"Mel Doering has developed a legacy at VU in various capacities over a 50-year period.

He has been one of the cornerstones of the Lutheran Basketball Association of America for almost a half century, playing an integral role for the annual tournament which is held at Valparaiso University. In 1952, Mel became the director of the junior division of the Lutheran Basketball Association Tournament. One of the many identities Mel embraced was that of the Crusader mascot in the early 1950s.

Mel became famous for riding on horseback as the mascot at home football games and in homecoming parades as was depicted on the back cover of the 1953 VU Football Media Guide. During that era (1950-55), he served as VU's press secretary and created the media publicity common to those times. He also served as director of publications at VU from 1970-91.

Mel's terms at VU were separated by the years he spent in St. Louis where he worked with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Lutheran Laymen's League and the Aid Association for Lutherans. Upon returning to the University, he was the editor of the alumni newsletter and devoted a very generous amount of space to the athletics programs. During his retirement years, Mel has worked as the University Archivist and has demonstrated his love for Valpo athletics by collecting documents and artifacts.