Upper Iowa University Athletics Hall of Fame
Freddie Northern, class of 1976, was a four-year UIU letter winner and starter for the football team. He was named to the All-conference Defensive Line Second Team in 1974 and 1975, and was an All-Conference First Team defensive tackle. Also as a Peacock, Northern was a two-year letterman in wrestling, with a fifth place finish at heavyweight at the district meet.
Following graduation, with a bachelor’s degree in health, physical education and recreation, Northern attended two National Football League tryout camps – for the Cleveland Browns (1976) and the Washington Redskins (1977). He played semi-professional football with the Cedar Rapids Falcons of the Northern State Football Association League where he was a three-time selection to the All-Pro Team (1978, 1979 and 1980), and was named Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1978. He also played one year with the Quad Cities semipro team, the Mohawks.
Northern is currently a printing supervisor with W. R. Grace Packaging. He served as a coach for a number of children’s sports and aerobics, including 15 years at Metro Youth senior division football coach and 15 years as a Babe Ruth baseball coach (in 1990, his team finished second at the state tournament). He is, or has been, involved in a number of civic and community organizations, including: United Way of East Central Iowa (past chair, allocation committee, member, board of directors); Jane Boyd Community House (volunteer since 1978); Junior Achievement (advisor for five years); Community Dispute Center (mediator, 1988); Better Business Bureau, Cedar Rapids (counselor); Cedar Rapids City Council liaison (1983-85); and a number of professional organizations. He is a graduate of Lindbloom Tech High School in Chicago, Illinois.
He and his wife, Francis, live in Cedar Rapids and have two sons: Ashton and Cody.
