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Walter "Wally" Marks

One of the longest periods of faculty service to Indiana State University [came to and end] in June 1971, when Dr. Walter ("Wally") E. Marks, dean of the school of Health, Physical Education. and Recreation retired from active service.

Wall joined the ISU faculty in 1927 at the age of 22, shortly after his graduation from the University of Chicago. His 44-year association with ISU was interrupted only twice. He was away from the campus from 1930 - 1932 earning a masters degree at Indiana University where he also served as assistant coach for football and basketball. As a Major in the United States Air Force, he served 44 months during World War II.

A Native of Ottumwa, Iowa, Dr. Marks received his elementary and secondary education in Brooklyn, NY, Jersey City, NJ, and Chicago, Il. He graduated from Chicago's Linbloom High School in 1923.

At the University of Chicago, Wally was an outstanding athlete. A three-sports performer -- football, basketball, and baseball - he earned eight varsity athlete awards besides being an ROTC Cadet Major and holding membership in Skull & Crescent, Iron Mask, and Own & Serpent honorary fraternities.

He played varsity football for three years under the immortal Maroons' coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. e was a sophomore fullback on the U. of Chicago's last Big Ten football championship team in 1924. He was a regular halfback on the 1925 and 1926 Maroon teams and captained the 1926 team. One magazine cited him for honorable mention All-American honors.

A pitcher and an outfielder, he played on Chicago's baseball team for thee years and had a .399 batting average as a sophomore.

For two years, he was a regular starting guard on the Maroons' basketball team. Although there was no Big Ten boxing competition, he won the light heavyweight boxing crown at Camp Sparta when he was a junior in college.

Wally's tremendous versatility as an athlete was duplicated as he successfully served as head coach of four different sports at Indiana State. He was head football coach for 16 years, head basketball coach for eight years, head baseball coach for 16 years and head golf coach for eight years. Besides head coaching responsibilities, he served as an assistant coach in several sports.

His overall head football coaching record of 62 victories, 56 losses, and even ties included a 7-1 record by his 1933 team. This record ranked as the best in the school's history until Coach Jerry Huntsman's 1968 team finished with a 9-1 mark.

Wally's basketball teams had a 92-58 record. the 16-2 record of his 1929-30 team still ranks as finest season performance if any ISU team with its .888 percentage.

With his experience as a player and coach, Wally was a "natural" to move into the field of officiating athletic contests. For 20 years he was a Big Ten athletic official. He officiated for eight years in basketball and for 16 years in football. In 1960, he was one of the officials for the Rose Bowl football game in Pasadena, CA. He retired as a Big Ten official at the close of the 1964 football season.

His outstanding work as a Big Ten official resulted in two trips to Germany. In 1954, and again in 1960, he was named by the Big Ten and the United States Department as a member if the an instructional staff presenting football officiating clinics for U.S. military personnel in Germany.

His 44 month tour or of military duty as an Army Air Corps Major included services with the 9th Air Force attached to the British 8th Army. he earned the EAMS ribbon with two battle stars and a Presidential Citation. He was engaged in military campaigns in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. His military duty also took him to Palestine, Jerusalem, Syria, Levant States, South America, and Puerto Rico.

Besides the PH.D. degree from the University of Chicago, Dr. Marks earned three degrees at Indiana University - the masters degree, the doctorate in physical education, and the Doctor of Education degree. At ISU, he rose in academic rank from instructor to full professorship and he was named Chairman of the Men's Physical Education Department in 1952. He was appointed Dean of the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation when it was established in 1965. The school now includes the departments of Men's Physical Education, Women's Physical Education, Health and Safety, and Recreation.

For two years, (1952-54) Wally served on the State of Indiana Evaluation Committee on High School Facilities, and he was a member of the Governor's Recreation Committees in 1955. For six years (1957 - 63) he was a member of the Indiana Survey Committee on Physical Education.

Other honors bestowed upon Dr. Marks were the ISU Spartan Club's Physical Educator of the Year Award in 1966-67, the ISU Blue Key Honorary Fraternity's 1968 Physical Educator Award, and an honor award in 1969 from the Indiana Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.

Since 1965, Wally was a member of the Eagle Scout Board of Review. He had previously served on the Selective Services Board, as a Deacon of the Central Presbyterian Church of Terre Haute, and as a Red Cross instructor.

In 1971, Shortly after his retirement, Marks Field was named in his honor. He died November 24, 1994 at the age of 87.