(Peru, Neb.) – Jerry Joy is the 37th of 84 individuals and/or teams being recognized as part of the lead up to the 31^st Peru State Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.
 
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.
 
Joy, originally from Shubert, was inducted for his success as a coach in the football program while at Peru State.
 
The inscription on Joy's plaque which is exhibited in the upper lobby of the Al Wheeler Activity Center reads as follows: "A native of Shubert, Neb., and a Peru State College alum, Jerry Joy returned to his alma mater in 1975 to become the Head Football Coach and rebuild a struggling Bobcat football program. In the 13 seasons before Joy arrived the Bobcats won only 29 games and saw five different coaches. He posted a 40-36-2 mark in eight seasons with the Bobcats and took the 1979 team to Peru's first post season game in 25 years. He then became a top administrator at Peru State, and later was named a college president."
 
The same year Joy was inducted into Peru State's Hall of Fame, he was inducted into the Nebraska Football State Colleges Hall of Fame.
 
Later, in 2010, Joy was inducted into the Friends (Kan.) University Hall of Fame as an athletic director, head football coach, and head basketball coach. The information from the Friends' website reads as follows: "Jerry Joy came to Friends in 1969 as athletic director, head football coach, and head basketball coach. Over the next years under his leadership, Friends athletic teams would win a combined 11 KCAC championships, and Joy himself received numerous accolades. He was named KCAC Football Coach of the Year in 1972 and 1974, NAIA All-District 10 Football Coach of the Year in 1974, and KCAC Baseball Coach of the Year in 1974 and 1975. Joy's success has continued since leaving Falcon athletics in 1975. He was named the Nebraska State College Coach of the Year in 1981 by the Omaha World-Herald, inducted into the Doane College Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 as coach of the their 1968 football team, inducted into the Nebraska Football State Colleges Hall of Fame and Peru State College Athletic Hall of Fame in 199, and was inducted into Peru State's Hall of Fame a second time in 2002 as part of their 1980 football team. He currently lives in Stella, Neb., where he is assistant to the CEO at National American University."
 
As of August 2017, Joy still resides in Stella, Neb., and presently is the mayor of the village and chair of the Stella Community Church Council. He is currently the assistant to the CEO/president for the general offices for National American University. In addition, Joy has been a member for several years of Peru State's Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
 
On August 26, Peru State will be hosting a "Jerry Joy Day" recognizing the many contributions of Joy over the years to the College and the athletic department. This will also be a formal presentation of the recently-renovated "Jerry Joy" locker room in what once was the Peru Elementary School. More information will be forthcoming on this event which will be held in conjunction with the athletic department's Swenson Award presentation.
 
Joy was inducted into the Peru State Hall of Fame on September 4, 1999, as a member of the 14th class.