Hall of Fame
Dr. Joe Schaefer, a 1962 graduate of Loras returned to his alma mater as a professor in the engineering department in 1971 after making stops at the University of Toledo for his masters degree in physics and a summer with the Naval Ordinance Laboratory. He taught at Loras for 30 years and retired in June of 2020 after teaching courses at Iowa State University. During his time at Loras as a professor, Schaefer was heavily involved in athletics, serving as a member of the Faculty Senate and Athletic Committee. The committee was in charge of determining budgets, approving competition schedules, and designing regulations for coaches and their programs. While on the committee, the college became a co-ed institution and Schaefer was heavily involved in starting the first women's varsity sports.
Schaefer made it a point to attend at least one event for every sport at Loras and his dedication to the advancement of Duhawk athletics did not go unnoticed as he now holds a historic spot in the Athletics Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted into Loras Players Hall of Fame as well as earning the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1989.
