UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 13, Page 1
December 5, 1991
Memorial service on Saturday for David 'The Admiral' Nelson

     A public memorial service for David M. Nelson, long-time
member of the campus community, will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday,
Dec. 7, in Clayton Hall. Funeral and burial services were private.
     Mr. Nelson, who came to Delaware in 1951, died of a heart
attack Nov. 30. He served as athletic director from 1951-1984, head
football coach from 1951-1966, and dean of the College of Physical
Education, Athletics and Recreation from 1980 until his retirement
in 1989.
     Considered the foremost authority on collegiate football
rules, Mr. Nelson served as a Yankee Conference Commissioner since
1989 and was twice president of the Eastern College Athletic
Conference, in 1960 and 1974. A member of the National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA) Football Rules Committee since 1957,
Mr. Nelson served as secretary and editor of the committee since
1962.
     In honor of his contributions to college football, he was
inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987 and to the
Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1978. He received the National
Football Foundation and Hall of Fame's Distinguished American award
in 1984.
     Mr. Nelson was responsible, while head football coach, for the
innovative Wing-T offense, still used in Delaware game plans. Known
as "The Admiral," Mr. Nelson helped develop the University's south
campus sports complex and the women's intercollegiate athletic
program.
     Donations in David Nelson's name can be made to the Bob
Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center.
     Contributions may be sent to the University of Delaware
Development Office, Attn. Kathleen Houghton, Academy of Newark
Building, Newark, DE 19716.