The late Francis Twedell of Austin will be among seven other athletes inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame for the University of Minnesota.

Francis “Bud” Twedell was born and raised in Austin, Minn., but nearly didn’t become a Golden Gopher at all. An all-conference guard at Central High School, Twedell originally intended to accept a scholarship at the University of Chicago, before his father — a big fan of the Gophers — interceded and convinced him to attend the University of Minnesota.

And Gopher fans are sure glad he did. Before his Minnesota football career where he played from 1936 to 1938, was through, Twedell would help lead the Gophers to a national championship, two Big Ten titles and three consecutive top 10 national finishes. Individually, Twedell earned multiple All-Big Ten and All-America honors and in 1938 served as the Gophers’ team captain.

A husky 215-pounder, Twedell played both offense and defense throughout his career at Minnesota and was a fixture in head coach Bernie Bierman’s starting lineup all three seasons. The lone sophomore to start for the Gophers during the 1936 national championship campaign, Twedell earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades after emerging as a bruising blocker on the offensive line and one of the anchors of a defensive unit that allowed just 32 points for the entire season. 

Twedell would go on to help lead Minnesota win back-to-back Big Ten titles in 1937 and 1938, earning first team All-Big Ten honors both seasons. He was also recognized as a second team All-American in 1937 and in 1938 was tapped as a first team All-American.

Following the 1938 season, Twedell earned a starting spot in both the College All-Star and East-West Shrine games before being selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 1939 draft. He retired after one season of professional football to support his family and went on to a long successful sales and management career in the meat packing industry. 

Francis Twedell passed away on May 13, 1969 in Madison, Wis.

Other athletes being inducted were Grant Johnson (basketball 1937-1938), Courtney Kennedy (women’s hockey, 1998-2001), Dave Morrison (men’s track & field/cross country, 1980-85), Aubrey Schmitt (women’s track & field, 1998-2001), Murray Williamson (men’s hockey, 1957-59) and Dan Wilson (baseball, 1988-1990),