Bernie Masterson – Lincoln High
Athlete. A three sport athlete at Lincoln High, Bernie was an all-state back in football, a starter on the 1930 state championship basketball team and a track star. Moving on to UNL, he starred from 1931 to 1933 as a back on three straight unbeaten Big Six championship teams. He was selected All-Big Six in […]
Joe Orduna – Omaha Central
Athlete. Joe Orduna excelled in football, wrestling and track at Omaha Central before playing football at the University of Nebraska and the NFL. He won gold medals at the 1966 state track meet in the long jump (22 feet, 6 ¾ inches), 180-yard low hurdles (20.1 seconds) and the 880-yard relay (1:29.8 seconds). Omaha Central won […]
Kevin Penner – Aurora
Athlete. (1980)Nebraska high school’s athlete of the year in 1980, he was a three-sport prep standout whose fourth – and best sport – baseball, took him to the 1982 College World Series and the 1983 Pan American Games. Drafted by the Texas Rangers, he was All-American in baseball in 1985. At Aurora, Penner quarterbacked a […]
Cliff Squires – Lincoln Northeast
Athlete. Cliff’s athletic career began with 13 varsity letters at Bethany and Lincoln Northeast high schools. He was co-captain of Northeast’s first state championship football team in 1943. It was that year he was selected Nebraska’s “Prep Player of the Year” which was the forerunner of the “Athlete of the Year” award. He also garnered […]
Rudy Stoehr – Lincoln
Offical Perhaps Nebraska’s most recognized basketball referee, Rudy Stoehr was often at the center of many state championships. A football referee as well, Stoehr officiated Nebraska high school basketball from 1963-89, working more than 1,000 games and more than 20 state tournaments. He also officiated in the Big Eight Conference for six years. An outstanding […]
Dave Van Metre – Omaha
Contributor. A former Colorado College football player from Mount Vernon, Iowa, Dave Van Metre was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams. After injuries ended his professional football career, he went into private business and has generously lended a hand to schools in Omaha and his native Mount Vernon. He has provided new weight training and […]
Ron Boone – Omaha Tech
Athlete. 1963 graduate of Omaha Technical High School, his high school career, perhaps stymied because he didn’t begin to get basketball height until his senior year, served as a springboard to a professional basketball career. He came off the bench and had some good games on the high school varsity in 1963 when Tech won […]
Roy Bassett – Hastings
Coach. Roy Bassett earned the title of “Coach.” For 40 years, he coached high school athletics at Nelson and Hastings High Schools. From 1932 to 1937, he coached football, basketball and track at Nelson, a coaching load he would take on for a few years at Hastings High School. He was the head football coach […]
Ray Knaub – Scottsbluff
Athlete. Ray Knaub’s athleticism helped make Scottsbluff High School a threat in statewide competition and his track exploits put his name on the all-time charts as he dominated the high school Big Ten Conference. He won state track meet gold medals in the 100- and 220-yard dashes and ran on gold medal-winning 880-yard relays teams. […]
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 […]
