a Charter Member of the Coe College Athletic Hall of Fame. October 26, 1973
