On March 18, 1962, the Rugby Panthers, fresh off their state championship victory, were honored in a grand homecoming celebration in Rugby, North Dakota. Coach Dick Vinger was named honorary mayor, while his state champion basketball team became honorary city council members, marking a memorable day for the community.
The Rugby Panthers triumphed over the Williston Coyotes with a decisive score of 78-48 at the UND Fieldhouse in Grand Forks. Mayor Stanley J. Gaetz proclaimed the appointments as honorary, effective for the remainder of March, but for the approximately 1,400 fans who gathered, the celebration felt entirely genuine. Gaetz noted this event was his final official act before leaving office in April.
As part of the festivities, Main Avenue was renamed Panther Avenue, and Second Street became Vinger Street. This change was one of many highlights during what was described as one of Rugby’s largest welcome home celebrations, reflecting a community of 2,972 residents in Pierce County.
The excitement was palpable as fire engines and a cavalcade of automobiles escorted the team back to Rugby. Signs along the route, including one at the railroad overpass in Devils Lake, read “Congratulations to Rugby’s Champions.” Young fans lined the highway, and local fire trucks joined the procession, showcasing the community’s pride.
The team, along with their cheerleaders, was greeted in the Rugby Memorial Armory with rousing cheers. Players donned camouflage-colored hunting caps—an amusing twist, as Coach Vinger had resisted wearing one all season. The mayor served as the master of ceremonies, introducing the team and presenting Vinger with a ceremonial key to the city. Each player and cheerleader received a key as a memento, courtesy of local jeweler John Heilman.
The celebration also honored the players’ families; mothers received bouquets of roses, which their sons pinned to their dresses, while fathers were handed cigars and buttons. Chamber of Commerce President Warren Gilles expressed gratitude to the team, saying, “Thank you for making big wheels out of all of us.”
During the ceremony, Vinger shared his joy, stating, “This is the happiest moment in my life. I think these fellows are the best in the world.” The event included a prayer from Rev. Chester Johnson of First Lutheran Church, with a benediction led by Msgr. N. T. Cloos of Little Flower Catholic Church.
In a heartfelt response, team member Paul Presthus thanked the community for their support, admitting to feeling more nervous at the ceremony than during the state tournament. The day encapsulated not only a celebration of victory but also the unifying spirit of Rugby in support of its champions.
