Ed Hanson was very familiar with sports while attending Pacelli High School and now he’s about to be placed amongst the best in the school’s history as he will be inducted into the Pacelli Athletic Hall of Fame next week.

Hanson, who was a starting running back on the 1961 state championship football team, was a state champion in the low hurdles in track and played basketball, went on to coach Gale-Ettrick Trempeleau to a state baseball title in 1969.

“I got to participate with some really good athletes at Pacelli,” said Hanson, who recently retired and lives in Onalaska, Wis. “It’s gotta help carry over to coaching.”

Hanson, who graduated from Pacelli in 1962, coached football and baseball and taught for nine years at GET, before working for Ameriprise Financial.

Hanson loved playing for Pacelli and he fondly remembers playing football with Brian Callahan, who went on to play for the Gophers and is already in the Pacelli Hall of Fame.

“Football’s got to be your favorite sport when you play with Brian Callahan,” Hanson said. “There’s some great people in the hall of fame and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”

Pacelli’s football team allowed just 12 points in 1961 and the Shamrocks lost just two games in 1962.

Hanson is one of six Pacelli grads who will be inducted into the athletic hall of fame June 22. Look for the other grads to be featured in the Herald throughout the week.