Decorah's Vernon Spilde to receive Luther College Meritorious Service Award

Longtime Decorah resident Vernon Spilde will receive the Luther College Athletics Meritorious Service Award this coming weekend.

The presentation will take place during Homecoming weekend at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday, October 1st. The ceremony will be held in the Noble Recital Hall at 5:00 p.m., preceded by a reception in the lobby of the Jensen-Noble Hall of Music beginning at 4:00 p.m.

 Spilde graduated from Decorah High School in 1944.  He went to work for Luther College in 1957, spending 35 years working in facilities management and grounds.  During his time at Luther, he would go to the baseball and softball diamonds in the spring after he was done with work and baseball and softball practices were over. He would drag the fields, pick up garbage and clean the dugouts. He knew that if it rained during the night, the fields would be a mess and hard to get smooth again. He did this outside of his regular duties.

In retirement, he continued to volunteer his time taking care of the baseball and softball fields for six years.

Vern Spilde was selected for this honor by the Hall of Fame committee comprised of current coaches, administrative staff and athletics alumni, for his service and dedication to Luther College athletics.

The Luther College Athletics Meritorious Service Award was created to honor those who have provided distinguished service in a support role for Luther College athletics. Spilde is the second recipient of this award.