Don Richards

In a recent column I attributed a quote to Mariah Carey. An informed reader told me I was WR... rong, (I, like The Fonz of Happy Days, a sitcom of the 70's starring Henry Winkler, cannot say the word "WR*NG”). I WAS NOT RIGHT. Mariah Carey was misquoted. By me! Maybe the informed reader was Ms. Carey. Odds are not good on that, although I'm sure she is a regular reader.

And that's the trouble with informed readers. A column like this depends on uninformed readers. So all informed readers out there, flake off. I don't need anybody to point out my mistakes. That's why lots of you got married – to have the benefit of censors. Not I, of course. 

But I digress. My subject in this column is a contributor to Falcon sports over a long time period, George Hansen, 1997 recipient of the Chancellor's Award For Excellence. The award is given to a person who goes above and beyond the role of their job based on nominations of the faculty and staff.

"He has served," said Chancellor Gary Thibodeau, "not only the admissions office but the entire University in most exemplary fashion. His knowledge, competence, and commitment to the University are commendable."

Hansen was also inducted into the UWRF Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017 as a "positive contributor."

Serving the entire University would of course include UW-River Falls sports. Since 1974, according to information available online, he has handled public address responsibilities, announcing basketball and hockey games. He has long been a score keeper at men's basketball games and contributes musically, until recently, by singing the national anthem at athletic events.

Hansen was a 1968 graduate of Turtle Lake High School (1968). He was a manager for several high school sports teams and played fast pitch softball during summers. He played intramural basketball at UWRF. He was admitted at UW-Eau Claire, but had multiple family connections at UWRF, including a grandmother who graduated in 1899. He completed a B.S with a double major in math education and history. He also played in the band and sang in the choir.

He decided to stay as a graduate student "mostly so I could sing in the choir longer." Near the end of his graduate classes he learned there was a job available as an admissions counselor, which he applied for and received. His assignment then was to travel to area high schools and recruit students. During this period, he began working with Bill Sperling, long-time announcer at UWRF football games, as a "spotter." When Sperling retired, he turned the microphone over to George and he's been there ever since.

Hansen has seen great changes during his tenure, especially in facilities: The Falcon Center, Ramer Field turf, video board and press box, softball stadium and soccer field, have been added, he said. Several sports have been dropped, and several added, especially for women.

Among the great memories he has, he discussed the thousands of students he met in admissions. Those who stand out are Jeff Berkhof, current Falcon basketball coach, a transfer from Worthington (Minn.) Community College.

"As a student/athlete, he sank a three-point shot at the buzzer to upset Platteville on my birthday. It was a great birthday gift!” he said.

He also remembers meeting with Rick Montreal when he applied to UWRF. Montreal went on to become one of our all-time leading scorers at UWRF.

He mentioned Rich Melzer leading the Falcons to their first WIAC title in 51 years "and now doing great work in the North Minneapolis community."

He continued, mentioning Mike Farley's great wishbone teams, Matt Walker's success in winning two Isthmus Bowl championships, Joe Cranston's women's hockey teams, "who have hung many banners in Hunt Arena, Faye Perkins and her many great softball teams."

Hansen related that one day, during the Kansas City Chiefs/Minnesota Vikings scrimmage, "I was the only one up in the old Ramer Field press box and who showed up but the legendary Sid Hartman, Minneapolis Tribune and WCCO radio reporter. Hartman used the press box phone to call into Steve Cannon on WCCO radio."

That's it for this column. Except to mention one service Hansen continues to do: Picking up trash on campus frequently. Does that indicate what his attitude toward UWRF is? I think so. 

Matt Walker's name, mentioned earlier, reminds me that his team begins the season at home against Mary Hardin-Baylor of Texas, sure to be ranked in the top 10 D3 football teams in pre-season rankings. Let's hope Coach Walker doesn't have any players on his team like those of a basketball coach at Texas A&M who said he told a player who had received 4 F's and a D: "Son, it looks like you're spending too much time on one subject." Seems like a sensible comment to me.