Members
Inductee
WHITMER, JAMES A.
WHITMER, JAMES A.
Born on October 26, 1930
South Bend
February 22, 2018.
Inducted On
June 25, 2004
Location Inducted
South Bend, IN
Region Number
2
Sb Riley
Player
South Bend Riley
1948
Starter on 1947 and 1948 football teams; also lettered in basketball and baseball.
Purdue University 1956; Indiana University MS
1969
Starter for 3 years as halfback; All-Academic Big Ten in 1955; awarded game ball vs Indiana University in 1955 Old Oaken Bucket game; played for North in North-South Shrine Game at Miami, FL, in 1956.
Served two years in US Army; played football at Indian Gap, PA, and in Europe as an offensive halfback; selected for All-United States Forces Austria Team; served as a teacher and head of health department at Riley, retiring in 1991; inducted into Riley Athletic Hall of Fame.
Wife, Sylvia; sons, James (Evelyn) and David (Patty); 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren
Professional Athletic Background: Drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers in 1956, but did not accept draft due to desire to teach and coach.
Coaching Experience: Head football coach at Maumee, OH, HS 1956, winning conference; head coach at South Bend Riley HS 1957-1971, with 2 Northern Indiana Conference Eastern Division Championships 1964 and 1965; won the NIC Championship 1965; retired from coaching in 1972.
Coaching Experience: Head football coach at Maumee, OH, HS 1956, winning conference; head coach at South Bend Riley HS 1957-1971, with 2 Northern Indiana Conference Eastern Division Championships 1964 and 1965; won the NIC Championship 1965; retired from coaching in 1972.