Athletics Meritorious Service Award Recipients

1955 graduate of Luther College
Has been volunteering his time at Luther College Athletics for the past 32 years
His efforts have included working with Luther's student radio station KWLC as a mentor and play-by-play announcer from 1982-1992
Since 1992, he has been the public address announcer for football, basketball, baseball, softball, swimming, and indoor and outdoor track
He has also helped with play-by-play for the sports information department's video streaming of home swimming and diving meets since 2007
He also volunteers his time in the Decorah community at the First Lutheran food pantry an Meals on Wheels
He retired from the Decorah school district after serving from 1970-1994
During his tenure he served as an instructor, junior high football coach (140-17), athletics director and principal
Served in the U.S. Army - 1955-57
News and Sports anchor KDEC radio - 1957-60
Instructor and coach at Northwood-Kensett Schools, Iowa - 1961-63
Instructor and coach at Newton School, Iowa - 1963-70
He and his wife Bev have been married for 56 years and have two children, Jana '85 and Kyle

1944 graduate of Decorah High School
Retired from Luther College on Feb. 1, 1992 after 35 of years of working facilities management/grounds.
During his time at Luther, Vern would go to the baseball and softball diamonds each day after he was done with work and team practices were over and he would drag the fields, pick up garbage, and clean up the dugouts. He knew that if this was not done and it rained, the fields would be a mess and hard to get smooth again. He did this outside his regular duties.
In retirement he volunteered his time for six years taking care of both the softball and baseball fields.
Vern and his wife "Kay," were loyal Norse fans and attended almost every home event together until her death in 2014.
They are parents of Luther alumni Cheryl (Spilde) Dignan '73 and Criag Spilde '76 and grandparents of Stephen Dignan '10.

1972 graduate of the University of Wisconsin
He joined the Luther staff during the 1980-81 school year hired as the head wrestling coach, a title he held for for two years.
For the next 31 years he was an assistant football coach and also served a number of roles for the athletic department including Director of Athletic Facilities.
During his tenure, he was the grounds keeper for baseball and softball; assisted in the planning of the Sports and Recreation Center; assisted in the planning and building of the Legends Fitness Center; planned and oversaw the renovation of the Health and Physical Education and visiting locker rooms; developed protocols and risk management plan for the Community Use Program for the Regents Center; managed the Luther High Ropes and Challenge course. Perhaps his biggest challenge was the renovation of the baseball, softball, soccer and practice fields and the North Gym floor after the 2008 flood.
Semi-retired since 2012, Roger has continued to share his love of fishing to students, teaching Fly fishing and ice fishing skills classes. He has taught Fly fishing for 17 years and ice fishing the past three winters.

1978 graduate of Luther College.
1973 graduate of La Jolla High School, La Jolla, California.
Transferred to Luther from the University of Southern California in 1974.
During the 2023-34 athletics season Karl will be celebrating 34 years of volunteering his time to Luther athletics, operating the football and men's and women's basketball game clocks.
One of the most respected clock operators in the American Rivers Conference.
He has worked over 500 Luther games.
He has also worked numerous NCAA III softball, basketball regional games, conference tournament games, plus high school regular season and regional basketball games hosted by Luther.
Founded Decorah Bicycles and was part owner with Richard Gosen from 1982 until 1990.
In 1992, his wife, Gail Bolson '84 opened Agora Arts, and he set up the bookkeeping for the business.
1995 he opened his own accounting firm, Magnuson Consulting.