Erwins Part of Midland Community for More than 60 Years

Midland University is proud to announce the Erwin family as the 2026 recipient of the Distinguished Midland Family Award. They will be recognized during the Alumni & Legacy Banquet on Sunday, Sept. 27th at the Wikert Event Center.

Beginning with Rich Erwin, ’69, and continuing on through three generations, the Erwin family has built a strong connection to Midland University.

It continues to this day with Tyler Erwin, ’00, son of Rich and Ellen Erwin, who serves as the men’s basketball coach for his alma mater.

Although they never graduated from college, Quinten and Alice Erwin laid a strong foundation for the Erwin family to continue their education. Along with Rich and their daughter, Joan Giese, ’77, their son Rod played basketball and graduated from Wayne State College and is an avid supporter of the Midland basketball program.

Rich was the first to make his way to Midland, arriving in 1965 from Concord, Nebraska, and graduating four years later. Rich was involved on campus in a variety of capacities, including serving as a work study for Professor Edwin Prauner, and being part of both the Phi Beta Lambda business fraternity and the Kappa Alpha Lambda fraternity.

Joan would follow Rich to Midland, arriving on campus in 1973 and graduating four years later. She was part of the Warrior volleyball team, as well as being a cheerleader, and part of Tri Phi sorority. Her connections to athletics were strong as she worked for many different coaches during her time on campus.

Dr. L. Dale Lund, Midland’s president from 1968-81, performed the wedding ceremony for Joan and her husband, Shane.

“It was evident that Rich truly enjoyed Midland and I wanted that for myself, too,” Joan said. “It is such a gift to our family to have this strong bond that stretches across three generations. Not many universities go beyond their education mission to extend loving care, but Midland is an exception and we are so honored to be part of such a university.”

Todd Erwin, Rich and Ellen’s son, became the first member of the second generation of Erwins to attend Midland with his arrival in 1990. Although he only stayed one year before transferring closer to home, he helped set the table for Tyler’s arrival in 1996. 

Tyler was a member of the basketball team and after graduation, he would work in both the Admissions Office, and as an assistant basketball coach to Rich McGill, for three years. He would return to Midland in 2022 when he was named the head coach for the men’s basketball team.

“The memories I have of Midland and the friendships I made are irreplaceable,” Tyler said. “Midland has shaped me into the person and coach that I am today.”

The basketball gene runs strong in the Erwin family and two more hardcourt players, Frankie, ’24, and Rubie Klausen, ’26, would eventually find their way to Midland. Frankie and Rubie are the granddaughters of Rich and Ellen.

“One of the reasons I chose to attend Midland was because of my grandparents,” Frankie Reiman (Klausen) said. “My grandpa used to tell me about his times in Beegle Hall, and I was so excited to call him and tell him I had committed to play basketball at Midland, and that I would be living in Beegle. You could spot my grandparents in the stands at almost every one of my home basketball games.

“My grandma even spent the night in my dorm room after coming here for one of my games. That is one of my favorite college memories.”

“My grandparents were one of my biggest supporters and probably some of Midland’s biggest fans,” Rubie Escalante (Klausen) added. “You could always hear my grandma, during timeouts, yelling ‘Go Midland!’

“After almost every game, my grandpa would make sure I got some extra cash since I was a college student. He would always tell me to use the money for ice cream.”

Rich and Ellen were staunch supporters of Midland University basketball and their passing earlier this year left its impact on the Midland family, and the program. 

“Athletics is a fundamental part of being an Erwin and Midland showed confidence by offering several of us the opportunity to keep playing sports we love and to represent a university we were proud of,” Joan said. “It was a great experience for me to work with the coaches and to this day, Tyler continues to demonstrate the role Midland athletics has played in our family.”

Rich and Ellen leave a lasting legacy at Midland. Part of that legacy will be on display with Ellen’s beautiful white piano, donated by the family to Midland University Fine & Performing Arts this summer.

Joan said Rich and Ellen would be grateful, but humbled, by the family receiving this award.

“They would have considered this honor one of the most cherished of their lives, but in typical fashion, they would have considered others more deserving,” she said. “This recognition has given the opportunity for us to reflect on what Midland means to our family. Midland has helped to shape us into who we are as people, into the careers we have chosen, and in how we represent ourselves.”