LeTourneau Athletics Hall of Fame
Dr. Mel Fratzke came to LeTourneau in 1966 as Director of Intramural Sports and Instructor in Physical Education. The following year, he was promoted to Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach, positions he held until 1972.
During his tenure, he significantly improved LeTourneau athletics in several ways by joining the Big State Conference, joining both the NAIA and the NCCAA, constructing the present Conrad-Vernon Baseball Field, and constructing Belcher Gym. In his final two years as basketball coach, LeTourneau won a combined 37 games -- including 19 in the 1971-72 season and an NCCAA national tournament appearance in the 1970-71 season.
Even though Dr. Fratzke's basketball teams achieved national recognition in both the NAIA and the NCCAA, he valued most of all the opportunity to build Christian character and spiritual maturity into young men at LeTourneau.
