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Don Lindstrom - Wiscosnin Rapids Daily Tribune / Wisconsin State Journal

03/01/2002, 12:00am CST
By Wisconsin Sports Network

Inducted in 2002

Don Lindstrom was a Wisconsin State Journal sports writer/columnist for 29 years before 1988 retirement.

His newspaper career covered 43 years, and prior to joining the WSJ staff he was sports editor for the Holdrege (Nebraska) Daily Citizen and the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune.

A U.S. Navy World War II veteran, he participated in five major South Pacific invasions between 1943 and 1945. Graduate of Holdrege (Nebraska) High School in 1943 and the University of Nebraska in 1950 with a journalism degree, he earned nine prep letters in four sports, and also competed in collegiate track and baseball.

At WSJ he received plaudits statewide for prep columns and earned a reputation as a writing innovator. He has covered WlAA state football championships games since inception to 1989 and served on selection committees of all-state, all-area, all-city and all-Big Eight football, and also established city and conference record lists and compiled record books for media and coaches. He joined in choosing Wisconsin's all-time prep football honor team as well as serving on selection committees for Nebraska's first high school all-star game (1956) and WISAA state tournaments.

As a Nebraska American Junior Legion coach he managed his 1952-1956 baseball teams to three regional championships and one state runner-up.

Previously inducted into the Wisconsin Sports Halls of Fame (1995) in cross-country and (2001) in basketball, he received a Distinguished Service Award from the Wisconsin High School Athletic Directors Association. He covered WIAA state football title games since inception, as well as 25 WIAA state basketball finals.

Additional credits include nomination as Wisconsin Sports Writer of the Year (1960), president of the Madison Sports Hall of Fame (1971), and meritorious award from President Walter Byers and NCAA Track & Field (1978).

Career highlights were 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, 13 Drake Relays, Milwaukee Braves (1960's), six NCAA cross country and track championships, UW's 1962 Rose Bowl team, and Madison Mustangs and Central States Football League statistician (1964-1974). Post-retirement duties are service as an official in Madison and La Crosse WIAA State Track meets.

Tag(s): Hall of Fame