Darrell Lenz – Chappell
Official When Darrell Lenz met with the captains before a game, he reminded them, “We are here to help you play your game.” Lenz started as a coach, but when he gave up the coach’s clipboard for the administrator’s desk, he held onto the whistle. Starting in 1964, Lenz embarked on a 42-year career of […]
Jerry Lee – Grand Island
Coach. During the 1940s and 1950s, the subject of high school football in Nebraska could not be discussed without a tip of the hat to the great Grand Island High School Coach Jerry Lee. A career of 25 years included a record of 101-23-5. The number of undefeated teams he coached at Grand Island was […]
John Larsen – Lincoln Southeast
COACH Lincoln Southeast’s girls basketball teams established unparalleled excellence under the direction of coach John Larsen. The Knights rolled through 29 consecutive winning seasons (1983-2011), qualifying for the state tournament 25 straight times – a state record. They reached the state finals 14 times, winning nine state championships, the most in Class A. He […]
Sue Lind Nelson – Albion
Athlete. A 1981 graduate of Albion High School in Boone County, she was the first athlete in Nebraska high school girls’ track and field to win a gold medal in the same event each year of her high school career, 1978-1979-1989- 1981. She bettered her own initial mark in the high jump from 5’8” her […]
Don Lee – Omaha
Contributor. The contribution sportswriters make to the understanding and enjoyment of high school athletics is immeasurable. One of the best was Don Lee, who spent 44 years covering sports as a reliable scribe for the Omaha World-Herald newspaper. He was present for 35 consecutive state basketball tournaments and 35 state track meets. Though his talents […]
Chris Leigh Thomas – Platteview
Athlete. One of the best girl basketball players in high school history, this 1979 graduate of Platteview High School in Springfield, Sarpy County, was a favorite with fans from the time she first stepped on to any athletic arena for her varsity team. She was named all-state in both volleyball and basketball, and she won […]
Ralph W. “Swede” Langer – Ainsworth
Before graduating from Ainsworth High School in 1939, Ralph had an outstanding career in all three sports offered at that time. His honors included being selected twice to the All State Teams in basketball and once football. His track events were the pole vault and high jump. In order to gain more practice time Ralph […]
David Lammel – Millard South
Athlete (1984) A five-time gold-medal swimmer at the state meet, the seven-time high school All-American still held the state record in the 100-yard butterfly in 2004. That mark was the second-fastest in the nation his senior year. He started on Millard South’s state runner-up baseball teams of 1983 and 1984. He was honored by the […]
Jack Lewis – Omaha
Contributor. Dr. Jack Lewis gave countless honors to the athletic program at his alma mater, Omaha Central High School. Every year, he has provided free fall, winter and spring physical examinations for athletes and can’t remember an Omaha Central football game where he wasn’t on the sidelines. He was the school’s “team” doctor for 39 […]
Max Linder – Plattsmouth
Athlete (1968) The Omaha World-Herald’s 1968 athlete of the year enjoyed an outstanding career in football, basketball and track at Plattsmouth. The Class B all-state quarterback in 1967 played in the 1968 Shrine Bowl after accounting for 45 touchdowns and 2,979 yards as a senior. In his career, he threw 48 touchdown passes and scored […]
