WHALEN, Arthur C.

WHALEN, Arthur C. (Rock Island, IL, Nov. 26, 1929--Dubuque, IA, Nov. 9, 2018). The son of Arthur J. and Helen (Hedberg) Whalen. Arthur graduated from Rock Island High School in 1947, where he was class president, an honor scholar and captain of his football, wrestling and track teams. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Augustana College, Rock Island. In 1981, he was honorably inducted in the school’s prestigious Hall of Fame, The Tribe of Vikings. His accomplishments in football included being a four-year starter at halfback and defensive safety, Most Valuable Freshman, leading rusher and scorer for two years and team captain as a senior. In wrestling, he only lost one dual meet match and won several tournament championships. He was the recipient of the Gold Star Scholarship for academics three times. He earned his Master’s in Education from Western Illinois University in 1958. He proudly served as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army during the KOREAN CONFLICT in Ft. Riley, Kansas. (1)

In 1953, he was a front line observer of ATOMIC RESEARCH during Upshot-Knothole Grable in Nevada, the only time a nuclear bomb was deployed from a cannon. Art was one of the first five soldiers to enter Ground Zero, site of the first test firing of an atomic bomb in the Nevada desert west of Las Vegas. The soldiers entered the area of the blast minutes after the explosion of a 20 kiloton atomic bomb. Carefully monitoring radioactivity in the area, the soldiers marked areas too "hot" with tape. Soldiers following them were instructed to move forward to the right of the markings. (2)

He married Nancy Engman, in 1953. She preceded him in death in 1982. In 1984, he married Caroline Peterson, who preceded him in death in 2012. (3)

Art and his family moved to Dubuque in 1960 when he was named head wrestling coach at DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL where he also coached football and track alongside friend and mentor Wilbur DALZELL. He stayed very active in local wrestling by refereeing, starting youth programs, and assisting other high school programs. He served as principal at Prescott, Lincoln, Sageville, and Helen Keller elementary schools. (4)

Art was an avid softball player and was the catcher on several city championship teams including those of WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH and the LUX CLUB. He was an active member and supporter of the Dubuque YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (Y.M.C.A.) throughout his life. (5)

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Source:

1. Obituaries, Telegraph Herald, November 18, 2018, p. 25A

2. Interview with Art Whalen

3. Obituaries

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.