After 60 years, Snell's 95-yard punt return against Whitewater during the 1953 season still ranks as the longest in school history and the third longest in conference annals. Snell was the Blugold MVP in 1953 when the Blugolds finished 5-3 under Hall of Fame coach Ade Olson.

Snell joins five other Hall of Fame players from those two seasons including Wayne Osness, Russ Knutson, Denny Helixon, Bob Hessler and Jim Bollinger. Snell led the team in rushing (549 yds.) and scoring (43 pts.) in 1954 after finishing second in both categories the previous year. The Blugolds finished with a 6-2 record his senior season.

Following his graduation in 1955, Snell's first teaching and coaching job was at Balsam Lake while he completed his master's degree in education at UW-Superior. In 1957, he took a position at Abbotsford High School, teaching physical education and science and coaching football and basketball for two years.

His longest tenure came at Spooner, where he served from 1959 until his retirement in 1990. He initially taught eighth grade science and coached football, basketball, baseball and track. In 1971, he became the high school principal, returning as football coach in 1976-77.

He previously was inducted into the Spooner Hall of Fame and served on the Spooner School Board from 1993-96.

An avid hunter and fisherman, Snell and his wife Joan have three sons: the late Edward, Joe and Dan and five grandchildren.

Return to Hall of Fame