Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Fame
A native of Hemingford, Planansky was only 16 and had just $15 when he came to Chadron State in 1936. Years later he recalled that he needed 10 more dollars to pay his bills. He was about to head back home when Ross Armstrong loaned him the money he needed to stay in school.
Planansky was a four-year starter in both football and basketball for the Eagles. He also earned two letters in track and field as a high jumper, pole vaulter, javelin thrower and the anchor on the mile relay team. In 2008, he said basketball was probably his best sport. The Eagles were 60-22 during his basketball career. He also was an officer in several college organizations, was named to “Who’s Who” and earned a private pilot’s license through the Civilian Pilot Program at the Chadron airport while he was attending CSC.
After teaching and coaching one year at Bridgeport, Planansky went to the University of Wyoming for more flight training and airplane mechanical training. He then spent three years in the Navy.
Beginning in 1947, Planansky was a physical education instructor at El Monte School District in California until retiring in 1980. The school system was one of California’s largest, and he gained widespread recognition for developing an exemplary intramural program that school administrators said improved discipline and raised the morale among the students. He received the coveted Golden Apple Award. He also gave many years of service to his church and helped with Special Olympics.
Golf is another of Planansky’s passions. Well into his 80s, he and his wife, Bobbi, returned several times to western Nebraska to visit relatives and so Wilmer could play in the Don Beebe Golf Classic at CSC.
