Dave Wrath, longtime Sports Information Director at Augustana College, was inducted into the school's "Tribe of Vikings" Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 17.
Wrath has served as Augustana's Sports Information Director since February of 1981, and is currently the Vikings' Associate Director of Athletics for Media and Alumni Relations.
"I cannot imagine anyone more deserving for his contributions that have served Augustana for nearly 30 years," said Dr. Paul Olsen, the Vikings' legendary men's cross country and track mentor who was Wrath's coach from 1976-80. "Dave was an intense athlete, and that same type of commitment and leadership has been evident in all of his exceptional work as Sports Information Director."
Wrath will join an induction class that includes Ambo Bati (Cross Country/Track), Susan (Paige) King (Cross Country/Track), Scott Tumilty (Baseball, Football and Track), Rachel (Knapp) Viel, Rusty Van Wetzinga (Football, Track and Wrestling), Raphael Wilson (Wrestling) and members of the 1984 football team that won the second of four consecutive NCAA Division III national championships.
"Dave is the consummate professional at his craft-caring, hard-working and loyal-and commands incredible respect from our staff and his public relations colleagues," said Michael Zapolski, Director of Athletics. "The impact that Dave has made on the Augustana program is immeasurable, and he is clearly deserving of this honor."
A 1980 graduate of Augustana, Wrath helped the Vikings earn a fourth-place national finish at the 1979 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships and the 1980 NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships.
He worked briefly for two newspapers before returning to Rock Island in February of 1981, just weeks before the Vikings hosted the NCAA Division III men's basketball championship at the Roy J. Carver Center. Over the course of the last 28-plus years, Wrath has dutifully archived and publicized Augustana's incredible athletic success-including four NCAA Division III national football championship teams, numerous NCAA Division III individual champions along with a multitude of College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship teams and All-American performers.
A longtime member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), Wrath recently began a three-year term on the organization's Board of Directors as a College Division Representative. He was inducted into CoSIDA's "Hall of Fame" in 2003 and received a 25-year service award in 2007.
Wrath was recognized as the recipient of CoSIDA's Warren Berg Award in 2000 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of sports information and the dignity and prestige that he has brought to the profession. In 2005, Wrath received CoSIDA's Lester Jordan Award due to his exemplary service to the Academic All-American award program and the promotion of the ideals of being a student-athlete. Augustana currently ranks No. 6 all-time on CoSIDA's Academic All-American list with 130 (second-highest among NCAA Division III schools), and Wrath has been diligent in his efforts to promote the program.
In addition to his myriad of duties at Augustana, Wrath serves in several capacities at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, participates in the United Way's Operation Read at Garfield Elementary School in Moline and was a longtime volunteer for the Quad City Special Olympics.
In 1997, Wrath was recognized by his peers at Augustana as the administrative recipient of the Harold T. and Violet M. Jaeke Award which highlights outstanding performance and positive impact on the campus community.
A longtime resident of Moline, Wrath's wife, Joan, is a Special Education teacher at C.R. Hanna Elementary School in nearby Orion. The couple has one daughter, Leah, a graduate of Rock Island Alleman High School and currently a senior at Drake University.
Augustana's "Tribe of Vikings" Hall of Fame program originated in 1979, but was discontinued in 1982. The program was resurrected following a 20-year hiatus in 2002, and this year represents Augustana's 14th induction class.
