Inductee Profile
Joe Jilek
2004
Joe was a 1963 graduate of RLHS who lettered 2 years in football and 3 years in wrestling. He was captain of the football team his senior year, Ho'N All Conference Middle Linebacker in 1961 and 1962, and a member of the All Northwest Team in 1962. He was also captain of the wrestling squad and State Qualifier at 165# his senior year. At UW-River Falls, he was a 4 year letter winner in football from 1963 through 1966, team Captain in 1966 and team MVP in both his junior and senior years. He made WSUC All Conference, MVP, and All American in 1965 and 1966, in addition to NAIA District 14 Outstanding Defensive Player (Linebacker) of the Year. Joe was also a Monogram winner in wrestling for the Falcons. He went on to play professional football in the Canadian Football League for Toronto in 1967. As head football coach at Clear Lake High School, Joe coached 5 Conference Champion teams from 1968 to 1976. He also coached baseball and track, and served as Athletic Director at both Clear Lake and Glenwood City. As a WIAA Official, Joe officiated in wrestling for 34 years, including 13 State Tournaments. He was also a football official and umpire. In 1994 Joe received the National Federation Interscholastic Official Association Award for Outstanding Official and in 2001; he received the Ken Kirby Award for Umpire of the Year for the State of Wisconsin. Joe Jilek was enshrined into the UW-River Falls Athletic Hall of Fame on September 26, 1992.