Lester Vigness

A 1947 graduate of Lincoln High School, Les was a three-sport athlete participating in hockey, football, and track and field. As a seventh grader, he was playing hockey with the American Legion 40 & 8 Hornets, which was a team of high school boys that represented the Thief River Falls School. In 1945 the first sanctioned Minnesota State High School League Hockey Tournament was held. It was also at this time that Lincoln High School officially took over the Hornets and the team became know as the Prowlers. Les played as a starter from 1942- 1947 and captained the 1947 team.

In football Les played on the varsity from the time he was a freshman. He captained the football team his senior year, scoring five touchdowns in a game against Devils Lake.  He was chosen to the North Valley All-Conference team and was the conference-scoring champion.

As a track and field athlete, Les again was rewarded for his leadership skills as he was chosen co-captain his senior year. He participated in the dashes, discus, and shot and was a member of the half-mile relay team.

After graduation, Les was granted a scholarship for all three sports from the University of North Dakota. He played for the Sioux as a freshman in football, earning a varsity letter. In 1948 he was invited to try out for the Olympic hockey team. He continued his hockey playing for the San Berandino, California Shamrocks for two years and for the Thief River Falls Thieves for two and a half seasons.