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.
Milton Gabrielsen
Baseball, Football, Gymnastics, Swimming & Diving, and Track & Field
Inducted: 1978
Milton A. Gabrielsen '34 set an all-time record in his sophomore year by winning letters in five different sports - football, baseball, swimming, track and gymnastics - and added the college golf championship to his other athletic achievements. In 1933 Gustavus won state championships in football, baseball, gymnastics and swimming, and he was a member of each of the squads. He excelled in swimming and held the 40 yard dash mark in 1932 while also joining with his brothers to hold the medley relay record. He was a member of the football team in the backfield, an infielder in baseball, and a sprinter on the track team.
He taught in St. Peter and Rochester for five years and for thirty years was Professor of Education and Director of the Professional Recreation curricula at New York University from which he retired in 1971 as Professor Emeritus. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. from NYU in 1940 and 1946 respectively. From 1971-76 he was Director of Studies in Human Habitability at Nova University and since 1976 has served as Special Assistant to the President of that University. He also had 11 years of active service in the U.S. Navy between 1941 and 1971 and retired as a Captain in 1971. He has had many significant studies and consultations and has authored numerous publications.