Fred Gushurst - Inducted 1994

Born in Lead in 1890. Lead High School. 1914 Notre Dame grad. Starting right end on unbeaten Notre Dame football teams of 1912 and 1913. The left end was Knute Rockne. Gushurst was named All-American in his senior season of 1913. These Notre Dame teams are most famous for popularizing the use of the forward pass. In a 35-13 victory over heavily favored Army in 1913, Gushurst was the first "lonesome end," flanked 20-30 feet from the tackle on the opposite end to Rockne. In 1948, Gushurst was named to the all-time Notre Dame half-century team as a halfback. There were many outstanding ends from Notre Dame and the committee wanted to make sure that Gushurst was included on the all time team. At Lead, he was on a football team that defeated Aberdeen in 1908 for the mythical state title. In 1917 he became the first full-time paid coach at S.D. Tech and helped to introduce the forward pass to the region. He made Tech a football power during the 1920s.

(In 1913 Notre Dame team photo, Gushurst is in middle row, second from right. Knute Rockne is holding the football and QB Gus Dorais is to the right of Gushurst.)