2025 NEMFCA 8-Man Hall of Fame Inductee Salutes - Dennis Thorell, Loomis High School

DENNIS THORELL – LOOMIS HIGH SCHOOL

In the Early 1960’s, Dennis was a 4-time, 3-sport letterwinner for Loomis. He excelled in both basketball and track- but it was his explosive skills on the gridiron that brought him to the Eight-Man Football Hall of Fame. In 1961 and 1962, Dennis led the Wolves to a 16-game winning streak, back-to-back undefeated seasons, and two Fort Kearney Conference Championships. His stand-out prep career saw him named 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team All-State on three occasions by multiple media outlets in the state. In 1963, Dennis was chosen to play in the Nebraska Shrine Bowl and later went on to become a 2-year letterman for Coach Bob Devaney at the University of Nebraska. After playing for the Cornhuskers in the Cotton, Orange, and Sugar Bowls, he honorably served our country in the U.S. Army, where he was the recipient of 2 Bronze Stars. After a semi-pro stint with the Omaha Mustangs, Dennis went on to dedicate nearly 30 years of his life to teaching and coaching High School Football in Lexington, Nebraska. The NEMFCA is honored to now induct him into the Eight-Man Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

1000 Yard Guy sez: One of the greatest small town all-around athletes in Nebraska Prep sports history. If Loomis would have fielded a tiddlywinks team back in Thorell’s day, he would have even been an all-stater at that!

Phenominal athlete who could have been an All-State selection in any n sport, in any Class in Nebraska during his high school years.