23 Jan Death of Richard Klopfenstein at age 85

Richard Klopfenstein, former athletic director and chair of the Physical Education Department at Huntington University, passed away January 21 at Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home in Fort Wayne, Ind. He was 85. His wife, Mary, continues living in Huntington, Ind.

The funeral will be held Thursday, January 24, at D. O. McComb and sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home in Fort Wayne, Ind. at 11 a.m. Dr. Ray Seilhamer and Dr. Kent Maxwell wil officiate.

Klopfenstein is recognized as the “founding father” of the Mid-Central College Conference, the athletic conference in which the Foresters still compete. Klopfenstein helped start the MCC in 1959 and served as the organization’s first president.

Dick Kloopfenstein came to Huntington as a transfer student in 1942. He left to serve in the US Army during World War 2, earning a battle star and a combat infantryman’s badge. He then returned to Huntington, finishing his degree in 1948. After five years of teaching and coaching in Lafayette, Ind., he returned to HU in 1953 as the new athletic director.

During his years at Huntington University, Coach K coached a total of 80 seasons, including 33 years as golf coach, 15 years as men’s tennis coach, 13 years as men’s basket5ball coach, three years as baseball coach, and one year as women’t ennis coach. He was awarded professor emeritus status in 1987, but contiued to coach golf until 1992.

Read more about Coach K and his contributions to Huntington University.