Truman State University Athletics

Before enrolling at the university Don Rowden played football at Grant High School in Fox Lake, Ill. under Bill Richerson, another 1988 Hall of Fame inductee. Mr. Rowden was a linebacker-guard on Bulldog football teams from 1962-5, two of which won conference championships. He earned first team All-MIAA recognition as a senior. His coaches described Mr. Roden as an aggressive, hard-hitting football player. Former Bulldog player and coach Bruce Craddock said he hit like Dick Butkus. As a senior, he was a member of the first-ever Bulldog wrestling team. Mr. Rowden was selected as co-MVP of the first team and was runner-up in the 1952-pound weight class at the MIAA championships in the winter of 1965-66. His dual record that season was 13-1. After graduation in 1966, he started teaching physical education and coaching wrestling at his old high school, Grant, in Fox Lake. Over a span of 21 years, his teams have amassed a record of 288 dual victories, twelve conference titles, seven regional championships, one section title and five sectional runner-up finishes. Seventeen of his wrestlers have earned All-State honors, a number of his wrestlers competed on the college level and several won national individual championships. In 1976 he received an M.A. degree from Truman.