Gorr, Ernie

Biography

Ernie Gorr (1910-1987) was a physical education instructor (1947-1976) at the Municipal University of Omaha and its successor the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He was born in Saint Edward's, NE. He received a B.S. (1933) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an M.S. (1954) from the Municipal University of Omaha. Early in his career, he coached and taught at Nebraska high schools in Alvo, Duncan, Bridgeport, Ponca, and Nebraska City.

He was assistant coach for the OU football team at the time of the Tangerine Bowl game in 1955, a historic event for OU. He coached the OU tennis, football, track teams from 1951 to 1961. In 1952 he developed the cross country program for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). He taught until his retirement in 1979. Post-retirement, he was a member of the Grande Olde Players, a theatre troupe composed of Omaha-area senior citizens. He passed away in 1987 at the age of 76.

He won many awards over his career, including an award from the Midwest Region National Parks and Recreation. In 1962, he was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame. He served as President of the Midwestern Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Association and Chair of the National Association of Inter Collegiate Athletics (NAIA) cross-country championship. The Ernie Gorr Talent scholarship is awarded annually in his memory by Recreation and Leisure Studies, part of the UNO School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.

Sources:

"Ex-UNO Coach Dies at Age 76," Omaha World-Herald, February 16, 1987.

"Gorr's Funeral To Be Thursday," Omaha World-Herald, February 17, 1987.

Rombarge, Kim, "Gorr Ends 28-Year UNO Stay," Gateway, May 7, 1976.

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