Inducted 2011. Held the Career Rushing Total for the Next 15 Years After Graduating.
Ric Hinkamper hopes not to be noticed on the football field these days as a college official, but it was difficult not to notice him on the football field during his high school career.
Hinkamper, a 1981 graduate, became the starting running back on the football team late in his sophomore season and started the next 20 games. He gained 108 yards and scored a touchdown in 15 carriers in his first start against Keokuk, and he went on to rush for 2,098 yards on 348 carries in his career.
When he graduated from Notre Dame, he held the career rushing total for the next 15 years. Hinkamper also started at linebacker and safety for three years, helping the Raiders to a 16-12 record over that time. Hinkamper also played 69 games at second base for the varsity baseball team, stealing 53 bases in 55 attempts and leading the team in stolen bases for three years. The Raiders reached the Elite Eight during his senior season, losing to eventual champion Carlyle in the quarterfinals. He went on to play college football at Culver-Stockton College.
Football is still a big part of Hinkamper’s life. He’s been a college official for 21 years and has been doing NCAA Division I games for the past 13 years, with most of his games in the Big Ten, the Mid-American Conference and the Missouri Valley Conference. He has officiated games at Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Purdue and Syracuse, as well as several NCAA I-AA and FCS postseason games.
Hinkamper lives in Quincy with his wife, Monica. They have two children, Ashley and Ian. He worked with the family business at Hinkamper Heating/Air/Ice Machines.
It is very humbling to receive this QND Hall of Fame award. I have always played, coached and officiated football for the love of the game. Special thanks to my wife Monica and our children Ashley and Ian. They have been so supportive of my football officiating career. Thank you to my mom, Rosemary, for all the work done during my playing and officiating career. The QND family has enriched my life from the time I walked through the entrance of the school. All of my teammates, teachers and administrators provided tremendous support and the educational essentials to make it from a freshman QND student and player to an official in the Big House at Michigan in front of 110,000 fans. Some of my favorite memories from QND were taking the first play to the end zone in my junior year and beating Charleston at an away game my senior year. During our pregame warmup, they lined up their entire team and walked through our drills to intimidate us. Our team pulled off the upset, and it was a fun ride home. I hope all graduates cherish the time they have spent at QND. It was one of the best experiences of my life.