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.
Bob Southworth
Basketball and Football
Inducted: 2014
As efficient at dissecting opposing secondaries as he was deadly with his jump shot, Bob Southworth is one of the most decorated multi-sport student-athletes in the modern history of Gustavus athletics. A quarterback on the football team and a wing on the basketball team - and a captain of both teams - Southworth's impact on both the gridiron and hardwood was so great that by the time his collegiate career came to an end in 1999, he was the only student-athlete in NCAA history to pass for 7,000 yards and score 1,000 points.
A student of the game with a calm and quintessential pocket presence, Southworth delivered strikes with his trademark quick release and smooth delivery. He graduated as the program's premier passer and earned all-conference honors twice, in 1997 and 1998. He was the school-record holder in career passing yards (7,085), touchdowns (59), and completions (561), and ranks fifth all-time in completion percentage (561/986, 56.9%). He passed for over 300 yards six times and held program records for single-season passing touchdowns with 31 (1998) and single-game passing touchdowns with six (1998 vs. Hamline).
On the basketball court, Bob played on Gustavus teams that won MIAC championships in 1995—96 and 1996—97 and MIAC playoff titles in 1997, 1998, and 1999, and made four straight NCAA tournament appearances. Southworth played in 86 games and finished his career a 50.4-percent shooter with 1,001 career points. He earned all-conference accolades twice following his junior and senior seasons, and was named the team's most valuable player his senior year.
Bob graduated with a degree in business management in 1999. He spent a year working as a claims adjuster at Federated Insurance in Owatonna before moving back to St. Peter where he accepted a position at Hometown Bank. Southworth is currently the vice president/chief credit officer at Hometown Bank and lives in St. Peter with his wife, Sara (Schonrock '99), and their daughters, Annika and Kylie.