UWEC Athletics Hall of Fame
Ernie Merrill was a four-sport standout in the early years of the Eau Claire Normal School. He was the right halfback in football, a forward and center in basketball, a center fielder in baseball and ran the 100-yard dash and high jumped in track. He placed first in the high jump and second in the 100-yard dash in 10 seconds flat in the 1926 state meet. He played professional football at quarterback for the Chippewa Marines in 1926. At the Citizens Military Training Camp (CMTC) at Ft. Snelling, he was named the best all-around athlete in 1928, a year after fellow Hall of Famer Ade Olson had won the same honor. His first job was as principal at Webster, Wisconsin. He also spent eight years at Boscobel where his football team was undefeated for two seasons. There he also won the baseball and track titles for four years in a row and a basketball district championship after building the program from scratch. After his stint at Boscobel, Merrill was an educational advisor in the Sparta District of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
At the outbreak of U.S. involvement in World War II, Merrill was called into service as a reserve officer. He was awarded the Legion of Merit in 1944, was Adjutant General of the Caribbean Defense Command in 1945 and served on the War Department General Staff from 1946 to 1949. During the Korean War, he was assigned to the 8th Army Headquarters in Korea as a member of General Taylor’s staff. As Plans and Operation Officer, he helped in the Prisoner Exchange. Merrill retired from the Army in 1957 with the rank of Colonel which he held for 12 years.
Merrill was involved in the development of a youth program in the areas of football, basketball and baseball in Clover Park, Washington. He taught social studies and coached tennis and golf during the 12 years he served at Clover Park High School before retiring in 1969.
