David L. Gardner – WHS Class of 1957

Basketball – 4 time letter winner

Baseball – 4 time letter winner

Football – 4 time letter winner; Co-captain of football team as a senior; Honorable Mention All State

College – Iowa State College, Football ‘58; Worthington Junior College-Football ‘59; University of Minnesota – Journalism degree

Other – Chairman of the Communications Committee American Mining Congress; Chairman Public Information Committee of the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota; Chairman Public Relations Committee of the American Iron Ore Association, V.P. and members- Board of the Mineral Information Institute (Denver); Board member and chairman- Donor resources committee of the American Red Cross Blood services of Northern Ohio, Chair – League of Women Voters of Cleveland Education Fund; Chair- Parks and Recreation Commission (North Olmstead)

David and his wife, Sylvia (Robers – WHS Class of 1958) have 4 children, Lynne, Michael, Paul and Scott. David was a news reporter after college for Duluth Herald and News-Tribune. He is currently Manager- Public Affairs for Pickands Mather & Co. an iron ore mining and shipping firm in Minnesota, Michigan, Canada, and Australia. He enjoy golf, bowling and Lake Erie Walleye fishing. At one time he played for Worthington Cubs. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1994.

Posted on Wed, April 22, 2020 by Clasine Lester

Willis Rohwedder – WHS Class of 1945

Willis Rohwedder- WHS Class of 1945

Football – Lettered 2 years

Basketball – Lettered 2 years

Cross Country – Lettered 1 Year; State Champion; Team placed third at state

Track – Lettered 2 years; State Mile Champion ‘44; 2nd place at Districts ‘45; 1st place at Regions ‘45; 5th place at State in ‘45; All-State Squad, Amateur Sports Award ‘45

Willis served in the Army at the end of World War II as a paratrooper instructor. He and his wife, Marjorie, have 3 sons, Allen, Robert, and William. Willis was a machinist for International Harvestor until retirement. Now he resides in Baldwin, Iowa and enjoys fishing and hunting. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1993.

Posted on by Clasine Lester

Thomas J. Rayl – WHS Class of 1966

Football – Lettered 3 years; 8-1 Season; All-Conference Team ‘66; Quarterback & co-captain ‘66

Basketball – Lettered 3 years; Southwest Conference Title ‘66; District 8 Championship ‘66; WCCO Prep Parade Team of the Week ‘66; All Conference ‘66

Baseball – Lettered 2 years

Track – Lettered 1 Year

Academics and Activities – National Honor Society, Homecoming Attendant, Senior Class Vice-President; Graduated top 10 in class; Choir

College – United States Air Force Academy, Football (4 years), Intramural Sports, Member of Squadron Wrestling Team, Champions, Fellowship of Christian Athletes; B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering ‘70; M.B.A. Purdue University ‘79

Awards – American Red Cross recognition ceremony and certificate for saving a man’s life; Major General John K. Hester Award for “The Cadet Who Best Exemplifies the Highest Ideals of Loyalty, Integrity, and Courage”

Thomas served 20 years in the United States Air Force retiring in 1990. He was an Instructor pilot and T-38 jet trainer in Mississippi. Later he was a crew member and instructor for the B-52 in South Dakota. Thomas was Military Governor of Wake Island in 1982. Participated in Squadron Athletics through all 20 years in the Air Force (Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, and Golf). Currently First Officer Co-pilot on 727 for United Airlines. He and his wife, Sandra (Berger Class of 1964) have 3 children, Wendy, Heather, and Becky. They reside in Atwater, CA. Thomas is an active member of First Baptist Church in Merced, California. He plays on the city softball league. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1993.

Posted on by Clasine Lester

George F. Rayl – WHS Class of 1966

Football – letter winner (3 times); Co-captain senior year; All-State Center

Wrestling – Co-captain senior year; Lettered 3 years; Participated at state – 175lbs

Track – letter winner

Baseball – letter winner (3 times)

Academics and Activities – National Honor Society, Chosen as a junior; Choir, 3 years; Soloist, 2 years; Ensemble, 3 years; Homecoming Attendant Sophomore year, Junior Class Treasurer

College – United States Air Force Academy -Football, lettered 4 years, played in two post-season bowl games in 1969; Intramural sports; B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering 1970; Superintendent’s List each semester

Awards – American Red Cross recognition ceremony and certificate for saving a man’s life; Major General John K. Hester Award – for “The Cadet Who Best Exemplifies the Highest Ideals of Loyalty, Integrity, and Courage”

George served 10 years in the United States Air Force. He was an Instructor pilot and T-38 jet trainer in Mississippi. Later he was a crew member and instructor for the B-52 in South Dakota. George participated in Squadron Athletics through all ten years: Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, and Golf. He married Mary Spenser in 1974. They have 3 children, Michael Spenser a senior at the United States Naval Academy, Matthew Rayl a sophomore at Annandale High School, and Kara Spenser, a junior at Duke University. George is presently a Captain of an Airbus for Continental Airlines and resides in Annandale, NJ. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1993.

Posted on by Clasine Lester

Shirl Held – At Large

Kenyon High School Class of 1936

Football – Captain; Lettered 2 years

Basketball – Captain; Lettered 3 years; All District 2 years

Golf – 4 time letter winner

Baseball – 3 time letter winner

College – Macalester, St. Paul, Football- lettered 2 years, honorable Mention All conference; Basketball – lettered 3 years, All State Team, Captain; Golf– lettered 4 years; Football– sophomore year; Named to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Other – Coached 6 years of high school basketball, football, track, baseball and golf; Coached 1 year of college basketball and football; Served in the armed forces for 4 1/2 years during World War II.

Teacher, principal and superintendent for 38 years.
Superintendent for District 518 from 1962-1982

Shirl and his wife, Alice, have 2 children, Pam and Steve. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1993.

Posted on by Clasine Lester

Floyd “Baldy” Nelson – Coach

Cambridge High School Class of 1936

College – Augustana College – Football (all conference 3 years), Basketball, Track; South Dakota University; South Dakota State University; Mankato State University; Southwest State University

Coach – Varsity Track ’52-56. District 8 Champion 11 years. Started the wrestling program with co-coach Milton Osterberg in ’54

Other – Member of Worthington Area Industries, Inc; Member of American Legion; Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars; Past member of Board of Directors – Worthington Country Club; Past President – Worthington Education Association; Past President – Southwest Division of Minnesota Education Association; Past Member of Minnesota Education Association Board of Directors (9 years); Past Member of Council for Exception Children; Member of Retired Educator’s Association of Minnesota; Past Chairman of Worthington City Charter Revision; Member of the first School District 518 Community Education Board; Member of the first YMCA “Know Your Government Seminar”; Director Title III Summer Project for the Retarded. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1992.

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Ron Lorenz – WHS Class of 1961

Wrestling – Varsity wrestler 3 years; Senior record 22-0; State Champion 1961 at 127 lbs.; Worthington’s first state individual champion

Activities – FFA – President as a senior, Vice President as a junior

College – Worthington Community College Associate of Arts 1963- Wrestling, Southern Minnesota Junior College Conference Champion 1962 & 1963; All 8 team members were Conference Champions and place 2nd in the Conference; National Junior College Tournament Champion 1962, 4th Place 1963; University of Minnesota Bachelor of Business and Economics 1965

Ron and his wife, Pat (Dunn – Class of 1962) have 2 children, Terri and Tony. Ron has worked with the Federal Highway Administration in 6 states since 1965. Currently he is with the Land Acquisition Department in Colorado. He organized and coached wrestling and soccer in Little League programs. He played adult soccer. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1992.

Posted on by Clasine Lester

Dave Fagerness – WHS Class of 1949

Football – Lettered 3 years; Offensive & Defensive End; Honorable Mention on All-State Team

Basketball – Lettered 3 years; All District ‘49; Played center; All-District pivot man; District Champions ‘49; Region Runner-up ‘49

Track – Lettered 3 years

Activities – Student Council President ‘49; Worthington High Star

College – University of Minnesota ‘53, Business, NROTC, Gopher Basketball; University of Denver ’56-57, Masters in Accounting. Dave was formerly a CPA and resort owner. He enjoys working in his vineyard and landscaping. He plays racquetball and golf. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1992.

Posted on by Clasine Lester

Dwayne Hochhalter – WHS Class of 1966

Football – Lettered 3 years; Set school record for offensive points

Basketball – All-Conference (2 years)

Track – State participant ’65 & ‘66; Holds WHS shot put record

College – Morningside College ‘70 – Football (lettered in ’66), Fraternity treasurer, BA Business Administration

Dwayne married Mary Hurley (WHS Class of 1966) and they had 2 daughters, Susan and Gretchen. He was Treasurer and Director of Alumni Association of the fraternity after graduation. Dwayne worked for the FDIC as a Bank Examiner in Des Moines, IA. He served on Church Counsel & treasurer. Dwayne was an Adult Sponsor Fellowship of Christian Athletes and received Outstanding Service Award from the chapter in ’81. Later he was the Executive Vice President of the bank in Perry, IA ’81-87. He was recognized as an Outstanding Young Man in America. Dwayne was a School District Board Member since ’83 and High School Booster Club Membership Chairman since ’90. He’s a member of the church choir, enjoys traveling, racquetball, basketball and following his daughters’ activities. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1992.

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Gordon Thompson – WHS Class of 1923

Baseball –1922

Basketball – 1922, 1923

Football – 1920, 1921, 1922; All State Honorable Mention 1921, The team played for the southern state title in 1920, won it in 1921 and played for the state championship in1921. They lost to Alexandria at the old Northrup Field at the University of Minnesota in a foot of snow.

Track – 1921

Awards – Second Best Athlete 1922-1923, American Legion Award and watch for combination of scholastics and other activities in high school.

College – Huron College 1923-1924, Football – All Conference team ; University of Minnesota – spring football

Gordon and his wife, Sylvia have a daughter, Jane. He was the City Clerk/Manager Utilities for the city of Worthington until he retired in 1972. Gordon enjoys golf. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1991.

Posted on by Clasine Lester