Saluting him for more than 60 years of dedication to Central College as a standout athlete, coach, administrator and supporter, the Spirit of Central Award will be presented to Jim Danks at the school’s football season home opener Sept. 11. Danks, a 1964 graduate, will be recognized prior to Central’s 1 p.m. contest with Kalamazoo College (Mich.) at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.

A Runnells, Iowa native, Danks was recruited to Central by long-time Dutch coach Babe Tysseling and in 1961 was a member of the first squad coached by College Football Hall of Fame member Ron Schipper. He took over as the starting center in the fourth game of his freshman season and was in the lineup for the final 33 games of his career. An all-Iowa Conference honoree in 1962 and 1963, Danks gained NAIA All-District distinction in 1963 as well as NAIA All-American honorable mention and received Central’s Mentink Award for leadership by performance and example.

A surprise announcement of the award was made during a spring football workout when Danks was addressing the team at McMartin’s request. Two Central seniors presented Danks with a framed Central football jersey featuring Danks’ old college number 53. Danks was then surprised to be joined by his wife, Phyllis, their daughter, Elizabeth, who arrived from Minnesota and their son Ryan, who flew in from Washington, D.C.