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KOPELK MEMORIAL

Carl H. Kopelk

In 1947, Carl H. Kopelk was selected as the Assistant Executive Director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association under Mr. E.A. Thomas, the first director of the KSHSAA. Highly respected for his knowledge of high school sports rules in Kansas and the National Federation and for his college football and basketball officiating, which included the top Big Six football games and national bowl games, Mr. Kopelk was serving as a classroom teacher and coach at McPherson High School when he was named Assistant Executive Director.

Upon the retirement of Mr. Thomas in 1957, Mr. Kopelk was named Executive Director and served in that position until his untimely death in 1962 from an apparent heart attack at his desk in the KSHSAA office, located at that time at 1300 Topeka Blvd., Topeka , KS.

Mr. Kopelk's successor as Executive Director, Brice B. Durbin, spearheaded an effort to establish the “Kopelk Memorial” and was responsible for obtaining pictures and identification of state championship teams and individuals for the historical memorial honoring Mr. Kopelk. Memorial funds and contributions were used to secure cabinets in which pictures of KSHSAA state championship teams and individuals are archived.

At the conclusion of each season, pictures are requested of all state championship teams and individuals who set state records, for permanent inclusion in this memorial.

The memorial is now located in the foyer just outside the entrance to the board room in the KSHSAA office, located at 601 SW Commerce Place, Topeka, KS. The Kopelk Memorial is open to the public Monday through Friday during KSHSAA working hours, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM (August - May) and 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM (June & July).

Kopelk Memorial

 

 

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Kansas State High School Activities Association
601 SW Commerce Pl, Topeka KS 66615
Ph: 785.273.5329  Fax: 785.271.0236
kshsaa@kshsaa.org