Nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains —just 20 minutes west of Denver—Golden, Colorado, is home to one of the great stories of college football. For the better part of a
century, Marvin “Marv” Kay, Colorado School of Mines ’63, has dedicated his life to athletics at his alma mater.

As a student at the Colorado School of Mines, Kay lettered in both wrestling and football. His talent and work ethic earned him All-American recognition and a freeagent contract with the Denver Broncos. Off the field, he was president of his sophomore and junior classes, and he served the Colorado Delta Chapter as president, too.

Following graduation and two years abroad with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kay returned to Colorado School of Mines as assistant coach of the school’s football team. And in 1969—just six years after hanging up his own collegiate cleats—he became head coach of the program.

At the helm of the budding Division II team, Kay focused on developing scholar athletes. He wanted players to compete in the classroom and serve their community, not just their team. Over the next 26 years, he coached 13 All-Americans and 50 allconference players.

In 1995, Kay became the director of athletics at Colorado School of Mines. He applied lessons learned on the gridiron to the new role and led each of the university’s athletic teams to become championship contenders in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

In towns across America, football is king. In Golden, the sport’s leading man was also their mayor. Kay’s leadership on the field was observed by Golden’s residents, who elected him mayor in 1988. For four terms and eight years, Kay led the city through a renaissance. A sleepy downtown attracted new business and tourism, and town spirit mirrored the  on-campus excitement students felt for their football program and head coach.

Throughout his career and years of civic leadership, Kay remained deeply connected to his SigEp chapter. He led the Alumni and Volunteer Corporation as president, helped build the chapter home, and served on the board for nearly 20 years, mostly as treasurer.

“My SigEp experience was a significant part of my Mines experience. It  provided me with leadership opportunities, lifetime friends and an important part of my sense of connection to, and love for, Mines,” Kay said.

Today, Kay continues to inspire young SigEps and potential new members as a regular keynote speaker at the chapter’s Balanced Man Scholarship banquet. On campus, his legacy is perhaps most strongly felt on Saturday afternoons as fans rally behind the Orediggers in the newly constructed Marv Kay Stadium. The eponymous arena opened last fall at the Colorado School of Mines Clear Creek Athletic Complex.