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September 18, 1918 – July 19, 1977
Born on September 18, 1918, in Burlington Junction, Missouri
United in marriage in 1937 to Iris Marie Plummer of Burlington Junction, Missouri
(daughter of Roy C. Plummer & Harriet Lavenia Fullenwider and younger sister of Harold C. Plummer [father of Coach Roy Leon Plummer])
College
1937 to 1940 – he attended Northwest Missouri State Teachers College (now known as Northwest Missouri State University)
known as Northwest Missouri State University)
He was a prominent student-athlete on campus, playing shortstop for the baseball team and serving as a standout player and captain of the Bearcats basketball team during his senior year. He earned MIAA conference honors for basketball in 1938 and 1940, including being named All-MIAA First Team in 1940.
Dale Hackett earned varsity letters during his two varsity seasons. During the 1938-1939 season, his Bearcat team compiled a record of 13 wins and 6 losses. During his senior season in 1939-1940, the Bearcats absolutely dominated their opponents during this historic winter, on the way to a perfect 17–0 record in conference play to secure the MIAA Championship and an overall season record of 20-1. Their one narrow loss came in a game versus Peru State.
(Dale Hackett – 5th player from the left)
Bearcat Basketball at Martindale Gym, colorized from the 1939 Tower Yearbook. On the left is Ryland Milner, who was head football coach from 1937 to 1957 and was head basketball coach from 1943 to 1950. On the right is Wilbur Stalcup, head coach from 1933 to 1943 and Mizzou basketball head coach from 1946 to 1962.
Minor League Baseball Career
1940 – Playing for the 1940 Worthington Cardinals (Worthington, MN), the Class D affiliate of the St Louis Cardinals, he was a Western League All-Star shortstop and first baseman
1941 – Playing for the 1941 Springfield Cardinals (Springfield, MO), the Class C affiliate of the St Louis Cardinals, he split his time primarily between shortstop and first base and his teammates included MLB Hall of Fame player Stan Musial.
1942 - Playing for the 1942 Springfield Cardinals (Springfield, MO), the Class C affiliate of the St Louis Cardinals, he split his time primarily between shortstop and first base and his teammates included major league player and MLB Hall of Fame announcer Joe Garagiola.
1946 - Playing for the 1946 Joplin Miners (Joplin, MO), the Class C affiliate of the New York Yankees, he had an outstanding season for Joplin in the Western Association, serving as one of the league's top offensive contributors. Local newspapers from September 1946 listed him as a key "utility" asset for the team. He also briefly stepped onto the mound that year, pitching 7 innings across 3 separate games for Joplin.
Military Service
August 25, 1936 - enlisted (3 years) in the 128th Field Artillery, Missouri Army National Guard [this was in Maryville]
August 25, 1939 - re-enlisted (3 years) in the 128th Field Artillery, Missouri Army National Guard [this was in Maryville] … rank held at time of re-enlistment was Staff Sergeant
Note: This service was concurrent to his time as a college student
Pre-Aviation (1940–1942): After leaving Northwest Missouri State Teachers College, he played brief stints in minor league baseball before entering the military during the early stages of American involvement in World War II.
Early Training (1943): He was initially assigned to Minter Field near Bakersfield, California, where he completed his preliminary flight training phases.
Advanced Training & Graduation (April 1944): He transferred to the Pecos Army Air Field Advanced Twin-Engine Pilot School in Pecos, Texas. On Saturday, April 15, 1944, he officially graduated, received his Silver Wings, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces.
Teacher and Coach
In the fall of 1940, he was hired by the Fontanelle Iowa School District to teach and coach football, basketball and baseball. His basketball team finished the season 14-12.
When school started in the fall of 1941, a significant change occurred at Farragut High School when he began his long career as a teacher of mathematics and coach of football, basketball, baseball and later golf.
He served 24 years as head football coach beginning in the fall of 1941 and continuing through his final undefeated season in school year 1964-65.
He continued coaching basketball and baseball through the end of school year 1968-69, a total of 28 years coaching these sports.
He taught mathematics and coached golf through the spring of 1977 – a career at Farragut High School of 36 years.
His Farragut coaching record reveals the following:
Football
When he became the head coach of Farragut football in school year 1941-42, the Admirals were newcomers to the sport of 6-man football, having played their first game in 1938. In 1954, he transitioned the team to 11-man football and continued his coaching success through the school year 1964-65 season which ended with a 10-0 record.
In his 24 seasons as head coach, he compiled a record of 118 wins 43 losses 2 ties … a winning percentage of 72.4%. (This record excludes the WWII years – school years 1944-45 and 1945-46. The records for school years 1959-1960, 1960-61, and 1961-62 are also missing)
Consecutive Win Streaks Prior to 1954
22 wins 6-Man Began in 1951 in their fifth game (following their fourth game 26-19 loss to Shelby) and ended in 1954 following a loss to Elliott in the first 11-Man played
(School Year 1954-55 – Class of 1955)
Corner Conference Consecutive Win Streaks (Corner Conference began in 1954)
16 wins Began Oct 11, 1954 with a win over Hamburg and ended Oct 2, 1958 following loss to Tabor. Streak includes a 21-21 tie with Hamburg in 1957 - 15 consecutive undefeated. (excludes 5 non-conference losses)
(9th longest in Corner Conference history)
24 wins Began Oct 18, 1962 with 33-14 win over New Market and ended
Sep 20, 1965 following 26-7 loss to Nishna Valley
(excludes 2 non-conference losses to Clarinda)
(5th longest in Corner Conference history)
Overall win streaks:
20 wins Farragut began 10/11/1954 with a win over Hamburg.
Ended 9/14/1957 following 12-0 loss to Clarinda.
(4th longest in Corner Conference history)
19 wins Farragut began 9/29/1963 with 39-6 win over Nishna Valley
Ended 9/16/1965 following 47-0 loss to Clarinda.
(5th longest in Corner Conference history)
Undefeated seasons
1952-53 mythical 6-Man State Champions ( 9 wins 0 losses )
1953-54 *mythical 6-Man State Champions (7 wins 0 losses 1 tie)
(12-12 tie with Hamburg in exhibition 11-man game)
( team named number one in the state )
*Dale Hackett was named Coach of the Year by Fred Hawks, sports editor of the “Council Bluffs Nonpareil” newspaper. The football team has not lost a game since 1951.
1956-57 11-Man (9 wins 0 losses)
1964-65 mythical 11-Man State Champions (10-0)
BC Moore Iowa High School Rankings
1963-64 9 wins 1 loss Overall #54
1964-65 10 wins 0 loss Overall #30 ( #1 small school )
Iowa Football Coaches Association (IFCA)
In 1970, Coach Hackett was inducted into the Iowa Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame
Basketball
Beginning in school year 1941-42 and continuing through school year 1968-69, a period of 28 years, he served as head coach of the boys’ basketball team. His career record was 397 wins 138 losses … a winning percentage of 74.20%.
Baseball
Throughout the 28 years of leading the Admirals on the baseball field, his teams enjoyed much success. Unfortunately, the win/loss record is not available.
