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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 61
BY SENATOR CLAITOR
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Dale Ketelson, former LSU
and high school wresting coach.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Dale2
Ketelson and record for posterity the enduring appreciation of the citizens of3
Louisiana for his outstanding contributions to and achievements in college and high4
school wrestling.5
WHEREAS, it is with regret that the members of the Legislature of Louisiana have6
learned of the death of Dale Ketelson, long-time wrestling coach and Osage, Iowa, native,7
at age seventy-eight on March 22, 2014; and8
WHEREAS, he earned a wrestling scholarship to Iowa State University after9
graduation from Osage High School, earned three varsity letters as a member of the10
wrestling team, placing third in the 1957 NCAA tournament and second in 1958 and also11
was a member of the Iowa State baseball team that played in the College World Series; and12
WHEREAS, after graduating from ISU in 1959, he went on active duty with the13
United States Marine Corps reserve for six months before returning to his alma mater as14
assistant wrestling coach for two years; and 15
WHEREAS, in 1960, Dale Ketelsen wrestled in the Olympic trials and then coached16
in high school at Riverside-Brookfield High in Illinois producing thirty all-conference17
wrestlers, twenty district champions, eight regional champions, and two state champions;18 SCR NO. 61
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and1
WHEREAS, in 1968, Dale Ketelsen became Louisiana State University's first varsity2
wrestling coach and, during his tenure from 1968-78, his teams won two Southeastern3
Conference Intercollegiate Wrestling tournaments, producing fifteen individual conference4
champions, and he was also a member of the NCAA wrestling rules committee; and5
WHEREAS, after leaving LSU, he coached at Louisiana high schools, at Catholic6
High School for nine seasons before moving to Belaire High School where he served as head7
wrestling coach and assistant football coach for some twenty years, and later as assistant8
wrestling coach at St. Paul's in Covington; and9
WHEREAS, he was a primary contributor in the promotion of high school wrestling10
in the state as he helped organize and run state wrestling tournaments on the LSU campus11
from 1968 through 1974, first at the old Gym Armory and later at the Assembly Center12
before the Louisiana High School Athletic Association assumed operation of the event; and13
WHEREAS, he was a "go-to" guy for coaches who wanted to learn about wrestling14
in Baton Rouge for he knew the sport and its rules so well that he became a valuable15
resource for anyone seeking information about the sport he loved; and16
WHEREAS, Dale Ketelson was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame17
and was named Master of Wrestling by Wrestling USA magazine; and18
WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Pat Ballard Ketelsen; two19
sons: Craig Ketelsen, the athletic director-wrestling coach at St. Paul's in Covington, and20
Erik Ketelsen; one daughter, Penny Kelly; and five grandchildren and numerous nieces and21
nephews; and22
WHEREAS, the death of Dale Ketelson has left a great void and created a genuine23
sense of sorrow in all who knew him, particularly those he coached and those who love the24
sport of high school wrestling, all of whom mourn the loss of this wonderful man who was25
instrumental in the development of the sport in his adopted home state; and26
WHEREAS, Dale Ketelson leaves behind a rich legacy in high school wrestling and27
will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched.28
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby29
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of former wrestling coach, Dale30 SCR NO. 61
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Ketelson, and does hereby record for posterity the enduring appreciation of the citizens of1
Louisiana for his outstanding contributions and achievements in the areas of college and2
high school wrestling.3
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his4
wife, Pat Ballard Ketelson.5
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
Claitor SCR No. 61
Expresses condolences upon the death of Dale Ketelson, former LSU and high school
wresting coach.