HOF 2006 – Athletics
Schmidt came to CHS in 1938, where he was the first sophomore to make the varsity football team, playing right half back. His team was undefeated that year and won the 1938 State Football Championship.
After football season, Schmidt started playing basketball and by the end of the season, he received another award as the 1938 basketball team won the State Championship.
Schmidt’s senior year, the football team was undefeated in the conference, and were the 1940 State Football Champions. After football season, Schmidt tried a new athletic challenge of track, competing in the high jump and shot put. He came in second in the Eastern Conference Track Meet.
In his three years playing football, his team lost only one game during Schmidt’s junior year, and the loss was to Sioux Falls Washington by one touchdown. Schmidt also played baseball with the Smittys and that team won the state championship in 1940.
After high school, Schmidt continued his interest in athletics and as a freshman played football for Norther State University as a halfback. That year the team made national news by winning two football games in less than 24 hours. NSU played against Madison in the morning and Wayne State in the afternoon, winning both games.
Schmidt then left NSU to serve in the military for four years. Afterward, he returned to NSU.
Schmidt and his wife Ilene lived in Aberdeen with their eight children – Jennifer, Kathleen, Patricia, Frank, Stanley, Paul, Richard and Peter. Schmidt passed away in September of 2007.