Richard Seidler (1999) - Hall of Fame

Richard Seidler

Induction:
1999
Class:
1947

Tradition is built through hard work and determination, and Richard Seidler is a perfect example of how tradition has been built at the University of Northern Iowa over the years.

Seidler was a 1940 graduate of East Waterloo (Iowa) High School, where he was a two-time all-state basketball player. He then went on to Iowa State Teacher's College to continue his basketball career. He saw limited action his freshman season, but his sophomore year would see him rewrite the record books. He started on a very inexperienced team which ended the season 10-9 overall with a third-place finish in the North Central Conference He led all scorers with 222 points on the season, breaking the previous scoring mark of 197 points set by Fred Lofquist in 1939-40. He scored 90 field goals which was also a school record and outdid the old mark of 82 by Lofquist. Seidler also set the single-game scoring record when he tallied 26 points in two games, breaking the old mark of 25. He led the team to its best offensive average with 39.47 points a game. He was named all-conference for his efforts.

The Panthers didn't enjoy as much team success in Seidler's junior season, finishing 3-8 and seventh in the conference, but he continued to shine individually. Seidler set records in highest field goal percentage, highest free throw percentage, lowest total fouls, and he twice set the record for high scorer in a single game. Seidler would not be able to play in 1944. He left school after enlisting as an Air Corp Cadet to help America fight in WWII, but he didn't give up basketball, playing on a championship service team in 1944 and 1945. Seidler returned to Iowa State Teacher's College in 1946, finishing his senior season of basketball. He also participated in track in 1942 and baseball in 1941. He graduated in 1947 with a teaching certificate.

He went on to Gladbrook (Iowa) High School where he coached football, basketball and baseball and taught science while also serving as athletic director. In 1948, he left Gladbrook for a job at Proctor and Gamble, where he helped with the introduction of Tide. Seidler wanted to stay involved with sports, so he began officiating on the side. He officiated major high school and college events, including Big Ten, Big 8, and Southeastern Conference games, in addition to some NFL and NBA games, for more than 20 years. Seidler retired in 1985.