2002 charter members

Vern Den Herder '71
Football, men's basketball
Inducted October 25, 2002

Den Herder played 13 years as a defensive end for the NFL's Miami Dolphins (1971-83).

The Sioux Center, Iowa native turned down a Division I basketball scholarship to play both football and basketball while majoring in chemistry at Central College. Den Herder had played only one year of high school football, but earned all-America honors in 1969 and 1970. Den Herder was also a four-year starter in basketball, setting the career school scoring record and every rebounding record in the book, including an amazing 29 in one game.

Den Herder passed up an opportunity to attend veterinary school to play for the Dolphins, where he became a key component of the famed "No-Name Defense," which helped Miami post a perfect 17-0 record in winning the 1972 NFL crown. He was one of the first two NCAA Division III players ever inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

Dr. Camilla Ratering McCalmont '82
Women's cross country and women's track and field
Inducted October 25, 2002

The former Cam Ratering was
instrumental in Central winning the first
two of its nine women's NCAA Division III team championships.

McCalmont was Central's first two-sport
all-American—three times in cross country and twice in track and field. McCalmont helped the Dutch win the 1981 NCAA Division III cross country crown and the 1982 women's track and field title.

Ron Schipper
Head football coach, 1961-96
Athletics Director, 1965-93
Inducted October 25, 2002

In 36 years as Central's football coach, Schipper compiled a 287-67-3 record (.808), one of the highest totals in NCAA history.

Schipper piloted the Flying Dutchmen to a NCAA record 36 consecutive winning seasons. His Central teams won a record 18 Iowa Conference championships with 12 NCAA Division III playoff berths, winning the 1974 national crown and placing second in 1984 and 1988.

Schipper was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He was president of the 8,000-member American Football Coaches Association in 1994 and served on the group's board of trustees for 10 years.

Dick Schultz '50
Baseball, men's basketball, football
Inducted October 25, 2002


Schultz earned 10 varsity letters at Central and received professional offers in both football and baseball.

He was head men's basketball coach at the University of Iowa
from 1970-74 after serving as head baseball coach from 1964-70.

An athletics director at Virginia and Cornell, he served as executive director of the NCAA from 1987-94 and executive director of the U.S. Olympic Committee from 1995-2000.

Richard "Babe" Tysseling '32
Baseball, men's basketball, football, track and field
Inducted October 25, 2002


Tysseling earned 16 varsity letters, five more than any other athlete in school history.

He starred on Central's "Wonder Team," which posted a 37-game winning streak and won three straight Iowa Conference titles in basketball. He was Central's football coach from 1938-60 and athletics director until 1964.

Jeff Verhoef '80
Men's basketball
Inducted October 25, 2002

Verhoef is Central's all-time leading scorer. Prior to his arrival, Central had not won an outright Iowa Conference championship since 1936. During his Central career, the Dutch won outright league crowns all four years and also earned their first four NCAA Division III playoff berths. He still holds Central's career records in assists and blocked shots and is second in rebounds.