DC Alumni Varsity D
to induct four into Hall of Fame

Four Defiance College alumni will be inducted in the Alumni Varsity D Hall of Fame during Homecoming festivities on Saturday, October 4. They include: Doug Murray, Santa Clara, Calif.; Marv Retcher, Defiance; Patricia Schwiebert, Columbus; and George Stockman, Bryan.

An induction ceremony will be held at halftime of the DC versus Mount St. Joseph football game in Justin F. Coressel Stadium. They will also be recognized at a breakfast that morning in the Serrick Campus Center and will attend the unveiling of their names in the Hall of Fame Walkway at 11 a.m.

Murray graduated from DC in 1983.  He majored in marketing and was a member of Theta Xi fraternity where he served as vice president in 1982 and president in 1983.  He was also involved in the Inter-Fraternity Council and DC Marketing Club.  Murray was an outstanding track and field athlete, participating for four years and earning varsity recognition each of these years.  During his track career, he was named Most Valuable Player in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.  He was all-conference, all-district, and received All-American honors in 1983.  He set several school track records including 45 and 55 meter high hurdles, 1600 meter relay (indoor), sprint medley (indoor), 400 meter intermediate hurdles, javelin, and decathlon.  The javelin and decathlon records are still held by Murray.  He participated in the Decathlon Outdoor Nationals and placed 11th in 1980, seventh in 1981, and third in 1983.  Murray is currently a regional sales manager for Smurfit-Stone in Santa Clara, Calif.  He has one child, Morgan.

Retcher graduated from Defiance College with a bachelor of science degree in education and received a master’s degree in guidance and counseling at Bowling Green State University.  While at DC, he played three years on the men’s basketball team as wing/guard.  He was a three-year letter winner, and the combined team record during this time was an astounding 60-18.  During his senior year, Retcher received Athlete of the Year, NAIA District 22 Second Team, Co-Most Valuable Player, Co-Captain, and the Elks Award.  His senior season, 1971-72, the team record was 24-2 with an offensive average of 95.5 ppg.  Upon graduation, Retcher served two years in the U.S. Army.  He then began his coaching career, serving as head basketball coach at Tinora, Defiance, and Ayersville high schools.  His overall record is 169-120, with two district championships, one district runner-up, and six sectional championships.  He was named as District 7 Coach of the year four times, Crescent-News Coach of the Year three times, Defiance College Alumni Coach of the Year, and was selected as an assistant coach for the Ohio A-AA North-South in 1981.  In 2008 he was awarded the Northwest District Division 4 Coach of the Year.  Retcher was also an assistant coach with the Defiance College men’s basketball team from 1989-1998 with Coach Marv Hohenberger and Coach Tom Palombo.  His 2007-08 Ayersville Pilots had an impressive season racking up 21 wins with only three losses. Retcher led the Pilots to an outright Green Meadows Conference championship with a record of 7-0, a sectional championship, a district championship, and a regional semi-final appearance.  He is an active member of First Baptist Church in Defiance where he has served as a Sunday school teacher and chairman of the Christian Education Board.  He and his wife Lois have a son, Ryan, and reside in Defiance.

Schwiebert, of the class of 1984, graduated with a degree in natural systems, and in 1986 received a master’s degree in exercise physiology from The Ohio State University.  At Defiance, Schwiebert graduated at the top of her class with summa cum laude honors.  Academically, she received the CRC Freshman Chemistry Award, Rollin and Latchaw Prize in Science, and the George W. Botteron Prize in Chemistry.  She was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society.  Athletically, Schwiebert was a four-year varsity letter winner for the women’s track team and a one-year letter winner for the women’s cross country team.  In track, she ran the 1500 meter and the 3000 meter races.  She was awarded the Scholar Athlete Award and was named all-conference.  In 1982, she placed first in the OAISW state meet in the 3000 meter run and fifth in the 1500 meter run.  At this meet, she set the school record for the 1500 meters.  In 1984, she set the school record for the women’s 5000 meter run.  In cross country, Schwiebert was awarded the Top Team Runner, scholar athlete, and sportsmanship honors.  She was also Academic All-American NAIA, placed second in the NAIA District meet, which qualified her for the NAIA Nationals.  Her senior year she was inducted into the DC Lady Jacket Wall of Fame for Cross Country and Track and was also named the Co-Female Athlete of the Year Award.  She is currently an exercise physiologist in Columbus.

Stockman graduated from DC in 1957 with a social science major and a physical education minor.  He completed his master’s degree in education and finance from Toledo University in 1967 and also completed graduate coursework at Indiana University.  While at DC, he was on the Purple Mask dramatics team, a member of the Varsity “D” club for four years, and a member of Kappa Kappa Fraternity.  Stockman was a member of the 1953 undefeated football team, playing offensive guard and defensive middle guard.  Because of the small number of players on in 1953 team, players were forced to play all line positions.  Stockman was co-player of the week for several games during the season.  He received Honorable Mention All-League his freshman and senior years and was a four-year varsity letter winner.  After graduating from DC, he spent one year teaching and coaching at Hicksville.  In 1958, he returned to his home high school, Bryan.  He taught and coached in Bryan until 1969 where he was head track coach, assistant defensive football coach, and junior high basketball coach.  Bryan won three league track meets while Stockman was coaching.  Over a period of three years with the help of Coach Stockman, the basketball team had 33 consecutive wins.  Stockman was also junior high principal from 1969-1974.  In 1974 he went into the insurance and financial arena.  He has been active in the Bryan Area Foundation for 24 years.  He has served six years as trustee and served on many of the committees of the foundation.  Stockman has also been a member of Rotary (past president and 30 years of service), Chamber of Commerce (past president and 25 years of service), Orchard Hills Country Club (30 years of service), O.E.A., N.E.A., and is on the financial committee at his church.  Stockman also takes part in Defiance College fundraising in Bryan.  He and his wife Carol had five children, Timothy and wife Beverly of Bluffton; Thomas, Tampa, Fla.; Tobias of Bryan; Ann Robinett and husband Kyle of Bryan; and Michael and wife Juliet of Bryan.  They have seven grandchildren.

For more information about Defiance College homecoming activities, contact the office of alumni and parent relations at 419-783-2572 or visit the DC website at www.defiance.edu.

Defiance College is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate majors as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of engagement. U. S. News & World Report ranks Defiance in the top tier of comprehensive colleges in the Midwest. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

September 26, 2008