2014 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
DICK ERICKSON - CLASS OF 1952
While at Patrick Henry, Dick Erickson was a member of the track, oratory and debate teams as well as the marching band where he played the trombone. He was President of the senior class, National Honor Society, and National Forensic League. He was the Minnesota Boys State representative and received the Rose Reese Award.
He is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College where he earned a B.A. degree in Sociology. While at Gustavus he was active in student government, religious affair chairman, and student senate president. He also was a member of the St. Ansgar Society based on leadership, scholarship and service.
He continued his education at Augustana Theological Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois where he received a B.D degree, ordained as a parish pastor into what is now the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1960.
Prior to entering the seminary he married Charlotte Swanson and has three children and five grandchildren.
He has served as pastor in four parishes; Caribou Maine, Le Sueur, Long Lake, and Crosslake. He led the organizing of a community-wide Senior Citizens Society and has served three 3 year terms on the Board of Trustees at Gustavus Adolphus College with term as Board secretary.
In retirement he has been a mentor in the Decisions to Win program for at-risk students and part of his church’s outreach program to help the homeless and world hunger.
He has served for sixteen years on the Advisory Board at Camp Knutson in Crosslake. Camp Knutson is a special needs summer camp ministering to those with developmental disabilities including – Down-Syndrome, Heart Disease, Sever Skin Disease, HIV/AIDS and Autism. His involvement was in organizing Crosslake Lutheran churchmen to assist in the physical maintenance of the camp and presenting the mission of the camp to outlying churches.
Growing up on the north side of Minneapolis, I have always felt fortunate to have spent my high school years at Henry. I am honored to be inducted into the Patrick Henry High School Hall of Fame.
2014 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
DAVE WICKER - TEACHER
Dave Wicker received his undergraduate degree from Bemidji State and postgraduate degree from University of St. Thomas.
Dave Wicker came to Henry in 1985 as a math and physical education teacher. In addition to his teaching duties he coached baseball, football and hockey. Here he is picture with football coach Jim Dotseth and Mike Ekstrand. In 2011 he became the school’s athletic director and held that position until the summer of 2011 when he was named Assistant Director of Athletics for the Minneapolis Public Schools.
Dave has many memories over the past 30+ years. He met his wife, Karin, who also taught at Henry in the fall of 1985. They have been married for over 25 years and have two sons who were raised spending significant amounts of time at Henry.
Some highlights of Dave’s time at Henry include more than just athletics. In his 26 years of teaching Math and Physical Education he was involved in the University of Minnesota Cooperating Math Teacher program for prospective student teachers and trained in the International Baccalaureate Program for Mathematics Curriculum. He taught Algebra/Trigonometry, Calculus and IB Math Methods and served as Math Team coach for four years which included the State Tournament in 1998.
Dave served as Head Varsity Baseball coach for 20 years and JV coach for 4 years. During those years, with the help of players, parents and the legendary Dick Cassidy (also a HOF member) he was able to make many upgrades to the baseball field by adding a scoreboard, outfield fences, batting cages, new backstop and bleachers. His teams won the City Conference titles in 1986 and 1999. He was Region 5 AA Section Representative, a Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Delegate and in 1999 was selected as a coach for the Minnesota High School Lions All Star Metro West team.
While serving as Assistant Varsity Football coach in 1999 he was named the Butch Nash Award Winner as an outstanding Assistant Football coach in Minnesota. He also was selected to coach in the Minnesota State High School All Star Metro/Outstate football game in 1999.
He served as Head Varsity Hockey coach for 5 years and an additional 2 years as assistant coach.
While serving as Athletic Director for 10+ years with the help of other stakeholders many facility enhancements were made: weight room, scoreboards, sound system, ticket booth and concession stand, football/soccer field upgrades to name a few. Also a study center in the Community Room for student athletes was created. During his tenure the Hall of Fame, Wall of Champions and Booster Club were created.
Dave is extremely humbled and very proud to be now a member of the Patrick Henry High School Hall of Fame.