The Mel Taube Memorial Award is given to a senior male athlete who has competed in at least two varsity-level sports, with emphasis on team sports in at least one. The athlete must have demonstrated exceptional loyalty, dedication, and achievement in varsity athletics.
Mel came to Carleton in 1950 as basketball and baseball coach as well as assistant football coach. He remained at Carleton until his retirement in 1970, when he was named Professor Emeritus of Physical Education. His basketball teams from 1950 through 1960 won 136 and lost 80 and included several Midwest Conference championships. His teams of the mid-’50s are acknowledged as among the finest in conference history. Following the untimely death of Warren Beson, he was named football coach in 1960, and despite a dearth of material his teams won 28, lost 42 and tied 3.
At a retirement dinner in Mel’s honor in 1970, Hank Stram, then coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, cited Taube as knowing more about the three sports he coached than any man he had ever met, then corrected himself and added golf.
The Carleton baseball field was originally constructed for the 2004 season and in 2008, was named Mel Taube Field in his honor.
This award will be presented at the Annual Knights Awards Banquet.