After running track and playing basketball at Anderson High School (1920-1924) and adding football to the mix while attending Normal Teachers College (Ball State University), Walter “Dutch” Thurston came to Mishawaka High School in 1931 as an industrial arts teacher. In addition to his teaching duties, he coached track, cross country, football and basketball. During his ten years as track coach, his teams won an amazing nine sectional championships. His 1946 cross country team won the IHSAA state championship.
Dutch was an outstanding athletic official for Indiana high school sports. He served as a track and cross country starter for 26 years and was a starter for the IHSAA state track finals for 22 years. He officiated basketball for 25 years and worked the state basketball finals for the 1945, 1946 and 1947 games. Dutch served as a football official for 25 years. He truly had a passion for high school athletics.
Dutch was the principal of Mishawaka High School from 1965-1968 and the assistant superintendent for the district from 1968-1970 when he retired. At 80 years old, he was inducted into the inaugural class for the Mishawaka High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986. At the induction ceremony, it was said Dutch had the ability to take average athletes and make them champions. He passed on his love of sports to his family. His grandchildren remember that you always had to follow the rules when playing a game with granddad.
Walter “Dutch” Thurston officiated the Indiana state finals in three sports: football, basketball and track).