Washburn University Athletics

Darryl "Dode" Lesser - Football (1963-66)
Lesser was an exceptional three-sport athlete at Seaman High School in Topeka, playing football, basketball and track and field. When he chose to stay local and attend Washburn, he decided to play only football.

He went on to become a four-year starter and a highly decorated player as both a defensive end and offensive tackle. After his sophomore year he earned NAIA All-America honors and was named to the all-Central Intercollegiate Conference first team on offense and second team on defense.

In 1965, his junior year, the team traveled to Pueblo, Colorado, to play Southern Colorado. In the game he injured his knee and he had to ride back on the bus in pain. The following morning he had surgery and the doctor said he would be lucky to walk again. After intensive therapy and determination, Lesser not only walked again, but he returned to the field for his senior year and earned All-America and all-conference honors once again.

As a high school standout at Seaman, Lesser earned all-league and all-city honors in football. On the basketball team he put on what the Topeka Capital-Journal described as the greatest one-man show in Seaman basketball history when he scored 45 points against Pittsburg High School.

On the track team he competed at pole vault despite weighing 220 pounds and finished second in state.

After his college career on the gridiron, Lesser played with Toronto in the Canadian Football League. After being cut there he played four years for the Wheeling Ironmen of the Continental Football League. In one game he played in five different positions on the offensive line and in 1969 he was featured in Sports Illustrated.

After retiring from football he stayed close to athletics by coaching football and basketball at local schools.