Gil Peterson memorialized in his hometown; ceremony planned in Huron this summer

PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. — Gil Peterson, athletic director and coach at Huron College from 1954 to 1970, will be memorialized in his hometown of Plattsmouth Neb., with the dedication of a park bench on Saturday, June 24.
The cermony in Plattsmouth will take place at 3 p.m., followed by a social. Later this summer, a dedication ceremony will take place in Huron, at Central Park, the site of the former Huron College gymnasium.
Peterson was a standout football player and had a brief stint in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers. After his playing days, Peterson was a highly successful football coach and athletic director.

At Huron College he had a 33-game win streak and numerous conference championships. One of his most notable athletes at Huron College was Garney Henley, who went on to play in the Canadian National Football League for several years.
Peterson founded Gil’s Purple & Gold Club, which raised financial support for Huron College athletic programs for nearly 20 years.  
Peterson moved to Western Illinois University in 1970, where he advanced the school’s athletics programs to NCAA Division 1 status before retiring in 1995.
His excellence in coaching and administration is exhibited through many honors including five different Sports Halls of Fame.