Hall of Honor
A firm believer in having every man compete in some sport, Louis Means enlarged the scope of intercollegiate athletics and developed an outstanding intramural program in nine years at Beloit College. Named Athletic Director and Coach in 1936 after a highly successful reign in the same capacities at Green Bay East High School, he guided Beloit through an era that included conference championships in football and swimming, state titles in basketball, wrestling, and golf, and the Wisconsin AA21 crown in cross country. Means gained wide recognition as the creator of the Beloit Relays, described as “the only night intercollegiate relay carnival” before their interruption by World War II. He left Beloit – and a quarter-century coaching record that found his teams in six sports winning more than 800 decisions and there-dozen championships – to become director of Student Physical Welfare at the University of Nebraska. Before retiring in 1966, he also served with the California State Department of Education, Operation Fitness-21SA and Program Aids Company Inc., and won acclaim as a professional leader, sports official, consultant and author. His magnificent career has enhanced high ethical and moral standards among young people by stressing excellence in athletic achievement.
