Former NDHSAA Exec. Secretary Bob King remembered for his service

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Former Executive Secretary of the North Dakota High School Activities Association Robert “Bob” King passed away on Wednesday, April 25. King, born Oct. 28, 1933, was 84 years old.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m., Friday, April 27, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Valley City. The funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 28, at the church. Arrangements are being made by Lerud Mathias Funeral Home in Valley City.

King served as Executive Secretary of the NDHSAA from July 1988 to June 1999. He was the fourth Executive Secretary in the association's history.

Prior to serving as NDHSAA Executive Secretary, King was an Assistant to the Executive Secretary from July 1979 to June 1988 giving him 20 years of service as a member of the NDHSAA staff.

King was a well-known, well-respected figure in North Dakota sports as an athlete, coach, official and administrator.

King graduated from Valley City State University in 1955 with a degree in history and physical education. While at VCSU, King earned 13 varsity letters in basketball, football, baseball and golf. His teaching and coaching career began in Pelican Rapids (Minn.) in 1955. In 1956, King moved to Milnor, N.D. to become a teacher and head football coach at the high school. King went onto teach and coach at New Rockford High School leading the football team to statewide fame. In 1961, he coached the New Rockford boys track and field team to a state championship.

King returned to Valley City to become the high school’s athletic director and head football coach. He was named North Dakota High School Coaches Association’s Class A Football Coach of the Year in 1974.

As an official, King served as president of the North Dakota Officials Association from 1978-1979 and officiated 16 state basketball tournaments.

After a successful run as an educator, AD, coach and official, King joined the NDHSAA staff in 1979 continuing his legacy of service. He served on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Basketball Rules Committee helping implement the 3-point basket into the national rulebook.

King was inducted into the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. He also served as the Hall of Fame’s president for several years. In addition to the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, King also is a member of the North Dakota Officials Hall of Fame (1982), North Dakota School Coaches Hall of Fame (1985), the Valley City High School Athletic Hall of Fame (1991), New Rockford High School Hall of Fame, North Dakota Athletic Directors Hall of Fame (2003) and the North Dakota High School Track and Field Hall of Fame (2009). King also was the recipient of a NFHS Citation Award and the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Special Achievement Award in 1999.

Bob and his wife Nancy were married Nov. 5, 1959 at First Methodist Church in Fargo. They have two children Darcy and Darin.