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Inductee
VELLER, DR. DON
VELLER, DR. DON
Born on May 20, 1912
Linton, IN
November 10, 2006.
Inducted On
Location Inducted
Richmond, IN
Region Number
9
Bicknell
Player
Bicknell, IN
1930
President of sophomore, junior, and senior classes; salutatorian of graduating class; captain of football and track teams; member of basketball and baseball teams; wrote high school news column for daily paper.
Indiana University 1935; Indiana University MS 1938; Indiana University Ph.D.
1950
Freshman member of football, basketball, track, baseball, and wrestling teams; received varsity football team Most Valuable Player Award; played on East Team (East-West Shrine Game); Big Ten Medal for Proficiency in Combination of Athletics and Scholarship; member of Blue Key, Union Board, PEK, Phi Delta Kappa, and several other organizations; Chicago Tribune Most Valuable Player Award; received IU's Balfur Award.
Recipient of Distinguished Service Award presented by Florida High School Coaches Association for outstanding service and dedication to improvement of interscholastic athletic programs in State of Florida, as well as significant contributions to coaching profession; author of numerous articles in Athletic Journal & Scholastic Coach on subject of The Psychological Facets of Coaching; inducted into State of Florida Hall of Fame, National Golf Coaches Hall of Fame, and FSU Hall of Fame; FSU's golf course named in his honor; served in US Army during WW II.
Wife, Francis
Coaching Experience: Football coach at Elkhart 1935-1942, with a record of 53-11-4 (85% wins); AD and head football coach at Hanover College 1946, with a 5-3 record; assistant to Bo McMillin, Indiana University, 1947; was first full-time head football coach at Florida State University 1948-1952, with a 30-12 record; overall collegiate head coaching record of 35-15-1; retired from coaching football at end of 1952 season and became head of FSU golf program, retiring in 1983.

Coaching Honors: FSU had an unbeaten season 1950; won Dixie Conference 3 years in a row; team played in 1949 Cigar Bowl, winning 19-6.