Sports Hall of Fame – 2021

Merle Tanner is a 1934 graduate of Dubuque Senior HS.  During his tenure at Dubuque Senior HS, Merle participated in Football, Basketball and Track & Field for the Rams.  As a track & field athlete, Merle was a middle-distance runner, focusing on the 880 yard and mile races.  His personal best mile time came as a senior, running in 4:20.  Following graduation, Merle eventually began a 35-year career at Dubuque Pack, retiring in 1976.  Merle was also an avid bowler and golfer in the Dubuque area.  Merle served on the Executive Board of the Dubuque Bowling Association as President and Secretary/Treasurer.  He would often organize youth bowling tournaments and help coach young kids in the sport.  He was inducted into the Iowa State Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1978, and Iowa Seniors Bowling Hall of Fame in 1990.  Merle Tanner passed away on October 31, 2001. 

Thomas McLaughlin graduated from Dubuque Senior HS in 1974.  During his short HS career, Thomas participated in Football, Basketball and Track & Field for the Rams.  Thomas qualified for the Drake Relays in the Shot Put as well as relays for the team.  It was Football where Thomas excelled even greater for the Rams.  Following a transfer from Hempstead, Thomas became the Rams Quarterback and Punter.  During his Senior year, he earned 3^rd team All-State honors and was selected to the Iowa Shrine game.  In the Shrine game, Thomas was named the MVP for his play.  Following Dubuque Senior, Thomas McLaughlin went on to play for the University of Iowa, earning 4 letters while the starting quarterback for the last 3 years for the Hawkeyes.  Thomas signed as a Free Agent football player with the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, and Dallas Cowboys making it through several weeks of camp before getting released by each team.

Elizabeth (Marting) Jones graduated from Dubuque Senior HS in 1985.  She participated in Women’s Golf and Basketball for the Rams.  She was member of the State Runner-Up BKB team in 1985.  Elizabeth was Captain of the Rams Women’s Golf team and the team was State Runner-Up in 1985.  Elizabeth took her golfing talents to the University of Wisconsin where she earned 4 letters in Women’s Golf for the Badgers.  Elizabeth was also a 2-time US National Amateur qualifier.  She served as Captain for 3-years and was a 2-year Academic All-American in 1986 & 1987.  She graduated with a Physical Therapy/Athletic Training degree and later a master’s degree in Executive Leadership.  Elizabeth Jones currently works for OrthoCarolina. 

Jonathan Fasselius is a 2001 graduate of Dubuque Senior HS.  While a Ram, Jonathan won Major D awards, but experienced his greatest success in Track & Field.  Jonathan won the MVC Sophomore 400m championship as a Freshman and later in his career participated and placed at the Drake Relays and IHSAA State meets.  Following graduation, Jonathan attended the University of Northern Iowa, with the intent on running (but a significant injury kept him from participating in Track & Field).  Following graduation from UNI, he joined a 5-year electrician apprenticeship in the Cedar Rapids area, where he continues to work today.  He was worked with youth, particularly in track & field, as a YMCA assistant coach, Special Olympics coach, and has also volunteered with the Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa. 

Tim Felderman is a 1991 graduate of Dubuque Senior HS.  Tim Felderman, not only at Dubuque Senior, but as an undergraduate student at the University of Dubuque, is considered as one of the best all-around athletes in the Dubuque area.  While a Ram, Tim played Basketball, Golf, and Baseball.  Tim went on to the University of Dubuque, earning a BA in Physical Education in 1995.  As a Spartan, Tim participated in Baseball, Basketball, and Cross Country…earning 9 Varsity letters.  Following his graduation at the University of Dubuque, Coach Felderman led the XC team at Clarke and was an Assistant Baseball coach for the Pride.  Tim came back to UD to be an assistant baseball coach following his Clarke stint.  Tim Felderman has been a coach and teacher in the Dubuque Community School District and Dubuque Senior High School for several years.  As evidence of Tim’s all-around athletic abilities, he has bowled a perfect 300-game, made a hole-in-one, and pitched a perfect game in baseball. 

Todd Gilligan is a 1994 graduate of Dubuque Senior HS.  While attending high school, Todd participated in Football, Basketball, Swimming, and Track & Field earning 7 Major D’s for the Rams.  On the grid-iron, Todd was a Quarterback and Defensive back.  His play led to a 2^nd team, MVC All Conference award as a Quarterback.  During the Track & Field season, Todd was a shot-put athlete (among a few relays or individual runs), qualifying for State and winning the SOPH and VARSITY titles in the MVC meets his Soph and Senior years.  Todd competed in Basketball for 2 years but was “encouraged” to give Swimming a go his Junior and Senior years.  As a Junior, qualified for the state meet in 3 events, and 4 events as a Senior.  Todd has worked in the educational field (including Dubuque Senior HS) for 10 years, before working in manufacturing fields in the Dubuque area.