Connors receives Dan Lennon Award
Howard Connors of Vermillion, S.D., was the second annual award recipient on March 30-31, 1992. Connors devoted much of his life to service, from the classroom to the competitive field of play. From 1943 until his retirement in 1982, Connors was a mathematics professor at USD. During that time, he was also the Dean of Men and an Associate Dean of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences at USD. From 1947 to 1949, he was the USD varsity track coach and an assistant coach in football and basketball. Twice, he was the USD head baseball coach, including 1966-70. A former Coyote, he played baseball for the Coyotes and later played professionally as a member of the Sioux Falls Canaries of the old Western League. He was the only batting champion Sioux Falls produced during the pro era. He served as a start at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays and served as a starter for the Dan Lennon Invitational from the first year until his retirement. He also worked regional, NCC and state track meets. He listed his biggest thrill when he became the first college coach to have a team win all four relays at the Howard Wood Relays when the Coyotes captured the 440, 880, mile and sprint medley relays in 1949. He has been named to the NCC Hall of Fame, South Dakota Intercollegiate Hall of Fame and Coyote Athletic Sports Hall of Fame.