Art Peters '80 is the only player in the 123-year history of the Ripon College football program to have his jersey number retired. A three-time First Team All-Conference selection and the program's first-ever 1,000-yard receiver, Peters was named to the Kodak All-American team as a senior in 1979 after finishing his career with virtually every school receiving record. Also a member of Ripon's men's basketball team and lacrosse club team, Peters was inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.

Number 85 on the football field, Peters was number one in the hearts of Ripon Redmen fans as the team's leading receiver during his final three seasons. He finished his storied career with school records for career receptions (152), receiving yards (2,473), receiving touchdowns (26), and consecutive games with a reception (27), all of which have since been broken, but remain in the top five in program history, more than 40 years after his graduation.

"The most meaningful part of my athletic experience at Ripon is the friendships I made on the teams I played on. More than 40 years later, my teammates from the lacrosse team are still some of my best friends. My teammates from each sport and I formed a bond playing together and going on road trips, which are some of my best memories from college," Peters said. "Attending a small school like Ripon gave me the opportunity to compete in three sports, instead of specializing in just one."

After recording team-highs of 34 receptions for 668 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore, en route to his first All-Conference selection, Peters took his game to the next level as a junior. That season saw him set single season school records for receptions (70) and receiving yards (1,070), both of which stood for 14 years and currently ranks second and fifth, respectively, in school history. Peters also recorded six touchdowns that season, as he earned his second consecutive All-Conference nod. His 10 catches for 248 yards against Milton College that season established a new Wisconsin state college single game record, which has since been broken.

Peters capped off his career by earning All-American honors as a senior, as the only player from a Wisconsin college to receive the honor. That season, Peters finished second in Division-III in receiving touchdowns (10), which was just one shy of the National leader, while also ranking 10th in the country in receptions (44) and seventh in receiving yards (680).

"Art's speed in our league impresses me, as does his concentration and the way he can catch the ball in a crowd," said former Ripon College Chaplain and football coach Jerry Thompson in an interview in 1980. "He has a lot of the qualifications necessary to be a professional football player, but the crucial thing will be speed and how he compares to other receivers."

A native of Barrington, Ill., Peters caught the eye of some National Football League (NFL) teams during his college career. Minnesota receivers coach Les Steckel, who would become the Vikings Head Coach just four years later, visited Ripon after Peters' senior season to put the receiver through a workout. Former Ripon offensive lineman Dick Rehbein '77, who was an assistant coach with the Green Bay Packers at the time, also came to Ripon to scout Peters.

"Coach Steckel threw me a bunch of balls in the gym and I think I only dropped one pass out of at least 100 balls that he threw me that day," Peters recalled. "I remember him saying that I had as good of hands as anyone he'd been around as a coach. Maybe he says that to all his prospects, but that was still fun to hear. I worked out with the Vikings again in Minnesota later that year, but never got the call."

In addition to his outstanding football career, which saw Peters help Ripon win back-to-back Midwest Conference championships in 1977 and 1978, Peters had just as much fun, if not more, playing for Ripon's club Lacrosse team.

"We finished 11-0 during my senior year of lacrosse, going undefeated in the Great Plains Conference, while defeating UW-Madison, Northwestern, Iowa, Iowa State, and the University of Minnesota," Peters said. "The best part of it all was accomplishing that with such great teammates and friends."

Peters recently retired from a career in transportation. He and his wife Ruth (Hollinger) '79 met while both were students at Ripon College and have been married for nearly 41 years. They have two children and three grandchildren. Peters' son Tim '06 carried on the family legacy by playing defensive line for Ripon's football team and marrying a fellow Ripon grad, Regan (Rogers) '07.

"It was really fun to attend all of my son's games and cheer on the Red Hawks when he was a player," Peters said. "Life has come full circle and I'm very blessed and thankful for my experience at Ripon College."


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