K-State Sports
MANHATTAN – Former K-State student-athlete, assistant coach and athletics director Dick Towers passed away on Sunday at the age of 92 in Manhattan.
A native of Olathe, Kan., Towers’ association with K-State dated back to 1950 when he enrolled at the university as a football and track and field student-athlete. Playing alongside the great Veryl Switzer, Towers was a three-year starter (1950-52) at quarterback and tailback as well as a safety for head coaches Ralph Graham and Bill Meek, winning the team’s Most Inspirational Player Award as a senior in 1952. He also ran track for the Wildcats and Hall of Fame head coach Ward Haylett, winning the Big Eight mile relay as a junior.
After spending time as a football coach in the prep and college ranks, including a stint as the offensive backs coach at K-State from 1964-65, Towers moved into the administrative ranks in 1977 as athletics director at Great Bend High School in Great Bend, Kan. He re-joined the K-State athletics staff in the summer of 1980 as an academic counselor and assistant to athletics director DeLoss Dodds before succeeding Dodds in November 1981. He led the athletics department until December 1984. He went onto to serve as associate AD at Iowa State from 1986-89.
Towers was a two-time graduate of the university, earning a bachelor's degree in physical education and biological science in 1953 and a master’s degree in physical education and administration in 1961.
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Dick Towers,” athletics director Gene Taylor said. “He led the athletics department during a crucial period in our history, and I enjoyed getting to know him since my arrival. He was a kind and loyal man who was always willing to help and share his perspective. It has been a tough week for K-Staters, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Towers family.”
During his time as a football coach, Towers made quite the name for himself in the state of Kansas, guiding Leavenworth (1957) and Manhattan High Schools (1958-62) for six seasons before a one-year stint as the head coach at Hutchinson Community College in 1963. He led MHS to a 29-13-2 record as head coach, which included four conference titles and the 1961 state championship. He was State Coach of the Year in 1961.
Towers also served as the head coach at Southern Illinois (1967-73) for seven seasons, guiding the Salukis to a 30-37-2 record, which included four winning seasons. He was the NCAA District 5 Coach of the Year in 1970. He also served as an assistant coach at SIU (1966) and Duke (1974-77).
Towers is survived by his wife Wann, and three children (daughters Betsy and Donna and son Rick).
The funeral service will be held Saturday, April 29 at 11 a.m., at the First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan.