Alumni Hall of Fame
Athletic Achievement (2008)

Charles E. "Chuck" Huwer a native of St. Marys, is a member of the Memorial High School Class of 1946. Mr. Huwer has notably distinguished himself as an outstanding athlete on the high school and professional levels.

While a student at Memorial High School, Huwer was a three sport star athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. In football, he earned four varsity letters while playing running back for the Roughriders and Head Football Coach Lyle Barber. He was a member of the 1944 and 1945 Western Buckeye League Championship football teams. Mr. Huwer was Co - Captain of the 1945 football team, which is the only team in St. Marys history to shut out all opponents in league games. Chuck was the North Team�s Most Valuable Player in the first Ohio North - South All Star Football Game. In baseball, he earned four varsity letters as a catcher. In basketball, he earned three varsity letters as a center.

After graduation from Memorial High School, Mr. Huwer attended The Ohio State University on a football scholarship. Chuck spent one season as a running back with the Buckeyes and Head Coach Paul Bixler. Huwer would leave Columbus and the gridiron after the 1946 season to pursue a career as an outfielder in Major League Baseball.

From 1947 to 1950, Mr. Huwer played professional baseball in the Cleveland Indians farm system. In 1947, Chuck immediately enjoyed success while in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He was on the league All Star Team and was named Athlete of the Year by the Green Bay Gazette. His time in the Indian's farm system took him from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to West Palm Beach, Florida. Finally, when faced with an immediate assignment to the West Coast, the young husband and father decided that his commitment to his wife and family would outweigh his pursuit of a career as a professional baseball player. It is worth noting that when Mr. Huwer was in the Indians organization it was at a time when the Cleveland Indians and the Brooklyn Dodgers were the only two Major League Baseball teams that had African Americans on their rosters.

Although he ended his pursuit of a career in Major League Baseball, baseball would continue to be part of Chuck's life. In 1951, he made a brief stop in Lake View, Iowa, to play semi - pro baseball. In 1952, Chuck returned to St. Marys where he worked to support his family and played semi - pro baseball in the Western Ohio League. From 1953 to 1957, he played semi - pro baseball in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where success would come again. In 1953, Chuck would be the leading hitter in the Indiana State Tournament. This was followed by participation in the NBC Semi - Pro Baseball Tournament in Wichita, Kansas, and the Global World Series Tournament in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Huwer was also a member of the 1956 and 1957 Semi - Pro Baseball All - Star Team and in 1956 was recognized as the Outstanding Outfielder. These successes culminated in Mr. Huwer's election to the Fort Wayne Baseball Association Hall of Fame. Once again, Chuck would return to St. Marys to finish out his semi - pro baseball career, playing in the Western Ohio League until 1962. From 1962 until 1980, Chuck Huwer owned Huwer's Sporting Goods in downtown St. Marys. Today Huwer's Sporting Goods is Albert Sporting Goods.

Mr. Huwer has been an instrumental member of the St. Marys community in promoting the game of baseball to our youth. He shared his love for the game of baseball by coaching or leading the St. Marys Baseball Association, ACME Baseball, Legion Baseball, Pony League Baseball, and Little League Baseball. Mr. Huwer is one of the founders of Little League Baseball in St. Marys.

Just like his fellow Memorial High School Alumnus, Galen Cisco, Mr. Huwer for his outstanding and superior athletic achievement at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels serves as an example to every child in the St. Marys community and beyond that dedication and hard work can allow one to achieve their dream of playing in the big leagues.

The above text, in its entirety, is embossed on a St. Marys Memorial High School Alumni Hall of Fame plaque permanently on display in Memorial High School.

Chuck Huwer passed away in 2018.