Kermit ‘Doc’ Weiske

Class of 1950: Mr. Basketball

Athletics were a part of life for Kermit George “Doc” Weiske ever since grade school in Berlin, Wisconsin. He was born May 18, 1929, in Montello, Wisconsin. After graduating from high school at age 16, Weiske came to Ripon College in 1946, majored in physical education and played football, basketball and track.

As a player and later as a coach, he was known as Ripon’s Mr. Basketball.

“It was a good experience,” he said. “I made all-conference four years in a row and set the school individual scoring record in basketball for 28 years – later to be busted by a kid that I coached!” (Lud Wurtz, Class of 1978)

He earned a master’s degree in physical education from the University of Wisconsin. He was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets, then a National Basketball Association team. He played semi-pro and pro basketball for a short time before teaching and coaching basketball in Fort Atkinson (Wisconsin) High School for a year. He then served in the Army and played basketball for them for two years.

Weiske returned to Fort Atkinson until 1958. He then came to Ripon College as an assistant professor of physical education, head basketball and golf coach and assistant football coach through 1966, and again from 1972 until retiring in 1980. He led his teams to five Midwest Conference titles and two NCAA Division III playoffs and a 203-148 collegiate coaching record.

He worked full time in the insurance business from 1966 to 1997 and owned his own Weiske Agency. He also served Ripon College as a Trustee for 21 years and then an Honorary Life Trustee.

Participation in athletics serves Ripon graduates well, Weiske said. “They know how important it is to lend to a team whatever pursuit they’re taking. They know they have to do their part in a team effort” in whatever field they go into.

He was inducted into the Ripon College Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1980. He also was a past president and board member of the Wisconsin Golf Association, served as a board member at Mascoutin Golf Course, and was a member of the Wisconsin State Basketball Hall of Fame.

Ripon honored Weiske with several honors, including the Distinguished Alumni Citation and the 1991 Medal of Merit. In addition, The “Doc” Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble is held each year during Alumni Weekend, and Weiske Gymnasium in Willmore Center is named in his honor.

Weiske died March 17, 2016, at age 86.