UWEC Athletics Hall of Fame
Tom “Shanty” Reidinger became the oldest Blugold athlete ever inducted when he was selected at age 88. He was the fifth member of the 1948 Blugold championship football team to be inducted, having been preceded by Sam Young, Link Walker, Ade Washburn and Dick Emanuel. A graduate of Eau Claire Senior High, Reidinger played four years of both football and baseball as a Blugold. In fact, a football shoulder injury probably cost Reidinger a chance at a pro baseball career. A scout representing the Cleveland Indians and New York Giants approached his parents about signing him out of high school but the deal never materialized because Reidinger would not give up playing football which the pro teams required. Reidinger was an All-Conference Second Team halfback in 1948. That year, there was only an 11-man First Team and an 11-man Second Team selected for the 10-team league. There was no offense or defense since most players performed both ways and Reidinger was also a safety on defense.
Reidinger excelled in Hall of Fame coach Ade Olson’s single wing offense despite losing one eye as a youngster. In those days, substitution was also limited with only one sub allowed per play, thus being a starter was critical to seeing extended playing time. While few stats are available from the 1948 season, when the Blugolds finished 5-1 in the conference and 6-1 overall, Dave Weiss, who nominated Reidinger said that most of the Blugold offense and scores came via a ground attack and Reidinger and Robert “Pinky” Schaaf, the premier halfbacks, had a direct hand in seven of the team’s 15 touchdowns that season. In the 1949 season finale, which was Reidinger’s Blugold swan song, Reidinger was not expected to play because of an injury. But he entered the game in the second half and carried the ball just twice for 76 yards including a 44-yard TD jaunt. Reidinger was considered a sure tackler and a ball hawk on defense and defense was critical to the Blugolds’ conference championship in 1948. The Blugolds shut out three of their seven opponents and only Superior, which handed the Blugolds their only loss (13-0), scored more than seven points against the Blugold defense.
Following his graduation in 1950, and after escorting his father to various places for a year, Reidinger went to work at Nagle Hart where he eventually served as the Regional Sales Manager. After 26 years he continued selling Caterpillar equipment with the Ziegler Company, where he became the Vice President. He also worked for Caterpillar dealer Fabco before he retired in 1996.
