Danny
Barker
(Class of 1956)
2006 DSU Athletic Hall of Fame Recipient
Danny Barker
graduated from General Beadle State Teacher's College in 1956.
He was a three sport athlete, playing football, basketball, and
participating in track and field for three years.
Danny has
stayed in Madison for his entire career. From 1957 to 1959, he
worked at Lincoln Elementary as a teacher and coach. In 1959,
he began working at General beadle Campus High School as a teacher,
head basketball and assistant track coach. From 1964 until
1975, Danny had various jobs in Madison High School. He was
sophomore basketball, football, and head track coach. From
1967 until 1990, Danny served as Athletic Director. In 1977,
he was named Assistant Principal.
Some honors
that Danny has had include SDIAAA Hall of Fame
(2003), Madison High School Hall of Fame (1999), SDHSCA Official of
the Year (1998-1999), Dakota State College Alumni Coach of the Year
(1976), SDHSCA 25 year Coaching Award (1982), Danny Barker Chamber
Track Meet Honorary Referee (1981, 1990), SDHSADA Hall of Fame
(1990), DSU Outstanding Educator Award (1990), SDHSAA Distinguished
Service Award (1991), and SDHSCA Hall of Fame (1994).
Danny
Barker lives in Madison, South Dakota with his wife Shirley.
His first wife, Marjorie, passed away. He is the father of two
children, Susan and Steven (deceased 1990). He has six
step-children, 20 grandchildren and step-grandchildren, and one
great grandchild. Since retiring, Danny enjoys archery hunting
in Africa, Canada, and other states, and fishing on the Missouri
River at Whitlock (he has a cabin there). Danny owns and
operates an archery business that is located in his home where a
large portion of his time is spent with his customers. Danny
regularly attends athletic events, like wrestling, since several of
his grandsons participate.
Danny
attended high school at Thomas High School. He participated in
all of the sports offered in high school and lettered in them all.
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John
Collignon
(Class
of 1970)
2006
DSU Athletic Hall of Fame Recipient
John Collignon
graduated from Dakota State College in 1970 with a Bachelor's degree
in Education with an emphasis on social studies and physical
education. He played football and ran track.
After college, John was a teacher
and principal in the Tea School district for six years. He
taught social studies and physical education. He them moved to
Lake Central School District where he served in various capacities
as the High School Assistant Activities Director, Intramural
director, Head Wrestling, Football, and Cross Country Coach, and
Assistant Football and Track coach from 1977 until 2002.
Some of the honors and activities
John has been awarded and involved in include 8-time nominee for
South Dakota Coach of the Year, South Dakota Cross Country coach of
the Year, 4 Cross Country Championship titles, 4 Cross Country
Combined Championship titles, 6 State Cross Country Runner-Up
titles, Dakota State University Alumni Coach of the Year, and 5-year
member of the South Dakota Wrestling Advisory board.
John is married to Linda and has
one son, Scott and two daughters, Sara & Susan.
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Judy
Dittman
2006 DSU Athletic Hall of Fame Recipient
Judy Dittman
began teaching and coaching at Dakota State in the fall of 1978 and
during her tenure she has taught, coached basketball, softball, and
track, was the Director of Athletics from 1985 to 1996 and also
1999-2000, Director of the Wellness Center and has served and
chaired numerous committees.
Her
basketball teams won nine SDIC Championships in 12 years (1979-1988,
1990 and 1991) with 8 consecutive conference championships from
1980-1987. Her teams still hold SDIC records for the most
conference wins in a season with perfect 14-0 records in both 1982
and 1983. Her overall coaching record is 185-119 for a 61%
winning percentage while her SDIC coaching record is 109-22 for an
83% winning percentage. Included in that domination is a 35
game win streak which extended from February 5, 1981 to January 21,
1984. Her teams still hold a number of records including seven
of the ten spots for most consecutives wins including the top three
spots and most points per game average in a single season with the
top five spots.
In those 12
years, she coached one NAIA All-American, seven All-District
players, four SDIC MVP players and 33 All-Conference players.
In five of those 12 seasons, three DSU players were named to the
10-player All-Conference team and in two years (1984 & 1985) four of
the 10 players were from DSU. Nine of her players have been
inducted inot the DSU Athletic Hall of Fame and last year was
another first when her 1983-84 team was inducted.
Coach
Dittman was named SDIC Coach of the Year five times in seven years
(1984-1987 and 1990). In 1984, she was named South Dakota
Women's college Coach of the year by the South Dakota Sportswriters
Association.
In addition
to basketball, Judy coached softball for three seasons. Her
softball teams won two SDIC Conference Championships with a perfect
12-0 record in 1982 and an 8-1 record in 1983. The 1982 team
was crowned the SDAIAW State Champions as they came through the
losers' bracket to defeat Mt. Marty 5-0 and 8-6. The final
highlight of the season came when DSU hosted the Region 6
Championship (teams from South Dakota, Minnesota & Iowa) and
finished 3rd. Three members of the
Lady T's team were named to the Region 6 All-Tournament team that
year.
In 1992-93,
Judy was chosen NAIA District 12 Athletic Administrator of the Year.
As Athletic Director, Judy developed and implemented long-range
scholarship fundraising programs with the initiation of endowed
scholarships in the following sports: women's basketball,
men's basketball, football, volleyball and track and field.
Judy was inducted into the South Dakota-Iowa Conference Hall of Fame
in 1998 and is the only female coach to be inducted. She was
inducted into the Black Hills State University Athletic Hall of Fame
in 1990.
Judy was
instrumental in beginning the DSU Wellness Center and served as the
Director for a number of years. She is known for her active
participation with committee work on campus and this spring, she was
selected by a committee of her peers as the recipient of the DeWayne
Mork Excellence in Service Award.
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Lemar
Nelson
(Class of 1954)
2006
DSU Athletic Hall of Fame Recipient
LeMar Nelson
graduated from General Beadle State Teachers' College in 1954.
He was a four year starter on the basketball team.
LeMar made his mark at General
Beadle by setting the most points in a single game at 38 in
conference play and 35 in non-conference play; he held these titles
for a few years. Throughout his four-year career, LeMar scored
a total of 1,004 points with 17.6 points per game average and a
career free throw percentage of 76%. LeMar was the SDIC second
leading scorer and All-Conference in 1954.
LeMar was very involved on
campus. He was the Student Body President, in several drama
productions, editor of both the yearbook and newspaper, a member of
Kappa Sigma Iota honorary fraternity, and Who's Who in American
Colleges and Universities.
After college, LeMar taught at
Chester, SD for three years and at Blooming Prairie, MN for 35
years. He reired in 1992. Some other things that LeMar
has been involved with include playing baseball, choir member at
madison Lutheran Church, North Central Association Accreditation
Committee member, community theater actor and director, National
Security Seminar at US War College member, reporter for newspaper,
and Board of Director for Boys and Girls' Club. LeMar has
received honors from the Region 1A Athletic Directors Association
(Distinguished Service Award), Blomming Prairie Jaycees (2002
Lifetime Achievement), Minnesota High School Journalism Advisor of
the Year (1986), and Minnesota Honor Roll Teacher of the Year
(1966).
LeMar Nelson now lives in
Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. LeMar and his late wife, Anne,
have three daughters, Anne, Teri, and Renee. He also has three
grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Some of LeMar's
hobbies include coin collecting, music, reading, camping, sports,
and movies.
LeMar started his athletic
coaching and teaching career at high school at Chester High School
in Chester, South Dakota. He participated in Boys' State,
speech, chorus, and basketball at Strandsburg High School in
Strandsburg, SD.
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Mike
Parry
(Class of
1995)
2006 DSU Alumni Coach of the Year
Mike Parry
graduated from Howard High School in 1991. He graduated from
Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business
Education in 1995.
Mike Parry has been a technology
coordinator, business and computer teacher in the Arlington School
district for 11 years and the Head coach of the Arlington Cardinals
Boys' Basketball Team for nine years. He coached Arlington to
a 5th Place finish in the 2005 State 'A' Tournament and a State 'B'
Championship in 2006. He was named the South Dakota Boys'
Basketball Coach of the Year and 2006 Dakota State University Alumni
Coach of the Year.
Mike is married to his wife,
Lisa. They have three children, Josie (9),
Will (6), and Grace (2).
