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Ted Scalissi '47 is one of the most versatile athletes in Ripon College history, earning First Team All-Conference honors three times in both football and basketball, before going on to play both sports professionally. He also competed on Ripon's track & field team, participating in the 100-yard dash, pole vault, and long jump. Scalissi earned the Jack Dempsey Trophy during his senior season, awarded annually to Ripon's most outstanding student-athlete. He was inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982.

One of the few eras of Ripon College athletics that was interrupted due to wartime, Scalissi was selected to the Little All-America team as a quarterback in 1941 and again in 1946, after returning from World War II. During his three years with Ripon's football team, Scalissi’s career was highlighted by helping the Redmen win the 1941 Midwest Conference Championship, going 5-0-1 in his first year with the team.

Scallasi's collegiate career was interrupted by army service during World War II, which saw him serve 17 months in the European theater. During the war in Germany, Scallisi was hit by shrapnel in the left leg, back, hands, and face, and received a field commission as a first lieutenant. He returned to Ripon in January of 1946 with a Purple Heart and Bronze and Silver Stars to his name.

Scalissi plunged back into athletics enthusiastically at Ripon and showed no sign that the long layoff and war wounds had affected his abilities. Against MWC opponents in 1946, he averaged seven yards per carry and 33 yards per punt, while completing 43 percent of his passes for an average of 17.6 yards per completion. Ripon scored 11 touchdowns against MWC opponents in 1946, with Scalissi playing a role in all but two of those scores.

After graduation, Scalissi was drafted in the National Football League (NFL) by the Green Bay Packers with the 151st pick in the 17th round, ahead of future NFL Hall of Famers such as Tom Landry and Art Donovan. Ultimately, Scalissi decided to accept a more lucrative offer from the Chicago Rockets of the All-American Football Conference (AAFC).

Not to be outdone, Scalissi also played professional basketball, signing with the Oshkosh All-Stars of the National Basketball League, which was a precursor to the National Basketball Association (NBA). Scalissi helped the All-Stars to a consolation victory in the World Professional Basketball Tournament in Chicago in 1948. 

Scalissi went on to have a successful High School coaching career at Plainfield, Mosinee, and Two Rivers. He also served as Head Football Coach at Milton College in Milton, Wis. from 1963-69 and is a member of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) Hall of Fame.

Scalissi also was one of Wisconsin's most respected basketball officials for more than 35 years, officiating thousands of games throughout Southern Wisconsin, including four times at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) State Tournament.