IADA Hall of Fame

Gene served as the athletic director for 24 years at Cobden High School. He was the head boys' baskeball coach from 1965 until 1989 and the head softball coach from 1992 until 1999. Gene served on the orginal committee to create and organize the IADA Hall of Fame and also on the IADA committee to update and rewrite the constitutuion and by-laws. Gene was the IADA Historian for 6 years. He was on the Conference Committee seven times and served as a district representative. Gene was hnored as the "Outstanding Athletic Director of the YEar" in 1984 and 1985 and the "Class A Outstanding Athletic Director of the Year" in 1988. Being the athletic director in a small community, Gene knew how important the apprearance of his building, fields, and teams were to his town. He made sure people understood "Appleknocker Pride" even if it meant extra hours on his part. Gene served on the Village Board of Cobden for two terms and as Mayor for two terms.