Encyclopedia Dubuque
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CRETZMEYER, John W.
CRETZMEYER, John W. (Waverly, IA, Feb. 16, 1885--Dubuque, IA, June 13, 1944). Cretzmeyer, an instructor of mathematics, served as the highly respected athletic director and coach st COLUMBIA ACADEMY for thirty-two years. Cretzmeyer joined the staff upon graduating from DUBUQUE COLLEGE where he played on the basketball team. (1)
Among many lay instructors at the Academy, Cretzmeyer began his coaching duties in 1913 with the baseball team. One of his stars was Urban "Red" FABER. (2) He later coached football, basketball and track. and became the athletic director in 1920. (3)
His students were christened the "Gubs" (his favorite expression was "By Gubs") or "Cretzmen." Reserves on teams carried the nickname "Gublets." (4) Academy teams under his guidance annually participated in the Loyola University Catholic High School Invitational in Chicago. Columbia Academy won the Catholic State High School football championships in 1926, 1927, 1929, and 1930. From 1925 to 1931 Columbia football teams scored 1,027 points against 343 from the opposition with undefeated seasons in 1920 and 1937. His football teams won over 75 percent of their games. (5)
In 1937 Cretzmeyer had coached the Columbia Academy's basketball team for twenty-seven years. His teams had won the state Catholic meet six times and competed in the national meet on ten occasions. One of his star players was Robert MATTHEWS who became the third high school athlete in Dubuque's history to make the All-State basketball team in 1937. (6)
A member of the KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, Cretzmeyer was among many local men interested in the national Community Boyology Institute which considered the leisure problems of modern boys and the many programs operated for their benefit. As a result, the institute was brought to Dubuque for one week in January 1933 under the sponsorship of the Knights. (7) In 1939 as district deputy of the Knights, he initiated the idea of the district K of C stag picnic with the first being held at the DELLS OF DURANGO. (8)
During WORLD WAR II, Cretzmeyer served as Zone C co-chief of CIVIL DEFENSE. This included an area of Seventh, Eighth and Ninth precincts in the city each with air raid officers and personnel. (9) In his later years, he was among those who were active in the INTER-FRATERNAL BASEBALL LEAGUE of Dubuque. He encouraged the organization to continue and to consider dividing the players of each fraternal organization in the league having two teams established by age. (10)
In 1943 LORAS COLLEGE officials announced there would be no football program that year following a similar decision at the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE. Vince DOWD who had been hired to replace Cretzmeyer returned to Loras to coach basketball and track. Cretzmeyer continued to serve as the Gubs basketball coach. (11)
The 1944 homecoming was dedicated to his memory. (12) At half-time of the Loras Academy-Aquinas of La Crosse football game a tribute to him was read by The Rev. M. J. Martin, president of Loras College. Robert KENLINE, a student and athlete under Cretzmeyer, spoke on behalf of the Loras alumni. The dedication closed with the playing of "Taps." (13)
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Source:
1. "Dubuque College Basketball Team, Hawkeye Conference Champions (1915), Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, March 14, 1915, p. 21
2. "John W. Cretzmeyer Celebrates His 25th Year with Columbia Academy," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, November 18, 1934, p. 18
3. "Vince Dowd..."
4. Meyer, Jeff, "Reflecting Back on the Gub Club," Telegraph Herald, March 20, 2018, p. 8
5. "Large Attendance is Anticipated at Boyology Institute," Telegraph Herald. January 18, 1933, p. 10
6. "Matthews Third Player Honored," Telegraph-Herald, March 26, 1937, p. 11
7. Meyer
8. "District Stag Picnic Planned by Knights, Telegraph-Herald, August 20, 1939, p. 17
9. "On the OCD Activity List," Telegraph-Herald, October 24, 1943, p. 17
10. "City Fraternal League One Year Old; Celebrities," Telegraph-Herald, September 25, 1934, p. 2
11. "Vine Dowd to Coach Academy Club This Fall," Telegraph-Herald, August 22, 1943, p. 11
12. "Dedicate Homecoming to Late Loras Coach," Telegraph-Herald, October 22, 1944, p. 14
13. "Tribute is Paid to 'Cretz," Telegraph-Herald, October 30, 1944, p. 10
