(Peru, Neb.) – Ned Eckman is the 47^th of 84 individuals and/or teams being recognized as part of the lead up to the 31^st Peru State Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
 
As Nebraska and Peru State are both celebrating their 150^th birthdays, the College is also hosting special events throughout the year. The next big event on campus will be the Peru State Athletic Hall of Fame banquet which will take place on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 22 and 23.
 
As a lead up to the upcoming Hall of Fame event, the 84 individuals and/or teams will be recognized on a daily basis with one noted on each of the 84 days prior to the event.
 
Eckman, originally from Pawnee City, was inducted for his success on the baseball field while at Peru State.
 
The inscription on Eckman's plaque which is exhibited in the upper lobby of the Al Wheeler Activity Center reads as follows: "One of the most gifted athletes in Peru State College history, Ned Eckman could do it all. He earned conference honors in basketball and football and lettered in track and golf. Though Peru didn't have baseball at the time, he played in the St. Louis Cardinals organization after college.

The fleet Pawnee City, Nebraska native quarterbacked a pair of unbeaten football squads (1952 and 1953) and earned 11 Peru letters in four sports. Eckman dedicated his entire career to education in Nebraska."
 
Eckman earned four letters in basketball where he was the starting guard for all four years, three letters in football where he was the starting quarterback for three years, three letters in track, and one letter in golf.
 
In his quarterback role, Eckman earned All-Nebraska College Conference honors three years and also was named to the NCC all-conference teams his junior and senior seasons. He earned Little All-American honors at quarterback after his junior year. In a compilation of Coach Al G. Wheeler's top players in his 17 years of coaching at Peru State, Wheeler chose Eckman as his top quarterback.
 
After graduation, Eckman was named as the Bert E. Swenson Award winner.
 
One interesting comment coming from Eckman's nomination file talks about Coach Newt Kyle's 5 (Basketball) Stalwarts during his freshman year. This was noted about Eckman: "One of the freshmen to earn a regular starting berth on the Peru State basketball team this year is Ned Eckman, former Pawnee City high school star. The former All-Southeast conference and All-State basketballer makes up for his lack of height with a combination of speed, scrap, and 'know-how.' Eckman is seventeen years old, weighs 155 pounds, and is a 'lofty' 5-11."
 
The Journal and Star said this about Eckman when he earned the top quarterback all-conference pick after his junior season: "The Peru field general, who has signed a professional baseball contract with the Omaha Cardinals and is a basketball letterman, is rated as the fanciest T-formation ball-handlers seen in this area, as well as being an excellent passer. Despite his lack of size, he rates as a player that could easily move into a higher caliber of grid competition and hold his own."
Eckman, a 1955 graduate, was inducted into the Peru State Hall of Fame on September 7, 2002, as a member of the 17th class. He is currently living in Lincoln.