Athletic Hall of Fame
The Gustavus Adolphus College Hall of Fame was established in 1978 at which time 19 "Charter Members" were inducted either as coaches or as athletes. As of the fall of 2022, 348 individuals (321 athletes, 16 coaches and 11 benefactors) have been elected to the Hall of Fame.
The former Hall of Fame room on the second floor of the Lund Center was originally partially endowed by the families of both Dwight Holcombe's (the only father/son combination holding membership in the Hall). The hardwood plaque upon which the individual plates are permanently displayed, now in the Hall of Champions, was donated by the family of former football coach and Hall of Fame member Jocko Nelson, who passed away in 1978.
Bernard Dusich
Hockey
Inducted: 1999
A talented forward on three MIAC Championship hockey teams (1972, 1973, 1975), Bernie Dusich was a strong all-around player who was a prolific goal scorer, an adept passer, and a strong defender. He graduated as the fifth leading scorer in school history with 53 goals and 58 assists for 111 points. In 1974, Dusich received NAIA All-America honors and was named co-MVP of the MIAC as the Gusties compiled a record of 20-5 overall and finished third at the NAIA Championships. In his senior season, Dusich missed most of the first half of the year with an injury, but he got healthy late in the year and helped the Gusties to a MIAC title and a second place finish at the NAIA Championships. During Dusich's four years at Gustavus, the Gusties compiled an overall record of 77-20, including a 43-5 mark in the MIAC. He is one of only 11 Gustavus hockey players to have been named all-conference three times in his career.
After graduating magna cum laude with majors in psychology and political science, Dusich went on to receive his juris doctor from William Mitchell College of Law. He has been in private practice since 1980. In 1988, Dusich joined Sieben, Polk, LaVerdiere, Jones and Hawn and is currently a partner with the firm. He is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the Minnesota State Bar Association and he was recently elected to the board of governors of the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association. Bernie lives in Apple Valley with his wife, Kari (Hanson '76). They have two children, Stephen and Rachel.