The Iowa Hawkeyes community is mourning the loss of one of its most influential supporters after longtime donor and Iowa 80 World’s Largest Truck Stop owner Will Moon passed away at the age of 64. His death on Thursday, July 16, leaves behind a legacy that stretches far beyond business success, touching generations of Iowa student-athletes, coaches, and fans.
Moon wasn’t just a successful entrepreneur. He was one of the biggest financial supporters of Iowa Athletics, and his generosity permanently changed the future of Hawkeye football. His name will continue to live on through the prestigious Moon Family Head Football Coach title, a position currently held by head coach Kirk Ferentz.
For Iowa football, Moon’s passing marks the loss of a devoted fan whose passion began nearly five decades ago.
Born into the family behind what would become the famous Iowa 80 World’s Largest Truck Stop in Walcott, Moon often described himself as a “truck-stop kid.” As a child, he spent his summers running around the massive truck stop while his parents worked tirelessly to grow the business into one of America’s most recognizable roadside destinations.
His father, entrepreneur Bill Moon, purchased the truck stop after helping Standard Oil secure land during the construction of Interstate 80 through Iowa. Bill initially operated the facility before taking full ownership in 1964, laying the foundation for what would become the family’s business empire.
Will Moon eventually followed in his father’s footsteps, but first he pursued an accounting degree at the University of Iowa. That decision would shape both his career and his lifelong relationship with Hawkeye athletics.
Moon arrived in Iowa City in the fall of 1979, just as legendary coach Hayden Fry was beginning to rebuild Iowa football into a national contender. The timing couldn’t have been better.
“From that point on, Iowa football was fun again,” Moon recalled during a 2021 interview with the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, reflecting on how quickly he became captivated by the Hawkeyes’ resurgence.
While attending Iowa, Moon also met the woman who would become his wife, Renee Breckenridge Moon. Their first date took place at The Airliner in downtown Iowa City while watching the Hawkeyes defeat Penn State. That memorable evening sparked not only their relationship but decades of cheering for Iowa together at Kinnick Stadium, road games, and bowl appearances across the country.
As Moon successfully expanded the family business, he never forgot the university that helped shape his future.
He and Renee became two of the University of Iowa Athletics’ most generous donors, creating an endowment that supports the operational needs of the football program while also establishing the Will and Renee Moon Excellence Fund, which provides unrestricted funding for athletics initiatives across the department.
Their generosity also played a major role in the university’s Kinnick Edge Campaign, helping fund the revitalization of Kinnick Stadium’s north end zone.
Perhaps their most lasting contribution came when the University of Iowa permanently named its football leadership position the Moon Family Head Football Coach, ensuring that Kirk Ferentz and every future Iowa head coach will forever carry the Moon family name.
Ferentz remembered Moon as much more than a donor.
“I was very saddened to hear about Will’s passing,” Ferentz said in a university news release. “Will and his wife Renee have been very generous in their support of our program and Hawkeye athletics. Hawkeye student-athletes will benefit from their gifts for years to come.”
The tribute highlighted how Moon’s impact extended beyond buildings and financial contributions. His support helped strengthen programs that will continue benefiting Iowa athletes for generations.
Iowa Athletics Director Beth Goetz also honored Moon’s remarkable legacy.
“Will was one of the kindest, most genuine people you could ever meet, and his love for the Hawkeyes was unwavering,” Goetz said. “His generosity and loyalty helped shape Iowa Athletics, but it was the relationships he built and the way he cared for others that will be remembered most. He was a dear friend and truly part of the Hawkeye family.”
Those words captured what many around the university felt that Moon’s greatest gift wasn’t simply financial support but his genuine commitment to the people behind the programs.
Even with his enormous business responsibilities, Moon remained deeply connected to Iowa athletics, following the football team through every season and celebrating alongside fellow Hawkeye fans wherever they played.
His death closes an important chapter in Iowa athletics history, but his influence will continue every Saturday inside Kinnick Stadium. Every future head football coach bearing the Moon Family title will serve as a lasting reminder of a man whose love for the Hawkeyes never faded.
Visitation for Will Moon will be held Monday, July 20, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Runge Mortuary in Davenport. Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, at 10 a.m. at Calvary Church of Walcott, with burial to follow at Walcott Cemetery.
For the Hawkeye family, Will Moon’s legacy will be remembered not only through the name attached to Iowa football’s head coaching position, but through decades of unwavering loyalty, generosity, and an enduring belief in the future of Iowa Athletics.
