'Mr. Information,' Con Marshall, cutting back at CSC

“I still plan to be around here for a while and stay involved with the college for as long as they’ll let me,” said Marshall, who turned 65 last November. “I’ll be contracted for one-third time for the next few years, but I’ll probably work just as much as I ever have for the first year of that period. There are a lot of things I need to catch up on. I also have a few special projects in mind.”

Marshall, a native of Chadron and a graduate of Chadron State, has completed 36 years as a CSC employee. During that time, he has produced volumes of news stories and photographs, in addition to frequently serving as a resource for anyone looking for information about Chadron State, its athletic programs and the history of the surrounding region.

The college is searching for a new sports information director, but Brad Smith, CSC athletic director, said Marshall will continue to play a vital role at CSC.

“It won’t be easy finding someone to fill the shoes of a man with Con’s record of service, dedication and abilities, but whoever we hire will be better off for having someone with so much experience as a resource,” Smith said. “I’m glad Con plans to continue his involvement in the college and hope he enjoys some much deserved time off.”

In the late 1990s, Chadron State named a facility, the Elliott Field pressbox, in Marshall’s honor, making him one of only a few people to have that distinction while still employed at the college.

Marshall has been recognized numerous times by the College Sports Information Directors of America throughout his career for his writing and publications efforts. In recent years, Marshall has received distinguished service awards from the Nebraska Athletic Directors, Nebraska Coaches Association, the Chadron Chamber of Commerce and the Chadron Youth Baseball Program. In 2004, he was presented the first Chadron Basketball Tradition Award. He also has received a 25-year award from the CoSIDA and serves on the selection committee for the Harlon Hill Award, presented annually to the outstanding player in NCAA Division II football.

While keeping students’ hometown media abreast of their achievements, Marshall has distributed information to newspapers, radio and television stations across the United States and beyond. Editors and news directors often praise his writing style and approach to the business.

Marshall also moderates a weekly radio show with CSC’s football coach during the fall. The show is aired by many of western Nebraska’s stations.

Besides his duties at Chadron State, Marshall strives to keep records on the high school football teams in the 11-county Panhandle area and the basketball teams and track and field teams in the four-county area in northwest Nebraska. Frequently, high school personnel from these areas contact him for records or results that have been lost at their schools. Marshall also authors “Pros and Cons,” a Chadron Record sports column, and helps lay out the newspaper’s sports pages each week.

Chadron State has been unique among four-year colleges and universities in recent years for having a director of information who also serves as its sports information director.

“Con has made an immeasurable contribution to Chadron State and northwest Nebraska,” said CSC President Janie Park. “After I was hired in 2005, I soon realized that he’s a living legend in western Nebraska. And, it didn’t take me long to realize why. Wherever I go, people ask about him.”

In 1986, Marshall authored and compiled “The History of Chadron State College,” a 232-page publication to commemorate the college’s 75th anniversary.

Marshall’s knowledge of the northwest Nebraska and the state’s Panhandle goes far beyond sports. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Chadron State in 1963 he worked three years each as a sports and news reporter at the Chadron Record and farm and feature reporter for the Scottsbluff Star-Herald. He returned to Chadron in 1969 to become Chadron State’s first full-time director of information. He left Chadron State in the 1970s to become editor of the Sidney Telegraph for a year and was editor of the Chadron Record for 16 months before returning to the staff of his alma mater.

In addition to his journalistic endeavors, he is active in the Chadron Christian Church, Kiwanis, and helps in the preparation and reporting of a number of community events.

Marshall’s wife Peggy helps prepare elementary education teachers at Chadron State. They have three adult children -- Tyler, Sara and Perry – and six grandchildren.