'49-'51 Football, Basketball, Baseball

Bill Holsclaw attended Estherville Junior College from 1949-1951 he will be going into the Hall of Fame for football, basketball, and baseball.

After graduating from Estherville H.S., 17 guys enlisted in the US Army and they were deployed to Korea. After discharge, he enrolled in EJC. He wanted to play football, and get some direction to his life. It was very beneficial economically and socially to attend in his own backyard.

He played offensive and defensive end on the State Jr. College championship team and was awarded Honorable Mention. They also had winning basketball and baseball teams. He enjoyed his Jr. College teammates and fondly remembers those "end-around" passes to George Hess that scored many touch-downs. The entire community of Estherville provided strong support.

Henry Koob, his coach had a great impact on his life, as well as his Sunday school teacher, Marv Grebe. Bill also remembers Floyd Horton, a strong supporter, who provided a "port in the storm" for the athletes. His grandmother raised him with "tough love" while his Mom worked hard to provide extra cash.

At this time, Bill signed a minor league pitching contract with the then Brooklyn Dodgers. Just as he was to report to the training camp, his contract was terminated due to the federalization of his National Guard unit. He reported to Nuremberg, Germany. While there he was selected to play defensive end on the infantry football team, that went on to win the Eucon Army Championships.

Upon release, he was awarded a scholarship to Morningside College, where he was a 5-sport letterman. He co-captained the 1954 championship football team and served as 'M Club" president. In 2012 this team was inducted into their Hall of Fame. After graduating in mid-year, he went on to get his teaching/coaching certificate from UNI.

His career started at Clinton High School where he taught 33 years in the Social Studies Dept. and coached spring track, cross country, swimming and football. He still is involved in coaching the jumps and hurdles after 57 years. On his 50th year, his athletes saw to it that the CHS track was named the "Bill Holsclaw Track"!  His teams won a total of 9 State championships in Cross Country and Spring Track, with 3 State runner-ups in Cross Country, 18 individual state champions and 4 state relay titles.

He was selected State Coach of the year 6 times in his career, honorary  referee of the Drake Relays, and inducted into the Iowa Track Coaches Hall of Fame in 1987. This past fall he was inducted into the CHS Athletic Hall of Fame.

He says that his best team mate in life has been his wife, Rose, who has been at his side since they met at Morningside College over 57 years ago. They have been blessed with two supportive and talented children. You have probably watched Dave kick for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and now lives in Columbus, Ohio.  Annie, our daughter, of Madison, WI, has provided us with many artistic moments. Our two granddaughters , Emily, a 6 foot volleyball athlete, now resides in NYC with a Master's degree in Opera Performance, and Cheris, is a Junior in High School, a promising UW student.