Recipients to be honored Friday, January 8, 2027; make-up date, if needed, Friday, February 5, 2027.
MELCHER-DALLAS, November 3, 2026 - The Melcher-Dallas School District is pleased to announce the Class of 2027 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees. Four athletes — Cody Alexander, Andy Bubon, Kelly Conrad, and John Milburn, Sr.; one athlete and coach — Dennis Nelson — will be honored in the Athletic Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was created to recognize former athletes, coaches, teams, administrators and patrons who have made significant contributions to the district’s athletics program.
Melcher-Dallas will recognize these five recipients of the 2027 class in a public recognition ceremony, scheduled to be held on Friday, January 8, 2027. The ceremony will occur in the Melcher-Dallas High School Gym, and will take place between the varsity basketball games, around 7:15 PM. Preceding their induction, a small reception will take place for the inductee’s family and friends, by invitation only.
Alexander, a 2013 graduate, is a four-time state qualifier in track and field across six events, 400m Dash, 800m Run, 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, and the Distance Medley Relay. He placed 7th at the State track meet in 2013 in the 800m Run, and was part of the 4x200 relay team that set a school record in 2010. Alexander is a 10-time All-Conference track and field honoree and scored over 800 team points during his 4-year career. He holds accolades as an 8-time track and field First Team All-Conference runner, as well as All-Academic. Further, Alexander was part of the 2011 football team that played an undefeated season as a 2-time All-District defensive back, and holds the tied school and state record for longest kick-off return in 8-man football. Following high school, Alexander attended Simpson College, where he was part of their football, cross country, and track and field teams. During his time at Simpson, he qualified for the Drake Relays, and was a part of an indoor distance medley relay team that set a Top 5 time in Simpson’s school history.
Bubon attended Melcher Community Schools from 1921-1940, before the two towns of Melcher and Dallas consolidated. He graduated in 1940 after a phenomenal athletic high school career. He was part of the basketball, football, and baseball teams, and earned 9 Varsity Letters. In 1939, as part of the football team, he was named 2nd Team All-State, and that was when all schools, regardless of size, competed at the state level. Therefore, Bubon was named an All-State athlete, Melcher’s first, out of 928 school districts at the time, many of which included one-room schoolhouses. Although official state records do not date as far back as the 1930s, newspaper articles and school records show Bubon as a remarkable athlete, especially in punting. He averaged more than 40 yards per kick.
Following his high school career, Bubon entered college at Graceland University for his freshman and sophomore years from 1940-1942. In 1942, he began serving a 2-year tour of duty in World War II after enlisting in the Marines. As he reentered civilian life, Bubon finished his college career at Central College from 1946-1948. While in college, he played football, and was named 1st Team All-Conference at Graceland University.
Upon graduating from Central College, Bubon entered the classroom to teach, and the fields and courts to coach. He taught and coached in Alexander, Iowa - 1950-51; Olin, Iowa - 1951-57; and Cedar Rapids Prairie Junior High and High School - 1958-85.
Conrad was a four-sport letterman, though he stood out in baseball and football. In football, he set records for scoring, rushing, and punt returns. During his senior year in 1975-76 alone, he had 190 rushes and scored 190 points. He was an All-State Honorable Mention in football, in an era before that recognition was based on school size. Conrad continued his football career at Simpson College where he was named the Most Outstanding Back in 1978 and led the conference in scoring.
Following his time at Simpson College, he coached high school football in Bellevue and Eddyville, where he led them to an undefeated season. Indeed, the Des Moines Register noted Conrad as the only player and coach that they were aware of with an undefeated season that didn’t get to the playoffs due to the existing rules of the time.
His work throughout high school and college prepared him to become the Athletic Director at Indian Hills Community College. Under his leadership, the men’s basketball team broke UCLA’s records by winning three consecutive championships and consecutive victories - 89 in total. Because of success as Athletic Director, he was entered into the Indian Hills Athletic Hall of Fame.
Conrad completed his career as the Dean of Students at Indian Hills Community College, giving him oversight of all student affairs, including athletics. He and his wife, Rhonda, received the Outstanding Service Award from Indian Hills Community College.
Milburn, a 1968 graduate, is a four-sport athlete in football, basketball, track and field, and baseball, where he served as co-captain of all teams. He earned First-Team, Second-Team, and Honorable Mention All-Conference awards in each sport. His most notable achievements were in basketball and track and field. Milburn served as co-captain of the winningest basketball team in Melcher-Dallas history - the 1967-68 team, which had 20 wins and 2 losses for the season. That team became the conference champs and sectional finalists. In 1968, Milburn threw the shot put 52’ 9¼” for a school record that has been held for 58 years. Throughout his four-year career at Melcher-Dallas, he earned 13 Varsity Letters, and held numerous records in football and track and field. Following his time at Melcher-Dallas, Milburn went on to play college football and baseball, and became a letterwinner for William Penn University.
Nelson, a 1964 graduate of Melcher-Dallas Community Schools, was a three-sport athlete, demonstrating his skills in football, basketball, and track and field. He served as basketball and football captain in the 1963 and 1964 seasons, where he earned Honorable Mention as an All-State quarterback. Nelson earned accolades for his time on the track and field team as well. He was the conference champion in the 2-mile relay and sprint medley relay. He holds records for 120 low hurdles, the ½-mile run, 2-mile relay and sprint medley relay.
Following high school, Nelson played football and basketball at Centerville Community College from 1964-66, which is now part of the Indian Hills Community College campuses. Nelson attended college to become a teacher, and he returned to his alma mater, Melcher-Dallas, to lead a phenomenal career as both teacher and coach. He coached football and basketball, and led his teams to several championships. As head basketball coach, his team was conference tournament champions in 1969 and 1976, and were sectional champions in 1977. He coached his 200th game during the 1982 season, mid-way through his coaching career. On the gridiron, Nelson was an assistant coach, and helped lead his teams to become conference champions in 1969, 1974, 1976, and 1990.
After retirement from teaching and coaching, Nelson won State Senior Olympic Free Throw contests in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota.
Visit the district’s website, www.melcher-dallascsd.org/page/mdhof for additional information.