Alumni Award of Merit
The Alumni Award of Merit is an honor the college bestows on alumni who achieve outstanding success and are game changers in their career fields.
2025 recipient | Tim Johnson '76
For more than 45 years, Tim Johnson has devoted his life to encouraging and equipping influential leaders in athletics, business, and ministry across the heart of America. Known nationally as “the voice of college wrestling,” Tim is the longest-tenured television broadcaster in the sport’s history, calling nearly 500 meets since 1986 and serving on ESPN’s NCAA championship broadcast team since 2004.
Tim’s journey has been shaped by both hardship and hope. At just six years old, he nearly lost his leg in a lawn mower accident. Multiple surgeries and years on crutches left permanent damage, and doctors told him he could never play football. When he broke the news to his high school football coach—who also happened to be legendary wrestling coach Bob Darrah—he received a life-changing word: “Timmie, as long as you wrestle, you’ll be okay.” That encouragement ignited a lifelong passion for the sport and set Tim on a path of resilience, leadership, and faith.
After competing for Morning Sun High School and Coe College, Tim became a successful high school coach at Mt. Vernon, Ia. mentoring state champions including four-time champion Greg Randall. He went on to serve as Assistant Executive Director of USA Wrestling and as Director of Wrestling for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. His broadcasting career began with Iowa Public Television and has spanned nearly four decades with Iowa PBS, Big Ten Network, and ESPN. He has been honored as NWCA Broadcaster of the Year and WIN Magazine Journalist of the Year.Tim is a member of three halls of fame, including the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa, and in 2014 was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, receiving the prestigious Order of Merit for a lifetime of contributions to the sport.
Beyond wrestling, Tim has been a transformational leader in ministry and community. In 1993, he became Illinois’ first State Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), later serving as Midwest Region Vice President overseeing 240 staff across five states. From 2007 to 2020, he also served as Executive Director of Central Illinois Pinnacle Forum, helping business leaders live out their faith and influence for Christ. His leadership roles have extended to the YMCA, the American Sport Effectiveness Program, and numerous community boards.
A native of Morning Sun, Iowa, Tim holds degrees from Coe College (BA) and the University of Northern Iowa (MA). Tim lives in Champaign, Il. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Allie (Kyle) Ruschell of Chattanooga, TN, and Timmie of Colorado Springs, CO.
After 30 years with FCA, Tim recently retired and now looks forward with anticipation to what God has in store for his 70s. Whether behind a microphone, mentoring leaders, or serving the church, his life continues to be marked by one passion: to encourage others and magnify Christ in every sphere of influence.
Please note: while nominations are accepted year-round, only those submitted by January 31 will be considered for awarding at that year's Homecoming celebration.
Past recipients
2024 | Kenneth McMartin '73
2023 | Clinton Stevenson '73
2022 | Scott Riemenschneider '90
2021 | Paula Ginder Lentz '89
2019 | Bill Schmarzo '79
2018 | Bob Young '65
2017 | Jack Evans '70 and Janet Box-Steffensmeier '88
2016 | Bruce Spivey '56 and Herbert Brunkhorst '66
2015 | Gary Schlarbaum '65
2014 | Jung Lowe '54 and Richard Anderson '59
2013 | Richard Mackey '58 and Donald Roby '58
2012 | Don Erusha '52, Bruce W. Jafek '62 and Albert Kircher '51
2011 | Jane F. Early '61
2010 | David Jones '60
2009 | Johanna Josephson Abernathy '69 and Frank Westphal '44
2008 | Larry I. Bone '57, Ray R. Kavanaugh '68 and Mike R. Mead '67
2007 | David Herbert Cox '57, Shirley Hughes '67 and Howard Lenhoff '50
2006 | Russ Knapp '30 and Colette Freeman '56
2005 | Frank W. Bonvino '63 and Fran Reuse Hansen '65
2004 | Dean E. Hutter '44 and George T. Henry '49
2003 | Robert Turpin '63
2002 | Kenneth P. Roberts '42 and Peter S. Bryant '62
2001 | Robert J. Johnson '61
2000 | Eliza J. Ovrom '75 and Arthur D. Taylor '40
1999 | Elinor Kanaske Day '49
1998 | Douglas R. Gracey '58
1997 | Lester B. McAllister '42 and Dale D. Morgan '47
1996 | Robert O. Frederick '36, Jerome J. Leksa '46 and Nancy Hamblin Evans '71
1995 | Douglas W. Eastwood '40
1994 | Donald W. Brinckman '53
1993 | Carol Houghton Hollingsworth '21 and John P. Bickel '43
1992 | K. Raymond Clark '30
1991 | Theodore J. Miller '66
1990 | Milton F. Kiesau '29, William P. Whipple '35 and Samuel R. Jackson '40
1989 | H. Don Martin '40, Charles D. Metcalf '55 and Mary Jeanne Krob '74
1988 | Chester J. Petranek '38, George W. McNelly '50, Del F. Rusher '63 and Clark E. McLeod '68
1987 | Walter L. Ritter '62 and June Loughridge Lockemann '62
1986 | Howard W. Johnston '35, Vernon L. Stintzi '36, Jane Davis Roberts '41 and
M. Jerome Sabacky '61
1985 | Earl L. Meyers '30, Charles L. Selzer '35 and Wayne F. Baden '40
1984 | Warren K. Martin '34, Walter C. Schwank '34, Rodger E. Weismann '34 and
Mary Hamblin Ovrom '49
1983 | Vivian Eaton Buchan '33, Daniel B. Knock '33, Leona Mooney Ward '33 and Robert B. Evans '38
1982 | Hale C. Reid '22 and Gary A. Sojka '62
1981 | Ruth M. Webster '31, DeWayne W. Moore '36 and H. E. "Em" Wright '51
1980 | John L. Anderson '30, Arnold L. Brokaw '37 and Wade R. Franklin '25
1979 | William G. Murray '24, Harley L. Moore '40, Robert F. Ray '44, Allan C. Peremsky '54 and
Donald H. Niggemeyer '44
1978 | Gladys Ward '23, Herschel L. Bricker '28, Paul C. McWilliams '28 and Alice M. Sundberg '32
1977 | Clyde O. Bedell '19, Donald P. Chehock '29, Fred J. Petrick '29 and John W. Miller '26
1976 | William G. Hoyman '28, Lois Johnson Swaney '29, Beulah Detwiler Gundling '38 and
Donald R. Ebinger '47
1975 | James Canfield '22, Edna C. Dieman '25, John D. Krumboltz '50 and Vernon P. Smith '50
1974 | D. Kirkland West '24, Arthur D. Swarzentruber '35, Zora Pauk DuVall '47 and John D. Neff '49
1973 | Raymond L. Powell '23, Ann E. Miller '28, Forest M. Hinkhouse '48 and Louis E. Nelson '48
1972 | Fran Allison Levington '28, Thomas J. Brice '42 and Marv D. Levy '50
1971 | Edward P. Barrows '30, Harold R. Letner '33, Charles E. Troughear '27 and Robert R. Preston '20
1970 | J. Judson Taylor '30, Charles E. Loomis '44, Ruth Steele McMillan '16 and
Thomas B. McMillan '17
1969 | Ralph H. Clements '19, Inga B. Tapper '26, Barton Pope '22 and Isabel Biddick Winkrantz '25
1968 | A. B. Crites '16, George R. Baker '51, A. Lloyd Spooner '16 and W. Willis Bradley '17
1967 | B. De Wayne Silliman '17, George E Simpson '26, Clair V. Felker '40 and Grace Stewart Low '09
1966 | Eliza Hickok Kesler '31, M. G. Woodward '39, Frank E. Bauder '41 and Rose Marie Jun '49
1965 | Graham E. Harris '22, Ruth A. Outland '17, Donald R. MacKay '35 and John H. Blomquist '37
1964 | Bernadine C. Hanby '24, William H. Olmsted '09, Ella Johnson Miller '24 and
Richard F. Blomquist '34
1963 | Sarah Marquis '18, E. B. Shaw '20, Elizabeth M. Bender '25 and Irving M. Ariel '32
1962 | William V. Burger '22, Victor R. Hurka '37, Esther Youel Armstrong '25 and
Lawrence Kremers '20
1961 | Robert M. Wray '31, Dora Jane Hamblin '41 and Sarah Fong Sung '21
1960 | Burnard T. Pull '35, L. A. Woodward '30 and Robert S. Gates '31
1959 | C. J. Lynch '26, Forest Rittgers '25, Keith H. Storks '30, Ellen Swomley Kuhns '41 and
Ethel R. Outland '09
1958 | Grace Sailor Hamblin '14, Dr. C. Loyal Swanson '33, Harris A. Lamb '27, Thomas B. Powell '31 and Alma A. Turechek '25
1957 | Llewellyn Dunlap '05, Howard Helscher '27, Grant Perrin '22 and Gertrude Dieken '32
1956 | John C. Steinberg '16, Dr. & Mrs. Fred Murray 1895, Jay R. Townsend, Sr. '07,
Ben F. Wolverton '18, Elizabeth Patton Moss '25 and Ruby Hickman '30
1955 | Robert C. Armstrong '18, Alfred W. Meyer '24 and S. Donald Stookey '36
1954 | Donald P. McCrea '21, Henry P. Martin '18 and Ben Peterson '18
1953 | George E. Booth '05, Everette T. Evans '27 and Marvin Cone '14
1952 | Paul H. Engle '31, Edward S. Murray '30 and Owen Elliott '07
Award eligibility
- Professional success exemplifies the superior educational quality and ideals of Coe College.
- Nominees must have graduated from Coe College a minimum of 15 years ago.
- Award may be presented posthumously but living award recipients must be present to accept the award.
- Current members of Coe's Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors/President's Advisory Council, or Alumni Council cannot receive this award while serving their term.
Judging criteria
The Coe Alumni Council evaluates nominees based on the following weighted criteria:
60%–Distinction in their professional field
Recognition including, but not limited to, scholarship, awards, and leadership recognition by one's peers in, trade associations, business, education, sports, and medicine.
20%–Loyalty to Coe
Dedication to the college measured in volunteer service or financial stewardship including, but not limited to, admission assistance, student engagement, alumni events, Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors/President's Advisory Council, Alumni Council or Coe Fund.
20%–Community Engagement
Service to the nominee’s community, including, but not limited to, board, committee, task force, and volunteer service.