Dan Barker

The storied long-time athletic director, coach and teacher in the Madison Central School District is the first inductee into the MHS Athletic Hall of Fame. Barker is a graduate of Thomas High School in 1952. He followed that with a college career both at Huron and General Beadle State colleges, graduating from GBSTC in 1956. He earned a master's degree in physical education from South Dakota State University in 1970 and a master's degree in public school administration from SDSU in 1977. Academically and in Madison sports arenas, Barker was MHS's athletic director beginning in 1967. He carried out those related responsibilities until 1990 when he retired. Barker had coached basketball, track and football at every level from 1957 until 1975, including both teaching and coaching at Lincoln Elementary, General Beadle Campus High School and Madison High School. He coached a number of regional track champions and prepared many athletes who went on to participate in NCAA Div. I and Il track. He was also the assistant principal from 1977-90 at MHS. In addition to being the Barker Relays' namesake, the meet he founded in 1966, Barkers "honors list" includes: member of the S.D. High School Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame (1990); S.D. High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame (1994); Dakota State University alumni coach of the year (1976); two-time Barker Relays honorary referee (1981 and 1990); DSU outstanding educator (1990); SDHSADA distinguished service award winner (1991). A charter member of the SDHSADA, Barker is a past president of the association and was the Eastern South Dakota Conference secretary for five years. He has been a top official for innumerable regional and state track meets, and also the meet referee for the Howard Wood-Dakota Relays since 1994. His leadership enabled Madison to be the site of the first two state high school girls' track meets (1971 and '72), along with bringing to Madison the first state high school girls' volleyball tournament in 1983.