Michael Josef Dick, 91, took his final handoff, broke the plane, and burst into the end zone on January 22, 2025, at Westminster Village in Terre Haute. Mike was born on April 1, 1933, in Grand Island, Nebraska to William Rees Dick and Mary Marguerite Vallosio Dick. 

Although Mike’s story began in Nebraska, it did not end there. When the family moved to Alton, Illinois, Mike’s passion for sports ignited, starting with baseball. He enjoyed taking the trolley across the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where both the Cardinals and Browns played. It gave him a firsthand look at Stan Musial, Enos Slaughter and other greats.

Another move brought Mike and his family to Clinton, Indiana. He graduated from Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary in 1948, where his love for football began. His Crusader Team excelled in CYO football under the coaching of Elmo Magnabosco, who later brought Mike to the attention of his friend, the legendary Notre Dame coach Frank Leahy.  

Mike was a 1952 graduate of Clinton High School, where he excelled in several sports. He was best known for his exploits on the football field, where he teamed up with brothers Gene and Gerry. The famed “Dick Brothers” were known throughout the state. An elusive halfback, Mike racked up the yards, touchdowns, and accolades, including All-WIC, All-Valley, and All-State honors. Then came a scholarship offer to play football at the University of Illinois under another legendary coach, Ray Eliot.

After Illinois, Mike served in the U.S. Army at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Upon returning to the Wabash Valley, he graduated from Indiana State University in 1960. In the 1970s, Mike moved to South Florida, established a successful business, and lived in the Miami area until the last few years of his life. He enjoyed returning to Indiana for visits, particularly to play golf in the “Billy Jack” tournaments held in his honor.

Mike was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Baltimore and Indianapolis Colts, and the Denver Broncos after the arrival of Peyton Manning.  He also enjoyed dirt track racing at the Terre Haute Action Track and elsewhere around the Midwest, witnessing legends such as Foyt, Jones, Andretti, Hurtubise, and others in a truly golden age of racing. He also watched those heroes on the many days he spent at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for practices, time trials, and 500 mile races.

Mike was a lover of music, particularly jazz. Some of his favorites were Erroll Garner and The Four Freshmen. He enjoyed travel, with fall visits to Vermont and into Quebec among his most memorable. He also was able to go to Europe several times in his later years, including visits to beautiful Torino at the foot of the Alps in northwestern Italy, in the region of his mother’s ancestors; and to Cardiff in Wales, where some of his father’s lineage can be traced.

Mike was preceded in death by his beloved companion of 30+ years, Jacqueline Esco; as well as his parents and brothers William Dick and Gene Dick.  He is survived by son Michael Everett Dick (Evie) of Versailles, Kentucky; daughter Laura Chaney of Port Charlotte, Florida; grandchildren Zachary Clark and Demi Chaney of Terre Haute; Nigel Dick (Alyssa) of Bellevue, Kentucky and Chloe Jessup (Ross) of Louisville, Kentucky; brothers Gerry Dick (Judy) of Terre Haute and Larry Dick of Clinton; sister Donna Dick-Hollingsworth (Roy) of Hillsdale; several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends.

Per his request, cremation has been chosen. Burial will take place with final Catholic burial services at Riverside Cemetery in Clinton at a later date.

Mike always enjoyed a beer and a laugh. On and off the athletic field, his escapades in Clinton and beyond were the stuff of legends. As Sinatra sang, “the record shows, he took the blows, and did it HIS way.”