April 18, 2011
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IOWA CITY, Iowa – – Former Iowa men’s basketball player Floyd Magnusson passed away at his home in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Saturday. Magnusson was 85 years old.
Magnusson graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in economics and was a four-year letterwinner on the men’s basketball team (1944, 1947-49). As a junior, he teamed with Murray Wier to start the most games for the Hawkeyes (19) in 1948. His son, Jim, was also a Hawkeye basketball player, lettering in 1976.
A native of Gowrie, Iowa, Magnusson was a two-time all-state basketball player and graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School in 1943. He later served in the Navy during World War II.
In 1952, he moved back to Fort Dodge where he taught and coached at Waverly High School, and later started Magnusson Insurance Agency in 1954. He officiated basketball for 16 years in the NCAA, predominantly in the Big Eight, Big Ten and Missouri Valley conferences. Magnusson also officiated three championship games in Final Four Tournaments.
As a community leader he served on the City Parks and Recreation Commission, School Board Member and past president, United Fund Chairman, Past American Legion Commander. He served on the board of directors of; Salvation Army, National I Club Board and the University of Iowa Letterman’s Club. Magnusson was inducted in the Dodger Hall of Fame for basketball. He was a Webster County Supervisor for 20 plus years. Magnusson was also the Chairman of the Highway 20 Development Committee.
Funeral services for Magnusson will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Grace Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. Entombment will follow at the Chapel of Peace Mausoleum at North Lawn Cemetery. The visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
Memorials may be directed to the family for their further discretion.