Wilford Dewey Halden (6 January 1897 - 2 March 1992) was a coach for Davis High School's athletic teams from 1927 to 1956, and for most of his tenure at Davis High, was the only athletic coach for all sports teams. Halden led his teams to many winning seasons, including league and regional championships.
Halden, born in Indianola, Iowa to William and Jennie Halden, grew up in Warren County, Iowa. He served in World War I as a pilot, and following the war attended Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where he starred in three sports, graduating in 1925. He went on to briefly play semi-professional football for the Chicago Staleys (today's Chicago Bears), under George Halas, before relocating to Davis.
At Davis High School Halden also taught history, biology, and special education. Halden is credited along with Bill Young for creating the DHS mascot, the Blue Devil, based on a WWI French fighting force. Among the students he coached were future DHS teachers/coaches Albert "Bud" Henle and Robert "Bob" Johnson. Halden retired from coaching in 1957, but continued to teach until 1964. Halden lived most of his life at 619 6th Street in Davis with his wife, Alice Carol (Stoddard) Halden (d. 1966), and his two children.
When Davis High School moved to its present location on 14th Street in 1961, the stadium was named Halden Field in his honor. Additionally, the following year, 1962, the Halden Relays, an annual track and field event at Davis High, was initiated and named for Halden. The Halden Relays were later renamed the Halden Invitational.
Halden was inducted into the Davis High Hall of Fame in 2012.
Source:
Gallaudet, Bruce; 2012 Aug. 26 "Halden’s old-school style still echoes at Davis High," Davis Enterprise, pg. A1. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
