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.
Archibald Harris
Swimming & Diving
Inducted: 1983
Archie Harris '50, a member of the Virginia H.S. championship swimming teams of 39, '40 & '41, was state champion in 220 & 440 yd. freestyle relay respectively in '40 & '41, and was H.S, All-American those two years. He entered college the fall of '41 and enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard that December. After spending 3 years in the So. Pacific he resumed college and transferred to G.A. in '48. As a member of the Gustavus swimming team he became con- ference champion and record holder in: 100, 200 & 400 freestyle and 150 yd. individual medley, and was team captain 1949-50. The'48-49 team was MIAC champs. He received his master's degree from Univ, of Iowa in 42 and did additional graduate work at George Williams College, Western Illinois Univ., and Univ, of Illinois. From 1952-57 he was physical ed. director of the YMCA in Monmouth, Ill., swimming instructor at Monmouth H.S., and swimming and cross country coach at Monmouth College.
From 1957-81 he was head swimming coach and instructor of health & phy.ed. at Ill. State Univ., and retired after 35 years in the Ill. educational system. From 1981-83 he served as an admissions counselor for Lincoln College. He has been involved in numerous areas of the swimming & diving program of the YMCA with service on boards and committees, was a member of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Committee 1976-80, and served in several capacities ior community and national programs including the American Red Cross.
Archie has been honored on several occasions by the YMCA, the State of Illinois, and Illinois State Univ. He and his wife Harriett had four children: Beth, Mark (deceased), Scott and Kerri, and live in Normal, Illinois.