GRAND ISLAND – Islander teams and greats were honored at halftime of the game against Omaha North on Friday night and the accomplishments of those being inducted was impressive to say the least.
HOF PLAYERS
Mike Anderson: An All State selection for the Islanders in 1988, Mike Anderson is one in a long line of outstanding Islander linebackers. Mike was a standout on outstanding Islander squads of 1987 and 1988 and was selected to play in the 1989 Nebraska Shrine Bowl. Mike was offered a football scholarship by legendary Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne and went on to a stellar career at the University of Nebraska. After redshirting in 1989, Mike went on to earn varsity letters from 1990 through 1993. Mike started at linebacker for the Blackshirts for three seasons, breaking into the lineup as a sophomore in ‘91 and earned honorable mention All Big 8 accolades in 2 different seasons.
Jim Jeffries: A bruising fullback and linebacker for Coach Ken Fischer’s State Championship team of 1978, Jim earned All State honors that season as a linebacker and a fullback in the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star. In addition, Jim was named the Class A Offensive Player of the Year by the Lincoln Journal Star. Jim was also selected All Big Ten Conference and All City both his Junior and Senior years. Jim was selected to play on the North Squad in the 1979 Nebraska Shrine Bowl. Following his stellar career at Grand Island Senior High, Jim went on to earn a football scholarship to the University of Nebraska. Jim also played for the Husker baseball team earning a letter in 1983.
Dick Luebbe: A 1963 graduate of Grand Island Senior High, Dick Luebbe was a three year letterman in both football and basketball for the Islanders. Dick also lettered in track and field and was an outstanding American Legion baseball player. A football standout, Dick earned first team All Big Ten Conference honors at center his senior season and was also named the All State center by the Omaha World Herald, Lincoln Journal Star and the Associated Press. Dick was selected to play in the 1963 Nebraska Shrine Bowl. After a stellar playing career, Dick went on to a distinguished coaching career, coaching football and track at Columbus High School for over 35 years. Dick was an outstanding head football coach for the Discoverers for 28 seasons. Dick was selected as a Nebraska Shrine Bowl assistant coach in 1986 and then served as the head coach for the Nebraska Shrine Bowl in 1989.
Kurt Mann: One of the greatest offensive linemen in Grand Island Sr. High history, Kurt earned All State honors in both 2000 and 2001. Kurt was also one of finest multi-sport athletes in GISH history. Kurt was a 4 time state medalist and 2002 state champion in the shot put and holds the school record in that event at 62’4”. In addition, Kurt was a standout on the hardwood helping lead the Islanders to the 2002 State Championship in basketball. The Lincoln Journal Star named Kurt the state’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2001-2002. Kurt prowess on the gridiron helped him earn a football scholarship to Nebraska where Kurt enjoyed an outstanding career. Kurt started at offensive center for the Huskers from 2004 through 2006 earning 2nd Team All Big 12 honors as well as numerous academic accolades including first team All Academic Big 12 honors and ESPN The Magazine’s First Team Academic All America honors. Kurt was also a two time member of the Brook Berringer Citizenship Team.
Bob Mehring: An Islander All State offensive lineman for Coach Roy Mandery in 1931, Bob Mehring went on to star for the University of Nebraska from 1935 through 1937. Bob earned first team All Big Six honors in 1937 and was elected into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame 1983. A part of one of the most decorated football families in Grand Island Sr. High history, Bob was one of six Mehring brothers who were outstanding players for the Islanders.
Tom Millsap: An all-around athlete noted for his speed, Tom Millsap was a two way starter for the Islanders his junior and senior years. Tom led the Islanders in scoring, rushing, punt returns, pass receiving, and interceptions. A four sport standout, Tom was selected all state in basketball in 1963. He set a single season scoring record of 334 points in ’62-’63 and set a career scoring record of 717 points. In track, Tom dominated the Big Ten Conference and Class A sprints for three seasons. Tom won three gold medals at the state meet his senior season setting a state record in the 220 (21.5). That mark of 21.5 remains an Islander school record and was the state record until 1998. Tom was named the Lincoln Journal Star’s Athlete of the Year in 1963 and went on to a stellar track career at Nebraska earning All America honors in 1965.
Don Olson: An outstanding Islander offensive tackle, Don was team co-captain and earned All Big 10 Conference honors in 1955. Don was also a member of the 1953 State Championship team and a two year starter for the Islanders in 1954 and 1955. Don’s excellence on the line of scrimmage helped him earn a football scholarship to the University of Nebraska. Don earned varsity letters at Nebraska in ‘57,’58 and ‘59 and was a starting offensive guard in ‘58 and ‘59. Don was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
HOF COACH
Roy Mandery: One of Nebraska’s finest high school football coaches during the late 20’s and throughout the 30’s, Roy Mandery led the Islander gridders from 1928 through 1941. A standout player at Nebraska from 1924 through 1926, Coach Mandery compiled a record of 62-44-5 at the helm of the Islanders including the undefeated and unscored upon State Championship team of 1936. The legendary 1936 squad is in the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. Coach Mandery developed a pipeline to Nebraska that included Islander and Husker greats Neal & Bob Mehring, Glenn Justice, Les McDonald, Bill Callihan, Ken Shindo, Bob & Royal Kahler, Hub Knickrehm, Clarence Herndon & Howard Kelly.
HOF TEAM
1947-1948 State Championship Teams: Legendary Coach Jerry Lee’s teams of 1947 and 1948 were two of the most dominant and prolific teams in Nebraska high school history. Each team won all 10 of its games, with the 1947 team steamrolling opponents by a combined score of 338 to 34, and the 1948 team following with a 418-60 score over the season. The ‘47-’48 teams were inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.
HOF CONTRIBUTOR
Orv Qualsett: One of the great contributors to Islander Football over the last 50 years, Orv Qualsett served as a GISH teacher and assistant football and track coach for five years before being promoted to head football coach. Orv led the Islander football program from 1969 through 1971. Orv’s 1970 squad earned a number five postseason ranking from the Omaha World Herald. Orv was also selected as an assistant coach in the 1972 Nebraska Shrine Bowl. An outstanding track coach, Orv coached some of the state’s top hurdlers during his tenure. Orv coached a number of all time Islander greats including Islander Football Hall of Famers Randy Butts and George Kyros. Even after leaving education for a career in banking, Orv’s support for Islander football and Islander athletics never waned. Orv was the public address announcer for Islander football games from the mid 1970’s through 1998. Always a servant leader, Orv was instrumental in helping form the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation and was a contributor to the Memorial Stadium turf project. Orv was also a State Board Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a part of the first FCA huddle at Grand Island Senior High.
