Messerli family to be honored at Friday’s football game in Fairfield

FAIRFIELD – Trojan Stadium in Fairfield will host a dedication ceremony Friday, Aug. 26 in honor of the Ralph and Linda Messerli family.

The ceremony will take place between the freshman and varsity football games that evening between the Fairfield Trojans and Mt. Pleasant Panthers. At the conclusion of the freshman game, at about 6:30 p.m. or shortly thereafter, the members of the Ralph and Linda Messerli family will be called to appear on the track. At that time, the school will recognize the family and dedicate the new FHS wrestling room in their honor, which will be called the “Ralph & Linda Messerli Family Wrestling Facility.”

After the ceremony, cake will be served in the Trojan Plaza west of the home bleachers. The wrestling facility will be open to the public for viewing. For those who wish to continue socializing after the game, the Messerli family will head to the Fairfield Elks on the west side of the square.

In a letter Fairfield Activities Director Jeff Courtright sent to the Messerli family, he wrote that the district was honored to be involved in this “well-deserved recognition.”

“This recognition will be the culmination of a lot of hard work, passion and commitment by your family,” Courtright wrote. “We are very excited to share this day with all of you.”

Ralph worked at Fairfield High School for 38 years as a counselor, wrestling and football coach, and was the high school principal for his final 25 years in the district. Linda worked at Pence Elementary School for 25 years as a teacher’s aide and elementary secretary. She was also a founding member of “Mat Moms,” a support group for wrestlers to help cover their expenses.

Ralph coached wrestling at Northwest Missouri State University, his alma mater, and at Cardinal High School, Fairfield High School and Parsons College. He was a wrestling official for 25 years at the high school and collegiate levels, and was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame. He was inducted as one of the original members of Northwest Missouri State’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1962.

Ralph and Linda retired in 2003, but remained active in community organizations. Ralph served on the school board for four years, after which he, Linda and Greg and June Lowenberg chaired the committee responsible for the $14 million remodeling project at the high school that included improvements to science, music, the foyer to the gymnasium, a new elevator and the new wrestling facility.

All three of the Messerlis’ children — David, Darin and Dana — were involved in school activities throughout their careers. After college, all three coached in their particular school systems. Dana (FHS Class of 1986) and Darin (FHS Class of 1983) are still involved in coaching activities while David (FHS Class of 1981), after 15 years teaching and coaching at FHS, changed jobs and is now a full colonel in the U.S. Army National Guard. David will retire on Nov. 30 after 30 years of service. He married fellow FHS alum Diane McIndoe, who was on the school’s 1983 state champion girls’ basketball team. They have two daughters who are also FHS graduates.

Darin married Teresa Brown, a fellow ’83 FHS graduate, and they have two children. Darin has taught and coached wrestling and football at Bartlesville, Oklahoma, for most of the 34 years he has lived there.

Dana married Rod Miller, a graduate of Cedar Rapids Jefferson, and they have four children. Dana teaches at Marion Elementary School where she also coaches mock trial, including teams that have won state and national titles.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com