George Dutcher (1988) - Hall of Fame

George Dutcher

Induction:
1988
Class:
1946

George Charles "Pappy" Dutcher graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1934. He earned three letters in football, was team captain, an all-conference selection and was named to the all-state second team in 1933. He also was all-city in both 1932 and 1933. He attended Iowa State Teachers College from 1936-39 and 1945, earning his degree the summer of 1946. He played both quarterback and halfback from 1937-39 and in 1945. Described as a "real crasher who has plenty of shiftiness when he cared to use it", he was named MVP and all-conference in 1938. He was all-conference again in 1939.

He was president of the "I" Club in 1946 and was a recipient of the Purple and Old Gold Award the same year. From 1946-49, Dutcher taught and coached at Oelwein where his teams compiled a 24-10 mark. They were Northeast Iowa Conference champions once and placed second once and third twice. He also coached basketball from 1947-48, taking Oelwein to its first state tournament. In 1950, he returned to West High to coach football and teach social science and physical education. Renowned for the use of the single wing offense, his teams compiled an 88-50-6 mark.

Dutcher retired from coaching in 1966, but among the many outstanding athletes he mentored was former Dallas Cowboys standout Don Perkins, who played in the early '60s. In 1968, he was named to the High School Coaches Football Hall of Fame. Throughout his athletic career, Dutcher officiated both basketball and football. In fact, he officiated a few NBA games when Waterloo was affiliated with the NBA.