Augustana University Athletics

Don Halvorson came to Augustana in 1940 from Sioux City East High School. Two high school teammates, Warren Bentson and Chuck Okey, played with him at Augie.

Don played fullback on the 1940, 1941, and 1942 Viking teams. During the first five games of the 1941 season he scored 59 points, which was among the nation's leaders regardless of school size. He scored three touchdowns against Yankton College that season and, according to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, "played an important role in Augie's 66-6 massacre of Huron's Scalpers on Viking Day (sic) in 1941."

In 1942, Augie was part of the North Central Conference and the Vikings went undefeated to be conference champs in football. Don had a 65-yard touchdown run which clinched the title in a game against  Morningside on November 11. He gained 718 yards in 138 carries that year, scored 45 points, and was the unanimous selection for All-NCC fullback.

Later in November, Don enlisted in the army and attained the rank of captain; he was in Okinawa at the end of WWII. He came back to Augie after the war and played football in 1946 and 1947 and graduated in 1948. Later that year he re-enlisted in the army and was stationed in Japan until August 1950. There he coached and played on the 31st infantry grid team which won the seventh division football league in Japan. He wore #47 in Japan as he did at Augie.

In August 1950, Don was sent to Korea; he was killed in action there on November 7, 1950. Upon his death, the Argus Leader reported, "At fullback, Halvorson is remembered as perhaps the greatest backfield player ever to grace the Augustana gridiron."