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.
Constance Fortin
Track & Field and Volleyball
Inducted: 2000
Connie Fortin was the first women's volleyball player to receive both all-region and all-state honors at a time when the women's athletics program was beginning its affiliation with the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the early '80s. Fortin was a very versatile player who contributed both as a setter and as a hitter for Head Coach Gretchen Koehler. She received the team's Queen Bee Award for most service aces in 1980 with 38 and set the school record for single season serving percentage at 99.6% in 1981. With Fortin serving as the team captain in 1981, Gustavus set a school record for wins in a season with 25 and finished second in the MIAC with a record of 7-1. In addition to her exploits on the volleyball court, Fortin was also a standout in track and field where she competed in the discus. She set the school record with a throw of 128'0 in 1979 and that mark stood for over 10 years.
After graduating with majors in biology and computer science, Fortin began a career as a computer programmer working in software development with Northwest Airlines, Analysts International and Avionics Research from 1982 until 1995. She received her master's degree in software design and development from the University of St. Thomas in 1988. She is currently president of Fortin Consulting, an environmental consulting firm in Plymouth, Minnesota. Connie lives in Plymouth with her husband, Roman Rowan, and three stepchildren, Terry Flottmeier, and Mike and Becki Rowan.