INDIANAPOLIS- The University of Indianapolis athletic Hall of Fame is welcoming four more members as a part of its class of 2008. The four inductees include Paul Velez, Henry Easter, Gary Romesser and Bill Tutterow. Come see and congratulate the new 2008 inductees Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008 at a dinner to be held in their honor. Make your reservations today!
Velez, who lettered in football, baseball and wrestling at Indiana Central in 1956, was the co-captain of the school’s first wrestling team and aided in the organization of the program. The wrestling room in the Ruth Lilly Fitness Center is now named in his honor.
At Indiana Central, Velez received the Walter Brenneman Sportsmanship Award in 1956, and returned to the university six years after graduating as the head wrestling coach. While at the helm of the program he started as an undergraduate, Velez compiled a record of 62-38 and led the Hounds to five conference and three Little State championships. Velez also coached the Greyhound football team from 1962-68.
Outside of UIndy, Velez served as Franklin Central High School’s athletic director from 1958. He started the Grizzly Cubs’ wrestling program, serving as its first head coach. He continued on in academics, serving as Greenwood Middle School’s principal from 1978-1993. May 19, 2006 was proclaimed “Paul Velez Day” in the district and the circular drive at the school is now named in his honor.
Velez was also a high school athletic official in three sports: baseball for six years, football for 25 years and wrestling for 38 years. He has also served as a Greenwood City Councilman, and was inducted into the Indiana Wrestling Coaches “Hall of Fame” in 1979. Velez was also named UIndy’s “Person of the Year” in 1990.
Easter won a total of ten letters in four sports during his time at Indiana Central. He earned four letters in football, and was a member of the 1961 conference championship football team. He was named an all-conference defensive lineman in 1961. Easter was a member of the conference championship baseball teams in 1958, 1959 and 1961, and a two-year member of the wrestling team.
He was the wrestling squad’s co-captain during the 1960-61, and a member of the squad that was Little State champions in 1960. Easter also lettered in golf during the 1960-61 year.
After his days at UIndy, Easter is credited with starting the golf, football and wrestling programs at Avon High School. He served as the head coach of all three programs for three years. He is also the originator of the career counseling programs at junior high schools in Indianapolis. Easter continued his career in education as the dean of boys at Howe High School for seven years, and then served as assistant principal at Broad Ripple High School for 17 years.
Romesser was a standout for the Greyhounds in cross country and track while at UIndy. He was named the cross country MVP in 1970, 71, and 72, and received All-Collegiate Conference honors in 1973. He was also named the cross country team’s Kelso Reid Mental Attitude Award winner in 1973, and was the squad’s co-captain that year. As a harrier, he was also named All-NAIA District 21 in 1969. Romesser held cross country team records for four years, and was 23-30-1 in dual and triangular meets.
On the track team, Romesser won four letters from 1969-1973. He won the “Highest Point” award in track from 1969-72. He also broke records in the one, two and three-mile runs in 1973. His three-mile record time, 14:43.64, from that year still stands.
Romesser is also a five-time overall winner and an eight-time mater winner in the Indianapolis 500 Festival Marathon. He has also been included in the World Masters rankings from “Runner’s World.” Romesser was ranked 10th in 1997, eighth in 1996, and third in 1991.
Tutterow graduated from UIndy in 1969. He earned eight letters as a Greyhound, four each in football and baseball. He was named the football team’s MVP in 1968 and the team’s outstanding player in 1967. On the baseball field, Tutterow was named team MVP in 1966, 67, 68 and 69. He also earned all-conference accolades in 1966, 68 and 69. He received the John Yeftich Hitting Award in 1966 and 1968, and was named to the NAIA District 21 team in 1969.
After leaving UIndy, Tutterow taught biology and genetics science at Martinsville High School for 39 years. He served as the Artesians’ football coach for 36 years and was the head baseball coach for 35 years. While at the helm of the baseball team, Tutterow compiled a record of 608-296, and led his team to 11 sectional and regional championships.
A 2005 IHSBCA Hall of Fame inductee, Tutterow was named UIndy “Baseball Coach of the Year” in 1987, 1997 and 1999. The Martinsville High School baseball field was renamed Tutterow Field in his honor in 2005.
In addition to these individuals, the 1994 women’s swim team will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Announcements will be made in the inductees’ honor at halftime of the men’s basketball game. Tip-off for the men’s game will be at 3 p.m., following the women’s contest which tips at noon. Both teams will face GLVC foe Drury.
