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.
Harold LeVander
Football and Track & Field
Inducted: 1986
Harold LeVander came to Gustavus after demonstrating both athletic and academic excellence at Watertown High School of Watertown, Minnesota, earning nine athletic Ietters, and attaining recognition as an orator, public speaker, and debater. While at Gustavus, LeVander earned three letters in football and four in track. He set the state coilegiate record in high hurdles while a senior and in that same year, finished first in high hurdles, third in pole vault, and third in low hurdles at the MIAC Conference meet.
Amidst lots of practices, LeVander also competed with the college debate team, joined a fraternity, and served as student council president his sophomore and junior years. In addition, he served as class president in his freshman and senior years. After receiving his B.A. from Gustavus in 1932, he went on to the University of Minnesota Law School where he received his LLB in 1935. In 1967, after a thirty-two year career as an attorney, educator, civic leader and churchman, LeVander was sworn in as the 32nd Governor of the State of Minnesota after having received with the highest vote total ever by a Republican up to that point. Upon concluding his term, he rejoined the law firm of LeVander, Gillen, Miller and Magnuson in South St. Paul. Gov. LeVander, who died in 1992 was survived by his wife, Iantha, and their three children, Hap, Jean, and Dyan, all of whom attended Gustavus.