William Sheckler

Baseball - Varsity 4 years

All Conference - Senior year

Basketball - Varsity Sophomore through Senior years

All Conference - Senior year

Football - Varsity Sophomore through Senior years

All Conference - Senior year

Track - Varsity Senior year

Upon graduating from high school in 1948, with the encouragement of his mother, Bill went to a Yankee baseball try-out camp held in Holland, Michigan. As a result of that camp he was signed by the Yankees, was sent to Plattsburg, New York training camp, and pitched for them for one year. Bill was released by the Yankees after a year because their league folded. 

Again, with his mother's encouragement, through an uncle in Fargo, North Dakota who was affiliated with the Pittsburg Pirates, Bill tried out for the team. He was signed by the Pirate organization, and played for two years until the Korean War broke out. 

Bill was drafted into the Marines and served in the Korean War for thirteen months. He served in the Marine Corps from 1952-54. 

In 1951 Bill married Shirley J. Kik. They have six sons and one daughter. For thirty nine years Bill worked for Consumers Power Company. Bill was a member of the Sparta Lions and was a member of the Sparta Planning Commission for ten years, and he played in a traveling slow-pitch softball league and enjoyed the game of golf for over forty five years. By his own admission, he was never an Arnold Palmer.

Bill says, "Be honest with yourself, play hard, give your best effort, and enjoy what you're playing as long as possible."