College Football Hall of Fame

Gordon Locke: Iowa Hawkeyes Hall of Fame Legend

By Pigskin Dispatch August 3, 2026 2 min read

Gordon Locke dominates the gridiron as a powerhouse fullback who etched his name into the history of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Through sheer grit and unstoppable rushing, he secured back-to-back Big Ten Championships and established a legacy that college football fans still celebrate today.

Football Bio

August 3, 1898 – Iowa fullback Gordon Locke was born in Denison, Iowa.

Gordon Locke, a fullback from Iowa who entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 1960, was born.

He was a key factor in Iowa’s first-ever game with rival Ohio State in 1926, as he rushed for 126 hard-fought yards and two touchdowns, according to footballfoundation.org.

After his playing days, Mr. Locke became the head coach at Western Reserve University, which is now part of Case Western Reserve.

Gordon Locke leaves a permanent mark on the sport through his fierce rushing attack and exceptional leadership. He translates his legendary on-field success into a dedicated coaching career, guiding a new generation of players. Today, the College Football Hall of Fame preserves his memory as a true titan of the game.

Accolades and Football Accomplishments

  • College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted as a player in 1960.
  • Consensus All-American: Earned Consensus First-Team All-American honors in 1922.
  • All-American Honors: Named a Second-Team All-American in 1921.
  • All-Big Ten Selection: Named a First-Team All-Big Ten fullback in 1921 and 1922.
  • Big Ten Scoring Record: Set the Big Ten scoring record in 1922. He recorded 72 points in conference play, a record that stood for 21 years.
  • Undefeated Seasons: Played for the only two undefeated and untied teams in Iowa history in 1921 and 1922. He was a member of undefeated conference championship teams during both of those seasons.
  • Academic Excellence: Awarded the Big Ten conference medal for excellence in scholarship and athletics in 1923.
  • State and School Honors: Inducted into the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame in 1958. He was later inducted into the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989.

Timeline Context

Place this dispatch in football history.

Use the Pigskin Dispatch timeline to explore surrounding events, seasons, teams, players, and eras connected to this story.

View the Timeline ↗

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *