Hall of Fame
Dr. Tom Hallstrom demonstrated outstanding athletic ability during his time at Peru State and is part of the Hall of Fame as a team member for the 1947-48 men’s basketball team. Hallstrom is inducted as an individual member to the Hall of Fame for his contributions to athletics throughout his career as an educator and administrator.
After graduating from Peru State in 1949, Hallstrom taught, coached, supervised, and coordinated physical education and athletics for the Omaha Public Schools (OPS) for 30 years. He was considered to have been one of the nation’s early leaders in high school athletic administration.
Hallstrom had major roles in recruiting minority basketball and football officials, was instrumental in implementing high school girl’s gymnastics in Nebraska, and was one of the founders of the national AAU Junior Olympic Track and Field program.
Hallstrom is a member of the Omaha Public Schools Sports Hall of Fame and the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. He was very instrumental in moving the Nebraska High School State Track and Field State Championship to Omaha and created the organizational blue print that remains in place today.
For his outstanding accomplishments in high school activities, in 2012 Hallstrom was the first Nebraska educator to receive the coveted Hall of Fame recognition by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.
