January 3, 2020 By Kasey McDowell
Merwin Wilson was a student athlete/football player who graduated from Mulvane in 1929. After high school he attended and graduated from Fort Hays State College and began his teaching/coaching career. Merwin coached at several schools including Larned, KS. While in Larned, he began the annual Larned Relays in 1953. Although he coached all sports, his specialty was football. Coach Wilson was noted for his devotion to hard work, his influence for personal integrity, and good sportsmanship.
Coach Wilson also coached and taught at Cawker City, Hunter, Alden, Axtell, Downs, Haven, Lewis, and Offerle. At Lewis his teams had two undefeated seasons and at Lyndon the last two years his teams won nine games and lost one - both losses coming in the state playoffs.
Coach Wilson passed away on May 28, 1976 and was inducted posthumously into the Kansas High School Activities Association Hall of Fame at Emporia on March 12, 1977.
Per KSHSAA "The growth and development of interscholastic activities in Kansas has been made possible through total commitment of individuals interested in developing these programs, as well as the unusual achievements by the participants. The Kansas State High School Activities Hall of Fame was established in 1975 to permanently recognize these outstanding individuals. Inductees were selected by the Hall of Fame Committee who have unselfishly devoted many hours of their time to evaluate the numerous nominees to this Hall of Fame."
Click here for the KSHSAA Hall of Fame List (as of 2019).