Over 100 Years of Local Sports History Compiled

Area native, Dallas Benesh, has spent years researching and compiling the history of sports in Ada, MN.

This spring, Benesh graciously donated copies of his two books, “A Complete History of High School Boys Basketball in Ada, Minnesota 1902-2022” and  “High School Football Records and Summaries Book from 1901-2021 Ada, MN,” to the Ada Public Library.

Among his numerous sources, Benesh was able to pull much of his information from resources found at the area libraries.

Benesh had this to say of his work:

“The ‘High School Football Records and Summaries Journal’ and the boys basketball book ‘The Complete History of High School Boys Basketball in Ada Minnesota’ are a compilation from numerous sources and newspaper publications. The sources used in compiling these books included newspaper files from the Norman County Index, pictures from the Norman County Historical Society, Ada High School annuals, old record books, personal contacts and library contacts- The Ada, Crookston, Fosston, Thief River Falls, Warren, Fargo, Grand Forks and Moorhead Public Libraries.

I started this by blind chance while rummaging through some old books that were collected over the years. What I found was this old records book, 60 years old or more. I looked through it and thought I could do something like it for Ada-Borup West High School. For that to happen I had to check the local newspapers in the area, in particular the Norman County Index. To my amazement the Index started accumulating football and basketball info since the early 1900s. I am confident I have every football and basketball score the papers have published since those early days.

Every effort has been made to make both record and history books as accurate as possible. Hopefully these books will inspire others to follow suit in starting their own records journal.”

Both books can be viewed at the Ada Public Library, 107 4th Ave E, Ada, MN 56510