Paul “PD” Lees
(Graduated from Pana High School - 1956)
PD Lees was a 3-sport standout at Pana High School excelling in the sports of football, basketball and baseball earning him 10 major varsity letters through his high school career. PD went on to play football at the University of Iowa from 1956 to 1959 earning a varsity letter in football while there.
Other achievements of PD’s included:
1955 Named to the Illinois high school All-State teams in football, basketball and baseball.
PD was a 1955 Member of Pana’s only undefeated and untied football team. (Mid-State Conference Champions)
In the 1955-1956 basketball season, PD set a PHS single game scoring record with 42 points which held from 1956 to 1967.
In 1955, PD set a PHS school basketball career scoring record of 1,179 which held from 1956 to 1967.
PD was offered a full athletic scholarship for baseball to the University of Arizona, but he accepted a full athletic scholarship for football to the University of Iowa. Iowa’s football team was Big Ten Champions from 1956 to 1959. They were 1958 Rose Bowl champions, and they received the Grantland Rice Trophy awarded by the Football Writers Association of America recognizing Iowa as National Champions. PD was a football letter winner in 1959 and the Iowa football team was named Co-National Champions that year also.
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