The Dan Marburger Court at Perry High School was dedicated Friday night in an emotional ceremony that brought together the Marburger family, the Perry community and basketball fans of PHS and Grand View Christian High School.
The Perry School Board approved in May the renaming of the facility in honor of Dan Marburger, the longtime PHS principal who was killed one year ago at the school. In its resolution, the school board said it:
- “applauds Dan Marburger for over 25 years of dedicated service to the students and the staff of the Perry Community School District as an educator, and
- “recognizes Mr. Marburger’s academic leadership as the principal at Perry High school from 1997 to 2024, and
- “notes that under Mr. Marburger’s direction, numerous academic and activity achievements were attained and initiatives successfully implemented by the Perry Community High School, and
- “appreciates the emphasis and the balance placed by Mr. Marburger on the development of citizenship, leadership, scholarship, service, athletic ability and fine arts talent among the students under his leadership, and
- “acknowledges the Perry High School gymnasium as the site of many student activity events, award recognitions, special school and community celebrations and the annual site for the Perry High School commencement ceremony and
- “declares that the Perry High School gymnasium court be named the Dan Marburger Court.”
Emily Brown, director of events at the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University, was present at Friday’s ceremonies, and she presented the Pillar of Character Award, awarded posthumously to Dan Marburger, to Elizabeth Marburger, the life partner of Dan.
Elizabeth Marburger thanked the school board in May for its resolution to dedicate the PHS court to Dan.
“I just want to thank you so much,” she said. “I really think the court is a great place not just for the athletics. There was no bigger day in Dan’s life than commencement services at Perry High School. He loved that day and what it meant for the kids and their families, so thank you for coming up with such a special way.”
