AURORA – The Original Valley lost one of its pioneers on Tuesday, as Dick Kerner, Waubonsie Valley’s original athletic director, passed away at the age of 83.
Kerner was the first director of Waubonsie athletics in 1975, when he started the program from scratch. Kerner also served as the school’s physical education department chair for five years.
He retired in 1995 after 21 years of service. In the following fall, Kerner was inducted into the Waubonsie Valley Athletics Hall of Fame. During that time, the school’s football stadium was named after Kerner.
Also in 1995, Kerner was selected as Outstanding Athletic Director of the Year by the Illinois Athletic Directors Association. In 2007, Kerner was one of four people inducted into the IADA Hall of Fame.
