University of South Dakota Athletics

Edwin Petranek (1938-43) was one of the standout football players in South Dakota school history. Petranek, who graduated in 1943, started every game for the three years on both offense and defense. In 1941, he was one of four Coyotes named to the all-North Central Conference squad. Petranek was commissioned through the R.O.T.C. program and serving in the 36th Infantry Division during World War II. A platoon leader, Petranek was later company commander in the African and European Theatre and participated in two beach-head invasions. He was wounded four times, awarded four purple hearts, and he also received the Bronze Star for valor and the Silver Star for gallantry in action. After the war, he was a teacher and coach at Colome (1947) before he moved to Belle Fourche in 1950. He was a coach and activities director at Belle Fourche. In 1972, he was awarded the Twenty-Five Year Plaque by the South Dakota Coaches Association.