Hal Dyer of Northbrook, who turns 93 on Sept. 29, received an early birthday gift when he was recognized on the field at the Northwestern University Wildcats football team on Sept. 23 at Ryan Field in Evanston.
“I’m proud to be a former Northwestern student and I’m proud to be an athlete and I always will be,” Dyer said.
The Northwestern Athletics program regularly recognizes military service and on a balmy Saturday sunset evening on the field’s northwest stadium corner, it was Hal Dyer’s turn to appear before his home team audience.
“Hal bleeds purple and Northwestern Athletics has been such a major part of his life,” the announcer’s script offered.
Dyer, a Northbrook resident since 1962, currently lives at Covenant Living of Northbrook. Attending the Sept. 23 honorarium were Dyer’s wife Daryl plus children Kathy Dyer Fernitz of Northbrook and Dave Dyer of Schiller Park. Grandchildren include Kara Fernitz, Patrick Fernitz, Tommy Fernitz and Hailey Dyer.
At Northwestern, Dyer was on the Wildcats football team from 1949 to 1952 as an offensive lineman right tackle.
Dyer was on the 1949 Rose Bowl team roster as freshman status. His number was 79 despite a photo of a freshman practice jersey bearing a different number.
Dyer is a 70-year Wildcat football season ticket holder, a former president of the N-Men’s Club and cofounded the Gridiron Network.
Born in West Hamlin, Virginia, Dyer was on active duty from 1952 to 1954 as a Yeoman 3rd Class Petty Officer (United States Navy), serving on the USS Traverse County (LST 1160), which became an active unit of the United States Atlantic Fleet Amphibious Force during the Korean War.
Dyer was an Honor Flight participant in 2017 and Dream Flight attendee this year.
Dyer received his 1952 advertising degree from Northwestern University’s School of Commerce and worked for Chicago Tribune advertising for 38 years, his family stated.
Dyer had just graduated from college and had the Chicago Tribune job when he was in the reserves for which he volunteered to serve, leading to Korean War seaboard service.
Dyer has been a member of American Legion Post 791 of Northbrook since 2008. Post members were among Dyer’s fan gallery at Northwestern’s stunning overtime win against the Minnesota Gophers.
Family members and friends tailgated with Dyer in the west parking lot. Dyer was brought to the stadium by special escort before kickoff.
Tom Kittler of Northbrook, post commander, was among tailgaters.
“This is great, this is one of our own,” Kittler said. “It’s such an honor to be here to celebrate Hal … and to honor this, not only North Shore native, Northwestern graduate, but still a legion member, part of the legion, doing it, serving the community.”
Northbrook veterans Matt Jaeger and Tom Coogan also attended with Post 791.
“We’re honored to have Hal who served in the Navy during Korea,” Jaeger said, adding, “Hal is a respected member of the post.”
Coogan said Dyer is, “certainly the oldest person that regularly attends our (post) meetings.
“He brings a lot of stories, a lot of integrity, old history that we like to have around.”
Dyer’s stories include being tossed around on ocean waters on military flat bottomed boats designed to withstand major storms. Dyer had no motion sickness despite boats rocking, “like a cork,” he recalled, “taking mighty, heavy rolls in bad weather.”
Then this year, Dyer stood on stable ground on what was once, to him, firmly Dyche Stadium football field turf. This season Dyer held a gleaming white ceremonial Northwestern football helmet for a welcome paparazzi photo opportunity.
Jim Ossey of Glenview was in the stands with fellow Post 791 post members to witness Dyer’s recognition.
“Hal, what can I not say about him? What an outstanding gentleman, just to know that he was on this football team back when they went to the Rose Bowl in 1949 and he’s still here to be honored, that is an awesome, awesome thing for him and for us as veterans and to be represented like that,” Ossey said.
“Hal’s a great guy.”
Inside the stadium was U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-10th) of Highland Park who personally congratulated Dyer. Schneider received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University.
Schneider said Northwestern University’s athletics programs regularly, “honor military.
“And we stand up and we cheer and we salute their service as one of the best parts of coming to the games every week,” Schneider said.
“And to celebrate someone who was on the Rose Bowl team, even better,” Schneider added with a smile. “And the fact that it’s someone who’s in my district, even better.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
