Lee Wachenheim (1999) - Hall of Fame

Lee Wachenheim

Induction:
1999
Class:
1951

It is a wonderful gift of a collegiate athlete to give back to the younger generation that follows. Lee Wachenheim is one of these special people. He attended Iowa State Teacher's College from 1947 to 1951, where he was a member of the wrestling and football teams.

He made his presence known from day one on the football team. In 1947, he was named honorable mention all-North Central Conference for his outstanding play at tackle. He was an all-conference selection from 1948-51. He also was honorable mention Little All-America his senior year. Perhaps his most impressive statistic was that during his last two seasons, he played all but 2:09 of all of the games on both offense and defense.

Wachenheim also was a letterwinner on the wrestling team from 1949-1951. In 1950, under Coach Dave McCuskey, ISTC finished first in the nation. His other achievements include being named to Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges in 1950-51, to the 1950-51 House Council, an officer in the LettermanÕs Club from 1948-51, he was on the Interfraternity Council, and has been a Phi Delta Kappa Life Member since 1952.

Wachenheim graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education. He then went on to Corning, Iowa, where he was the physical education and industrial arts teacher from 1951-54, was well as an assistant football and basketball coach. He established that school's wrestling program in 1952, and he was the head coach until 1954. He then went to Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, Colo., where he received his Master of Arts degree in educational administration.

From 1954-55, he went to Guttenburg High School in Guttenburg, Iowa, where he was the physical education and health teacher. He went on to establish that school's football program, serving as head football and basketball coach. Wachenheim then moved to York Community High School in Elmhurst, Ill., in 1955, as a physical education and mechanical drawing teacher until 1988. He also was a driver's education teacher and Director of Driver's Education. He was named Who's Who in American Education in 1955-56. During his tenure there, Wachenheim was an assistant football and wrestling coach, head wrestling coach, and freshman/sophomore baseball coach.