Dick Dhabalt, LLCC founding athletic director, coach and faculty member, passed away Sunday, Sept. 11. LLCC’s first sports team, basketball, was formed when Dhabalt was hired in 1968 as athletic director, coach and physical education instructor. Dhabalt also started the baseball, track and tennis teams in spring 1969. He retired in 1993 and was an adjunct faculty member from 1994 to 2010. In his honor, the LLCC Dick Dhabalt Athlete of the Year Award was established in 2015 and is presented to the college’s two top athletes annually. The award acknowledges Dhabalt’s dedication to education, athletics and LLCC students.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, Sept. 15, 4-7 p.m. at Butler Funeral Home in Springfield. A funeral ceremony will be held on Friday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church. Read the obituary.