Back in the early days of Iowa football, there was a name that made crowds roar and opponents groan—Oran “Nanny” Pape. Born in the small town of Waupeton, Iowa, Pape didn’t just play sports—he dominated them. At Dubuque Senior High School, he was a star in football, basketball, and track. When he wasn’t on the field, he was saving lives as a lifeguard at Eagle Point Beach, credited with pulling dozens of swimmers from the Mississippi’s strong currents.
His journey led him to the University of Iowa, but not before a brief stop at the University of Dubuque. It was in Iowa City that Pape truly became a legend. In 1928, during the Hawkeyes’ Homecoming game against Minnesota, he sprinted 67 yards for a game-winning touchdown that stunned the Gophers. A year later, he did it again—this time scoring in the final two minutes to clinch another victory over Minnesota. He wasn’t just fast—he was fearless, determined, and electrifying.
After college, Pape took his talents to the professional ranks, playing for at least seven teams during the early, gritty days of pro football. But Pape’s story didn’t end with glory on the gridiron. In 1935, trading cleats for a badge, he joined the Iowa State Patrol—one of the first men to wear the uniform.
April 30, 1936, started like any other day. Pape was on patrol along Highway 61 near Muscatine when he pulled over a Chevrolet sedan reported stolen from Bloomfield. Inside was Roscoe Barton, a man with a gun and no intention of surrendering peacefully. What should have been a routine stop turned into a deadly struggle. Barton forced Pape into the vehicle at gunpoint. A scuffle broke out. Pape fought back. Barton was killed—but not before fatally shooting the young patrolman in the stomach.
Pape died the next day at Mercy Hospital in Davenport. He was just 28.
Today, Oran Pape is remembered not just for his athletic heroics, but for his bravery and sacrifice. He was the first Iowa State Patrolman killed in the line of duty. His badge number—23—was permanently retired, and in his honor, the Iowa Department of Public Safety later named a training facility after him: Camp Pape.
More than a name on a list, Oran “Nanny” Pape was a hero in every sense. He lived fast, served hard, and gave everything—even his life—for the state he loved.
