Ottumwa Schools Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees

Joe Curran’s legacy at Ottumwa High School (OHS) is defined by excellence as both a multi-sport athlete and longtime coach. Curran competed in football, basketball, track and field, and Legion baseball before continuing his education at the University of Iowa and Drake University. His outstanding senior year culminated in being named the OHS Male Athlete of the Year in 1978.

On the basketball court, Curran helped lead Ottumwa to the 1978 State Tournament, earning Special Mention All-State honors and recognition on the Ottumwa Courier and KTVO First Teams. He was a two-year varsity starter and, as a junior, scored 31 points in the state final. His contributions extended to football, where he was a two-year, two-way starter and scored touchdowns in both the 1977 and 1978 Homecoming games.

Curran was equally accomplished in track and baseball. He competed on Ottumwa’s Drake Relays and State Tournament relay teams, including a second-place finish in the 4x200-meter relay at the 1978 Drake Relays. He also co-captained the 1978 baseball team alongside David Williams and, as a junior, ran a school-record 35.6 seconds in the 400-meter low hurdles. His baseball career included numerous honors through National Little League, American Babe Ruth, and Legion baseball.

Curran’s impact on Ottumwa athletics continued long after his playing career ended. He spent decades coaching Bulldog student-athletes, including 40 years as the starter for the elementary track meet, 17 years coaching track, 32 years coaching football, and 31 years coaching OHS athletics. He was also part of Ottumwa’s record-setting 1990 basketball coaching staff. Beyond competition, Curran left his mark as an educator, creating the “Curran Effect” and designing athletic training progress cards while becoming a memorable presence at OHS graduations and school events. His decades of service as an athlete, coach, and educator have made a lasting impact on generations of Bulldogs.

A lifelong Bulldog, Sherry Strunk (Thompson) was born and raised in Ottumwa and attended Jefferson Elementary, Douma Elementary, Evans Junior High, and Ottumwa High School. Athletics were an important part of her childhood, particularly softball, and that passion developed into an outstanding career at OHS and beyond. Strunk competed in softball and 6-on-6 girls basketball for the Bulldogs, with longtime Ottumwa coach Frank Huston serving as a significant coach and mentor throughout her high school career.

Strunk compiled an impressive list of accomplishments as a Bulldog. In softball, she earned Southeast Seven First Team All-Conference and First Team All-District honors and was a three-time Honorable Mention All-State selection. She was a five-time State Tournament qualifier and a member of three teams that finished third at the State Tournament. Her teams also established significant OHS marks, including 51 victories in a season. On the basketball court, Strunk earned Southeast Seven Second Team All-Conference recognition.

Following high school, Strunk continued her softball career at Northeast Missouri State University, where she received a softball scholarship and became a four-year starter and team captain. She earned two First Team MIAA All-Conference selections and Central All-Region Second Team honors. Her teams captured an MIAA Conference championship and two NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament championships while twice advancing to the NCAA Division II Final Four.

Her connection to the game continued after college. Strunk began her teaching career in Bellevue, Nebraska, and became the first head softball coach at Bellevue West High School after softball was sanctioned as a varsity sport in Nebraska. Eventually, she returned home to Ottumwa, where she continued working with young athletes and ultimately joined the Ottumwa High School softball program as an assistant coach. Now in her 32nd year in education, Strunk's journey from Ottumwa youth athlete to accomplished Bulldog, collegiate athlete, coach, and educator represents a fitting full-circle story — one rooted in a lifelong connection to her hometown and the Bulldog tradition.

A standout Bulldog, Courtney emerged as a leading scorer in the early 1960s, earning Fifth-Team All-State and First-Team All-Conference honors during the 1962–63 season. He averaged 16.1 points per game and scored 255 points, marks that remain among Ottumwa High School’s top single-season performances. Courtney continued his career at Creston Junior College (now Southwestern Community College), where he set a single-game scoring record with 53 points and earned NJCAA Region XI Honorable Mention recognition. Known for his physical play and leadership, he later transferred to Parsons College.

Beyond the court, Courtney served in the U.S. Army Reserves and remains deeply committed to Bulldog athletics through decades of service, fundraising, and leadership. From 1986 to 2014, he coached at Ottumwa High School, helping guide the program to key milestones, including conference success and state tournament appearances. Jim “Doc” Courtney’s legacy reflects excellence, service, and an enduring dedication to Ottumwa High School athletics.

Bowling has been a part of Katie Brice’s life almost from the beginning. The youngest of seven children in a bowling family, Brice began bowling at the age of two and developed into one of the most accomplished bowlers in Ottumwa High School history. She credits her father, Tom Maher, and longtime OHS coach Doug Techel with playing significant roles in her development, providing the guidance, resources, and expectations that helped her reach the highest levels of the sport.

Brice competed in bowling for four years and golf for two years at Ottumwa High School. Her bowling résumé included four All-Conference selections and four All-State honors, along with remarkable team success. During her career, Ottumwa captured a state championship, twice finished as state runner-up, and recorded a third-place state finish.

Brice’s signature achievement came during her senior season in 2011, when she captured the individual state bowling championship. She remains the program’s only individual state champion. Her combination of individual success and contributions to some of the most accomplished teams in program history established her place among Ottumwa's premier bowlers.

Her success continued at the collegiate level. Brice competed for two years at Midland University, where she participated in ITC and NAIA championship competition, before later bowling for two years at St. Ambrose University. Over the course of her collegiate career, Brice became a five-time All-American and was a finalist for Collegiate Bowler of the Year. Her achievements at Ottumwa High School and beyond represent one of the most accomplished bowling careers produced by the Bulldog program.

Kristin Goodwin’s athletic career at Ottumwa High School was defined by versatility and excellence across multiple sports. Goodwin competed in cross country, basketball, track and field, and golf for the Bulldogs. A lifelong competitor, she credits her family, including her twin sister, Sarah, and the coaches she encountered throughout her career with helping develop the work ethic and mindset that allowed her to excel as a multi-sport athlete.

Goodwin’s greatest high school accomplishments came on the golf course. She was a member of Ottumwa’s 2007 State Championship golf team before capturing the 2008 Individual State Golf Championship as a senior while helping the Bulldogs finish as the state runner-up. Her success extended beyond golf, as Goodwin was also a member of Ottumwa’s 2006 state runner-up 4x800-meter relay team in track and field.

Following graduation from Ottumwa High School, Goodwin continued her golf career at Iowa State University, competing for the Cyclones for four years while earning a degree in Materials Engineering. Her success in the sport also included becoming a two-time Iowa Women’s Amateur Champion, where she broke both the tournament’s 54-hole scoring record and 18-hole scoring record. She later earned a master’s degree in Materials Science Engineering from Purdue University.

Goodwin’s involvement in collegiate athletics continued after her playing career as she transitioned into coaching, spending five years coaching at the collegiate level. From a four-sport Bulldog athlete to a state champion, Division I golfer, accomplished amateur player, and collegiate coach, Goodwin’s athletic journey reflects an outstanding career that began in Ottumwa and continued well beyond her time wearing the Red and White.

Larry Northup’s connection to Ottumwa began as a student and ultimately grew into a lifetime of service to the Ottumwa Community School District and the community he calls home. A 1961 graduate of Ottumwa High School, Northup earned his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University in 1965 and a Master of Arts degree from Northeast Missouri State in 1972. After beginning his teaching career with the Ottumwa Community School District in 1965, he went on to devote 55 years to serving Ottumwa students and families.

Northup spent his career creating opportunities that extended well beyond the traditional classroom. While teaching science and audiovisual arts at Ottumwa schools, he helped install one of Iowa’s first educational television systems at Washington Junior High, allowing students to participate in programming and broadcasting. He also helped establish an annual ninth-grade Washington, D.C., trip in 1976 and participated in the inaugural journey. In 1984, he sponsored the first Ottumwa student trip to the western United States, beginning a program that allowed students to experience destinations such as Yellowstone National Park and other parts of the American West.

His dedication to students continued through programs such as Discovery 21, a Disney-based educational experience for eighth- and ninth-grade students, and through his work securing grants and excess funds to purchase science equipment and materials. Even after retiring from the classroom in 2008, Northup continued sponsoring student travel opportunities for another decade. By the end of his 55 years with the district in 2019, more than 3,000 students had participated in over 212 trips under his leadership, with financial assistance helping ensure that cost did not prevent students from participating.

Northup’s commitment to Ottumwa also reaches far beyond the school district. In addition to his career in education, he owned and operated Northup’s Western Sports Arena beginning in 1974 and later established Ottumwa Coaches, Inc., a charter and tour company that served groups throughout Iowa and northern Missouri. His community involvement and professional accomplishments have earned numerous honors, including the 2007 Mary Johnson Emeritus Award, the 1981 Iowa State Transportation Professional Excellence Award, and service as President of the OEA from 1975–76. He has also served as Grand Marshal of Ottumwa’s Oktoberfest Parade. Through education, entrepreneurship, and community service, Northup has spent a lifetime expanding opportunities for young people and strengthening the Ottumwa community.