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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 61
BY SENATOR CLAITOR
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Dale
Ketelson and record for posterity the enduring appreciation of the citizens of
Louisiana for his outstanding contributions to and achievements in college and high
school wrestling.
WHEREAS, it is with regret that the members of the Legislature of Louisiana have
learned of the death of Dale Ketelson, long-time wrestling coach and Osage, Iowa, native,
at age seventy-eight on March 22, 2014; and
WHEREAS, he earned a wrestling scholarship to Iowa State University after
graduation from Osage High School, earned three varsity letters as a member of the
wrestling team, placing third in the 1957 NCAA tournament and second in 1958 and also
was a member of the Iowa State baseball team that played in the College World Series; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from ISU in 1959, he went on active duty with the
United States Marine Corps reserve for six months before returning to his alma mater as
assistant wrestling coach for two years; and
WHEREAS, in 1960, Dale Ketelsen wrestled in the Olympic trials and then coached
in high school at Riverside-Brookfield High in Illinois producing thirty all-conference
wrestlers, twenty district champions, eight regional champions, and two state champions;
and
WHEREAS, in 1968, Dale Ketelsen became Louisiana State University's first varsity
wrestling coach and, during his tenure from 1968-78, his teams won two Southeastern
Conference Intercollegiate Wrestling tournaments, producing fifteen individual conference
champions, and he was also a member of the NCAA wrestling rules committee; and
WHEREAS, after leaving LSU, he coached at Louisiana high schools, at Catholic
High School for nine seasons before moving to Belaire High School where he served as head
wrestling coach and assistant football coach for some twenty years, and later as assistant
wrestling coach at St. Paul's in Covington; and SCR NO. 61 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, he was a primary contributor in the promotion of high school wrestling
in the state as he helped organize and run state wrestling tournaments on the LSU campus
from 1968 through 1974, first at the old Gym Armory and later at the LSU Assembly Center
before the Louisiana High School Athletic Association assumed operation of the event; and
WHEREAS, he was a "go-to" guy for coaches who wanted to learn about wrestling
in Baton Rouge for he knew the sport and its rules so well that he became a valuable
resource for anyone seeking information about the sport he loved; and
WHEREAS, Dale Ketelson was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
and was named Master of Wrestling by Wrestling USA magazine; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Pat Ballard Ketelsen; two
sons: Craig Ketelsen, the athletic director-wrestling coach at St. Paul's in Covington, and
Erik Ketelsen; one daughter, Penny Kelly; and five grandchildren and numerous nieces and
nephews; and
WHEREAS, the death of Dale Ketelson has left a great void and created a genuine
sense of sorrow in all who knew him, particularly those he coached and those who love the
sport of high school wrestling, all of whom mourn the loss of this wonderful man who was
instrumental in the development of the sport in his adopted home state; and
WHEREAS, Dale Ketelson leaves behind a rich legacy in high school wrestling and
will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of former wrestling coach, Dale
Ketelson, and does hereby record for posterity the enduring appreciation of the citizens of
Louisiana for his outstanding contributions and achievements in the areas of college and
high school wrestling.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
wife, Pat Ballard Ketelson.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES