Howie: Remembering Terry Egerdahl, the Proctor kid whose heart shaped a community

By HOWIE HANSON
Editor & Publisher

DULUTH — Few Northland athletes have left as deep and lasting a mark on our sports community as Terry Egerdahl. More importantly, even fewer have left such a wide circle of friends and former players who still sing his praises for the kind of man he was off the field.

Terry died on Dec. 15, 1980, at just 27, collapsing unexpectedly from a heart attack while warming up for a pickup basketball game at the Duluth Air Base. More than four decades later, his story remains one of the most compelling — and heartbreaking — chapters in our local sports history.

He was, first, a Proctor kid through and through. As a student-athlete at Proctor High School in the early 1970s, Terry was nothing short of a sensation. He starred in football, basketball and baseball, earning all-state honors in all three — a rare trifecta that even today draws looks of amazement. His senior year basketball team advanced to the state tournament, and on the diamond he hit a blistering .636, a batting average that sounds almost mythical now.

College recruiters noticed. Terry chose to stay close to home, attending the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he became a two-sport standout in football and baseball. Under legendary coach Jim Malosky, he filled virtually every skill position imaginable on the football field: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, punter, placekicker and punt returner.

In 1975, he led all of NCAA Division II with an eye-popping 27.7-yard punt return average, helping the Bulldogs to their first conference championship in over a decade. That same season, he earned Little All-America honors from the Associated Press.

“Terry played football with me for three years,” legendary Bulldogs lineman Scott Lyons said. “He was a kid out of Proctor High, and we right away learned the ‘Proctor High’ school song. He was a tremendous athlete, but maybe a little undersized for pro football. Nicest guy and friend, but a fierce competitor. One of the best athletes and people I have ever known. It would have been great to see what he would have become.”

Said former Bulldogs football teammate and close friend Scott Hanna: “One of the best athletes in UMD history. Terry could excel at any sport he tried. Game changer for sure. And an awesome person as well. One of Mo’s favorites. There will always be a place in my heart for Eggs!”

When he graduated, Terry left UMD as the school’s all-time leader in receptions, scoring and punt return yardage. He was equally impressive on the diamond, earning three straight team MVP awards and twice landing on the all-conference list as an outfielder. By the time he finished, he’d also been named UMD’s top scholar-athlete and its outstanding senior male athlete — a testament not just to his versatility, but to his dedication in every aspect of student life.

“Terry was not only the best athlete I have ever seen in person, playing basketball, football, softball, golf, bowling, floor hockey, and broom ball with him,” said good friend and Bulldogs teammate Nick Patronas. “I saw stuff you can only imagine. At 6-foot-2, 195 pounds – and handsome! – he was a physical specimen. This being said, he was kind, caring and the most humble man I have ever met.

“At UMD, he would run behind me, making yards he shouldn’t have gotten, then getting up and always saying, ‘Thanks, Greek, great block.’ Always holding himself to a higher standard of ideals, kindness, and perfection, he made all of us strive to be better. There is not a week that goes by that I do not think of my friend. I am so glad I was on the committee that helped build his field. If anybody deserves an honor like this, it is Eggs in his beloved hometown of Proctor. May his memory be eternal.”

Terry and I were good friends and summer baseball teammates. I hit leadoff and played short, he hit second in the order and played nearly every position except catcher. I often told him he was the brother I never had.

We logged countless miles together driving to games across northern Minnesota. One trip to Grand Rapids is especially etched in my mind. One of the Twins’ top scouts had made the trip to the Iron Range community to watch Terry, who went 4-for-5 that night and stole three bases just for good measure. After the game, the scout invited us to a local pub. Right out of the gate, he leaned across the table and asked Terry, “Would you like to sign with our organization?” Without blinking, Eggs — that’s what we all called Terry — said, “I’m returning in the fall to play for Mo.” That was it. End of the discussion.

On the drive home, I turned to him and said, “Eggs, you just turned down a contract with the Twins, and for good money.” He just shrugged and said, “Like I told the guy, I’m playing for Mo.” That was Terry in a nutshell — fiercely loyal, committed to his team, and intent on finishing what he started.

The NFL came calling soon after. In 1976, the Minnesota Vikings drafted him in the sixth round. He caught passes from Fran Tarkenton in camp and nearly cracked the final roster. A year later, the Chicago Bears brought him to Soldier Field for another look, though he didn’t stick. Even so, seeing a local kid chase down NFL dreams made for great coffee shop talk across the Twin Ports.

When his playing days ended, Terry returned home to Proctor, embracing the roles of teacher and coach with the same passion that had carried him on the field. In three seasons as the Rails’ head football coach, he compiled an 18–9 record, building teams that mirrored his discipline and drive. More importantly, he shaped young lives, teaching lessons about teamwork, humility and perseverance that far outlasted the scoreboard.

His sudden death sent shock waves through the community. A promising young coach, a loyal friend, a local legend — gone instantly. But Proctor made sure his story would endure. The town renamed its football stadium Terry Egerdahl Memorial Field, so each new generation of Rails players would know who paved the way.

In 1987, the Minnesota State Football Coaches Association posthumously inducted Terry into its Hall of Fame, a fitting recognition for his impact on the game and the people around it. UMD later enshrined him in its athletic Hall of Fame, where his records and stories continue to inspire.

And oh, those stories. Even beyond the stats and highlights, what stands out most is the way people still talk about Terry — his easy laugh, his quick willingness to lend a hand, and the way he led by example without needing the spotlight. He was the kind of friend and teammate who noticed what needed doing and did it.

Decades later, those of us lucky enough to know Terry — or even watch him play — still marvel at his gifts. But we remember even more how he carried himself: humble in success, gracious in everything, a hometown hero who never let talent outshine his heart.