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.
Jill Hanson
Basketball, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, and Track & Field
Inducted: 1995
A gifted athlete who excelled in a myriad of sports, Jill Lindquist Hanson is best remembered as the first female athlete at Gustavus to participate on a varsity men's team. Hanson was a goalkeeper for the Golden Gusties soccer team in 1973. Along with her participation in soccer, Hanson competed on the softball, track, swimming, basketball and tennis teams. As a member of the first women's track and field team in 1974, Hanson claimed fourth place in the 800 meter run and 12th place in the shot put at the state meet. She also competed in the pole vault, clearing eight feet.
After graduating with a degree in physical education, Hanson was hired as an elementary physical education teacher in Buffalo, where she has stayed for the past 21 years. She has also coached tennis, gymnastics, basketball, track and field, and cross country. Currently, Jill is the co-head coach of the girls' cross country team (where she has directed four teams to the state tournament) and president of the Minnesota Girls' Cross Country Coaches Association. Aside from her coaching, Hanson has been active in marathon running where she has competed in the Boston Marathon twice, Grandma's Marathon (finishing fourth in 1979), the City of Lakes Marathon (taking first place in 1976) and the U.S. Women's National Marathon (placing fifth in 1977). Jill lives in Montrose with her husband, Dan '73, and four children Erik, Ben, Carlie Joan, and Max.