Wabash College Athletics

Max Edward Servies, native son of Crawfordsville, has left an indelible mark on the history of Wabash College athletics.

Growing up in the shadows of the Wabash legends --- Pete Vaughan, Dale Davis, Glen Harmeson, Garland Frazier, Bob Brock, and dozens of others --- Servies has been a Little Giant all his life. As a youngster, Servies used to peek through the fence at old Ingalls Field as Hall of Famer Stan Huntsman ran over would-be tacklers. A few year later, as a strong, hulking lineman, Servies suited up along side Hall of Famer Gil Shoaf as a starter on the 1956 football team. He lettered twice in football and also twice as a member of Coach Chuck Sanders' inaugural Wabash wrestling teams.

He came from humble beginnings, an he worked his way through Wabash, forcing him to split time between work, books, and athletics. The Indianapolis Association recognized Servies for his dedication by naming him the Outstanding Student Athlete of 1958.

After earning his degree from Wabash, Servies taught biology and coached football and wrestling at Crawfordsville High School , going to Purdue to pursue his master's degree in biology.

In 1960, Servies returned to Wabash as assistant coach in football and track, and as head wrestling coach. He became the College's athletics director in 1965, a post he held until July of 1998.

No definition of coach of athletic director accurately describes his contributions to Wabash or his passion for Little Giant athletics. He's been the keeper of Wabash athletic history, has written a soon-to-be published book, "Some Little Giants," and has carefully chronicled the College's athletic past by assembling names, records, photographs, and memorabilia, all with careful attention to detail and accuracy.

He spearheaded Wabash's last major athletic construction project, which included the McCanliss Facility, the Wabash pool, and Little Giant Stadium, always attempting to provide Wabash's student athletes with the fines in facilities and equipment. He continued in that leadership role over the last decade as the College has planned its next major renovation project, the Allen Athletics and Recreation Center, for which ground was broken in September, 1998.

Servies' wrestling motto, "Victory Is Sweat," accurately describes his devotion to Wabash. In victory, Servies has worked tremendously hard and accepted accolades with modesty and class. He's been inducted into the Wabash Athletic Hall of Fame, which he helped establish with the NAWM back in 1982, the Division III Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Indiana Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the Indiana Football Hall of Fame. The alumni of Wabash have honored him with the Alumni Award of Merit. Paul Harvey, on his famous "News and Comment" radio show, paid tribute to Servies and his remarkable string of successes on the mats of Wabash when his streak reached 25 consecutive winning seasons.

Servies ranks among the absolute elite in his field, ranking in the top-five among wrestling coaches in all-time dual meet wins (461) and in dual-meet winning percentage (.802). Twice he led Wabash to undefeated seasons, and his 1997-98 team was honored as the nation's finest academic team with a combined grade point average of 3.39.

With all of his personal and individual success, Servies has been most proud of his student athletes and coaches. His "books first" approach to sports has resulted in his athletes' uncommon achievements upon graduation from Wabash as doctors, lawyers, educators, and heads of business. As student athletes of Wabash, Servies' charges have won virtually every award imaginable ---- All-America, NCAA Postgraduate Scholar, Wabash College Athletic Hall of Fame, and Phi Beta Kappa.

As athletic director, Servies allowed his coaches to flourish, providing for them excellent facilities, ample budgets, and a hands-off attitude that has produced dozens of NCAA top-20 national finishes and even more conference championships.

For all he has meant to his alma mater --- coach supreme; administrator; guardian of the College's athletic tradition; mentor to hundreds of Wabash men; passionate fan of Little Giant athletics --- Wabash College and the National Association of Wabash Men are proud to salute Max Edward Servies for his values, leadership, and love of the College over the last five decades.

Max Edward Servies --- Some Little Giant!