Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
Who says nice guys finish last? One of the nicest men in the Barberton community will add another feather to his cap as he enters the Heidelberg Athletic Hall of Fame.
Karl Harter, a Wadsworth native, entered Heidelberg College in 1924. Harter excelled in basketball and tennis while pursuing a degree in education. He competed in basketball through his junior year until a knee injury kept him from playing his senior season. Harter also played three years of varsity tennis.
Upon graduation in 1928, he served as head football and basketball coach at Barberton High School, until retiring from coaching in 1946, the year the Barberton football team defeated Massilon for the state championship.
Karl taught, coached and served as athletic director for a total of 37 years. Two coaches who learned from Harter, Bo Schembechler of Michigan and John Mokovic of Illinois, lived by his points of emphasis: 1) emphasize conditioning. 2) follow the rules, and 3) know the fundamentals.
Harter was known as a meticulous and tireless worker and a student of sports and sportsmanship. Character, integrity, fairness and concern are words that are often used to characterize Harter who did so much for Barberton and its young people.
The procession of Harter coached teams strived for perfection, and his team from 1935-46 played the toughest competition in the state, compiling a record of 53-23-12.
Harter gave free tennis lessons to school children every summer for more than 30 years and gave his time to the community whenever possible. Karl was inducted into the Barberton Sports Hall of Fame, the Wadsworth Sports Hall of Fame and was nominated for the Summit County Hall of Fame -- even though he never lived in the county.
In 1988, the community of Wadsworth gave Karl and his wife, Billie. their ultimate honor by bestowing upon them the title of Citizens of the Year.
Heidelberg is honored and privileged to bestow yet another honor on Karl Harter by inducting him into the Heidelberg Athletic Hall of Fame. His athletic skills at Heidelberg are worthy alone, but have been inspired by his inspiring and coaching of young athletes in the values of participation in sports. Karl has always been loyal, generous and dedicated supporter of Heidelberg academics and athletics.
Many young athletes followed Karl to Heidelberg and learned by his principles - "Do it the right way, son, and then do it again."
(This profile appeared in the 1990 Hall of Fame Banquet program. Â Mr. Harter passed away in 1999.)
