Dr. Karl Leiker, right, receives the James C. Hagan Award from Dr. Carlton Pickron, vice-president of student affairs. (Photo courtesy of Westfield State Sports)
WESTFIELD – Dr. Karl Leiker, long-time faculty member at Westfield State University, was the recipient of the 2013 James C. Hagan Award for outstanding service and support to WSU athletics. The prestigious award was presented at the 18th Annual Westfield State Athletics Hall of Fame banquet during the 2013 Homecoming weekend.
“Doc” Leiker has been a fixture in the stands, on the sidelines, in the press box, and in the forecast center supporting athletics since he arrived at Westfield State in the fall of 1976 to teach in the geography and regional planning department.
He first got involved with the nascent Westfield State track and field program as an announcer for the home meets, “and Coach (Jerry) Gravel had a lot of home meets in those days,” said Leiker.
Leiker was a faculty advisor to Student Senate when the Senate’s vote to add football passed by one vote – and he recalled Father Dean’s impassioned speech to the Student Senate that encouraged the addition of football to the Westfield State intercollegiate athletics program.
Leiker’s own football experience (he played at Fort Hays State in Kansas) was called into service as an assistant coach when Westfield State achieved varsity status in the early 1980s. As Leiker’s path towards tenure as a faculty member required more time, he eventually stepped away from a coaching role and served as a member of the chain gang for football home games for many years.
Today, he continues applying his craft as a meteorologist to provide the most accurate forecast for Westfield State athletic events. During all-day sporting events, he regularly sets up shop in the Woodward Center to track threatening weather.
Through it all, Leiker’s classes have proved to be favorites among many students and particularly among student athletes, with whom he’ll take a few minutes of class time to talk about the weekend’s games.
