Willie Bartolovitch graduated from Avon Lake High School in 1952. When he left his alma mater he took with him 13 letters in four sports and played on some of the finest athletic teams ever to represent Avon Lake. As a freshman he lettered in football as a back-up back and lineman on defense; in his sophomore year he added track as a pole vaulter, basketball, and baseball to his list. By the time he was ready to graduate he had made two trips to Kent in basketball, one to Columbus as a member of the mile relay team, and played on three undefeated football teams.

A year after graduation he was drafted by the Philadelphia Athletics and assigned to their minor league system as a pitcher. Drafted the following year by another organization, he played for Ft. Sill in Oklahoma. When he returned to civilian life he was re-signed by the A’s, but this time they were the Kansas City A’s, the team he finished his career with.

Willie and his wife, Carol, live in Avon and have three children - Brett, Jeff, and Lisa. He will be introduced by Jim Stroh, a member of the Avon Lake Sports Hall of Fame.