Hall of Fame
A native of Seymour, Iowa, Don Merritt enrolled in 1945 at the university. He played football that season and served as a co-captain. He was also a guard on the Bulldog basketball team that year. In the summer of 1946 he entered the Army and served 18 months before returning to the campus in time for the 1948 football season. He was a two-way halfback in 1948-49. A highlight of his 1949 campaign was a game with Southwest Missouri State of Springfield. He scored all of his team's point in a 33-12 loss, returning an interception 75 years for a touchdown and running 20 yards for another touchdown. In the final game that fall he broke his collarbone against the University of Missouri "B" team. Mr. Merritt was the 1950 recipient of the Stickler Cup, awarded annually to the outstanding senior athlete with qualities of scholarship, citizenship, leadership and ambition. After receiving a B.S.E. degree in 1950 he taught and coached football one year at Belmond, Iowa and two years at Fayette, Iowa. One of his Fayette football teams tied for the conference championship and one of his Fayette basketball teams won the conference title. He also coached a Fayette baseball team that advanced to the state tournament. In 1953 he quit teaching and coaching to become a part owner of Music Furniture Store in Kirksville and became full owner in 1980.
