Lester Belding
Encyclopedia
Lester C. Belding was an American athlete and coach in football and track and field. He was the first football player from the University of Iowa
to be named an All-American
. He was inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Hall of Fame in 1963.
, Belding was a star football player for Mason City High School from 1914-1917. Belding enrolled at the University of Iowa
where he played football for legendary coach Howard Jones
. He was a consensus Football All-American
at the end position in 1919, the first player from the University of Iowa
to receive the honor. Considered "one of the nation's premier collegiate pass catchers of his era," he played on the undefeated 1921 national championship team that outscored opponents 123-15 and included Gordon Locke
, Aubrey Devine
, Glenn Devine, and Duke Slater
. He was also a three-time first team All Big Ten selection.
Belding was also the captain of Iowa's track team in 1921, competing in the 100 and 220-yard dashes.
. In 1923, Belding accepted a coaching position in Clinton, Iowa
, where he coached two state championship football teams. He next accepted a position at the freshman coach at the University of North Carolina
. He later served as the high school coach at Greensboro, North Carolina
for seven years. In 1933, Belding returned to Iowa where he was put in charge of high school athletics at Reinbeck, Iowa
. From 1934-1945, he was the athletic director and head football and basketball coach at Dakota Wesleyan College
in Mitchell, South Dakota
. He finished his career serving 20 years from 1945-1965 as a track and football coach and athletic director at North Central College
in Naperville, Illinois
. in 1963, Belding was inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Hall of Fame.
Belding died of a heart attack in 1965 at age 64. He was posthumously inducted into the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame
in 1991.
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
to be named an All-American
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
. He was inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
Hall of Fame in 1963.
Football player and sprinter
A native of Mason City, IowaMason City, Iowa
Mason City is the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 28,079 in the 2010 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census. The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Cerro Gordo and Worth counties....
, Belding was a star football player for Mason City High School from 1914-1917. Belding enrolled at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
where he played football for legendary coach Howard Jones
Howard Jones (football coach)
Howard Harding Jones was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Syracuse University , Yale University , Ohio State University , the University of Iowa , Duke University , and the University of Southern California , compiling a career record of...
. He was a consensus Football All-American
1919 College Football All-America Team
The 1919 College Football All-America team consists of American football players selected to the College Football All-America Teams selected by various organizations for the 1919 college football season.-Key:* WC = Walter Camp...
at the end position in 1919, the first player from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
to receive the honor. Considered "one of the nation's premier collegiate pass catchers of his era," he played on the undefeated 1921 national championship team that outscored opponents 123-15 and included Gordon Locke
Gordon Locke
Gordon C. Locke was an American football player and coach in the United States. He played college football at the University of Iowa, where he was a two-time All-American...
, Aubrey Devine
Aubrey Devine
Aubrey A. Devine was a college football player for the University of Iowa. He is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.-Background:...
, Glenn Devine, and Duke Slater
Duke Slater
Frederick Wayman "Duke" Slater was an American football player and one of the great black players of his era. Slater played for the University of Iowa in college and played professionally for ten years...
. He was also a three-time first team All Big Ten selection.
Belding was also the captain of Iowa's track team in 1921, competing in the 100 and 220-yard dashes.
Coach and athletic director
After graduating from Iowa in 1922, Belding became a coach. He coached at a prep school in Boulder, ColoradoBoulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
. In 1923, Belding accepted a coaching position in Clinton, Iowa
Clinton, Iowa
Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26231as of 2010. Clinton, along with DeWitt, Iowa , was named in honor of the seventh governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Clinton is the principal city of the Clinton Micropolitan Statistical...
, where he coached two state championship football teams. He next accepted a position at the freshman coach at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
. He later served as the high school coach at Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
for seven years. In 1933, Belding returned to Iowa where he was put in charge of high school athletics at Reinbeck, Iowa
Reinbeck, Iowa
Reinbeck is a city in Grundy County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,664 at the 2010 census a five percent decrease from the population of 1,751 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Waterloo–Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. From 1934-1945, he was the athletic director and head football and basketball coach at Dakota Wesleyan College
Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University is a four-year university located in Mitchell, South Dakota, founded in 1885, that is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The student body averages slightly less than 800 students...
in Mitchell, South Dakota
Mitchell, South Dakota
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,558 people, 6,121 households, and 3,599 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,475.7 people per square mile . There were 6,555 housing units at an average density of 664.4 per square mile...
. He finished his career serving 20 years from 1945-1965 as a track and football coach and athletic director at North Central College
North Central College
North Central College is a leading liberal arts college providing students at different stages of life and from different ethnic, economic and religious backgrounds with comprehensive educational programs.-Academics:...
in Naperville, Illinois
Naperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
. in 1963, Belding was inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
Hall of Fame.
Belding died of a heart attack in 1965 at age 64. He was posthumously inducted into the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame
University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame
The University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame is a sports history museum located at the Roy G. Karro Building in Iowa City, Iowa, U.S. The museum pays tribute to the most legendary and influential Iowa Hawkeye sports heroes. Opened in September 2002, The building is located at the northwest...
in 1991.