Victor C. Dunder Sr. (1901-1983)

 Duluth Central

Year Inducted 2002

Victor C. Dunder taught high school physical education and coached football, basketball and flycasting at Duluth Central High School.  In the winter of 1931 a high school student and ski jumper by the name of Billy Anderson approached Victor Dunder and asked him why there was no inter-scholastic competition in skiing at the high school level.  Mr. Dunder took Billy’s question to heart, made a few phone calls and set up what was to be the first high school level inter-scholastic competition in the United States, the Arrowhead Ski Tournament.  Duluth Central and Greenway High School participated in this inaugral event.  Under Victor C. Dunder’s direction and leadership, what was a two-team meet in 1931, developed into the first Minnesota State High School Ski Tournament in 1932. The first state tournament was held at Chester Bowl in Duluth and consisted of just ski jumping.  In 1933 cross country skiing was added to the competition and the Duluth Central Trojans coached by Mr. Dunder won their first of 19 state championship titles, four of them under the coaching of Victor C. Dunder. Mr. Dunder was not an accomplished ski jumper or racer.  His strengths in coaching skiing were that he loved all sport, he listened to students needs, he provided avenues of opportunity and he was willing to work hard to develop new ideas.

Victor C. Dunder Sr. was born in Sweden in 1901. When he was two years old his family immigrated to America and settled in Two Harbors, Minnesota. Victor attended high school in Two Harbors and was an outstanding athlete in basketball and football.  He attended college at the University of Minnesota.  He paid his way through college by working on the mining trains in Two Harbors during the summers. Victor was a star guard on the University of Minnesota basketball team.  In his senior year (1925-26) Victor was chosen as captain of the team. After graduation, several colleges and high schools actively recruited Victor to coach basketball.  He decided to accept a position in Stillwater to coach and teach accounting.  Between the period of 1927 and 1936 he married Jubie Ann Carlson, had three children, Victor Jr., Mary Beth, and Willa.  He also taught in Willmar, Minnesota, earned an M.A, from Iowa State University and accepted a teaching position at Duluth Central High School.

By all accounts Victor C. Dunder was a man who loved athletics, loved people, and loved children.  When a new city park was proposed in Duluth, the designers left out a playground for children based on the assumption that a playground was not beautiful enough for the park.  At a public hearing on the matter Victor spoke out in favor of a playground and said. “ What could be more beautiful than the sound of children playing?”

After a long career of service to students, Victor C. Dunder retired as the athletic director for all of the Duluth Public Schools in 1966.  In retirement he loved golf, and was active in the Kiwanis and his community.  He died in 1983.  Every high school ski meet in the country owes a debt of gratitude to Victor C. Dunder for his vision and willingness to provide opportunity to student athletes in all sports.

Nomination Submitted by Dave Johnson, President MSHSNSCA, September 25, 2002