In Memory

William Pfeiff (Vice-Principal)

William Henry "Bill" Pfeiff, passed away on June 21, 2013 at the age of 95. He was born on March 10, 1918 in Springfield, Mo., and moved to Lincoln at the age of 2 where he resided for the rest of his life except for two years of service in World War II. He was married for 53 years to the late Dorothy Nell Pfeiff who preceded him in death in 1994. Bill was an outstanding student and athlete at Lincoln High school, graduating in 1936, and at the University of Nebraska where he received his BS degree in 1940 and his MA degree in 1941. He was an all-state football player at Lincoln High and multiple gold medal winner in track, holding the state shot put record for 19 years. He also lettered in both football and track at the University of Nebraska and was a graduate assistant on their 1941 Rose Bowl football team.

Bill was the football and track coach and a teacher at Norfolk High School for the 1941-1942 school before spending one season as freshman football coach at the University of Nebraska. After his military service, he returned to Lincoln High in January of 1946 where he spent 10 years as a teacher and football coach with his teams winning three state championships during that period. He was also head track coach at Lincoln High for six years with his team winning one state track championship. In 1955, he was appointed dean of boys and director of activities at Lincoln High and was later selected as vice principal. He served for 23 years as a Lincoln High administrator before returning to the class room for two final years, ending his 34 year career at his alma mater high school in 1980. The football field adjacent to Lincoln High was renamed "Pfeiff Field" in his honor.

Bill was the recipient of numerous honors during his lengthy career in education and high school athletics including Lincoln High Athletic Hall of Fame and Distinguished Alumni awards and coach of the year awards from both the Lincoln Journal-Star and the Omaha World Herald. He also was a member of the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) Board of Control where he received their Distinguished Service Award. After being chief counselor for Cornhusker Boys State for many years, he received the American Legion Post #3 40 & 8 Service Award. Other honors included Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame; Nebraska Coaches "Skip" Palrang award for contributions to high school football; the Ak-Sar-Ben Service to Sports Award; and the Lincoln Public Schools Service Award for his eight years of service on the NSAA Board of Control.

Bill is survived by his son, William P. Pfeiff and daughter-in-law, Ruth Pfeiff of Carrollton, Texas; son, Lawrence H. "Biff" Pfeiff and daughter-in-law, Cathy Pfeiff of Overland Park, Kan.; daughter, Helen E. Coe and son-in-law, Harry E. "Bud" Coe of Portland, Ore.; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame Award:  https://nebhalloffame.org/bill-pfeiff-lincoln-high/

 

https://journalstar.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/pfeiff-william-henry-bill/article_df6d5ade-105a-5eb1-8cc4-ecfeb1d5fa72.html






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