Encyclopedia of Baldwin Wallace University History: Alumni - H

Citation: Albert L. Marting, ed., “We Will Celebrate,” Baldwin-Wallace Alumnus 23, no. 2 (1945): p. 13.

Colonel Charles H. Hallett, '29, a former Cleveland High School teacher, has been raised to the rank of a full colonel. He is the first of Baldwin-Wallace graduates so honored, we believe. A teacher of history and photography at West Tech High School from 1935 to 1940 when he entered the service, Colonel Hallett received his promotion in Germany where he is serving in the Air Forces.

His wife (Helen Louise Geisel, '32) of 16600 Chatfield Ave., S. W., Cleveland, states that on the day of his promotion he was also given the Legion of Merit, for supplying information leading to the surrender of 20,000 enemy troops. He had previously been decorated with the Bronze Star. His overseas service began in February, 1944.

Citation: Bud Collins, "Norb Hecker Represents B-W On Little All-American Eleven," Alumnus, vol. XXIX, no. 1 (February 1951): pg. 5.

More football honors streamed down on the Hecker family and Baldwin-Wallace when shifty left end Norb Hecker was named to the Associated Press Little All-American team. 

Winding up his fourth season in Brown and Gold livery, Norb hit the jackpot in press clippings. Besides being on the first selection Little All-American, he was named All-Ohio by AP, UP and INS and honorable mention on the AP All-Midwestern team.

A sure-fingered pass catcher with more fakes and dodges than an income tax evader, Hecker ranked fourth in the nation in pass receiving with 34 catches for 624 yards and seven touchdowns.

He gained 163 yards on his pet end-around play for a 6.1 rushing average and totaled 10 touchdowns, 26 extra points and a field goal for 89 markers. 

Following in the cleat-prints of his older brother, Bob, who also played four years for B-W and holds the school's all-time football scoring record of 204 points, Norb will hold down a professional berth, playing with the Los Angeles Rams. bob formerly was with the Chicago Cardinals.

Norb played his high school ball at Olmstead Falls High and was more of a basketball sensation as a youngster. But he added more than 30 pounds in the army and became a football standout here.

He has become one of the most accomplished all-around athletes in B-W annals with four letters in football, three in track and one each in basketball and baseball - he led the baseball team in hitting last spring. He's also a fine golfer and bowler.

Finishing his second successful season at the Jacket helm, Eddie Finnigan steered his charges to a 5-2-1 record. They were seventh in the country in passing and 25th in total offense.

Citation: “Pro grid star speaks at Luncheon Club,” Baldwin-Wallace College News Letter 24, no. 3 (1957): p. 3.

Norb Hecker, '55, who is probably Baldwin-Wallace's most distinguished active alumni athlete, will speak at the next monthly meeting of the Men's Alumni Luncheon Club at noon Thursday, April 25, at the Tavern Chop House, 1027 Chester Avenue, Cleveland.

Currently a star end and defensive halfback for the Washington Redskins in the National Football League, Hecker has been playing professionally since winding up his college career at B-W in 1950.

He was the sixth draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams and played for them in 1951, 1952 and 1953, then went to Canada and the Toronto Argonauts of the Big Four League where he starred in 1954 before rejoining the N .F.L. and the Redskins.

The 6-foot, 2-inch, 190-pounder returned to B-W following the 1954 campaign to complete credits needed for his degree.

Hecker won 13 letters in football, baseball, basketball and track at B-W and still holds four individual all-time grid records-most passes caught in one season, 34; most yards gained in pass receiving in one season, 614; most extra points in one game, seven against Upsala; and most extra points in one season, 26. All were established in 1950 when he captained the squad.

Gene Simon, '39, president and publisher of the Tarentum (Pa.) Valley Daily News, spoke at last month's meeting, March 28.

Citation: Albert L. Marting, ed., “News Flashes,” Baldwin-Wallace Alumnus 22, no. 2 (1944): p. 5.

Kathryn F. Herman has joined the ranks of the WASPS. She has been flying for four years. Her husband, Lt. (j .g.) H. B. Herman, is serving with the U. S. Navy Air Corps.

Citation: Charles F. Mott, ed., Palladian (Berea, OH: Baldwin University, 1897), p. 26.

Burton J. Hoadly graduated from Baldwin University in 1862. He enlisted in Battery D, rst Light Artillery from Cuyahoga County, Ohio. For three years he was Professor of the Ancient Languages in Baldwin University. Mr. Hoadly then joined the North Ohio Conference, where he remained for several years, successfully serving his different charges. In 1896 he went to Oregon as Professor of English Literature and History in the University of Portland.

Citation: Charles F. Mott, ed., Palladian (Berea, OH: Baldwin University, 1897), p. 25.

J. W. Houghton was born in Batavia, N.Y ., m 1834· His boyhood was spent in Spencer, Ohio, where among his teachers were his brother E. W. Houghton, and his brother-in-law Prof. W. W. Ross. He taught school and studied two years at Delaware; was a member of the first class graduated from Baldwin University, but dropped out a year to give entire attention to his medical course in Cincinnati, where he received his diploma the same year that he was graduated from the Classical department of B. V., 1860, and commenced the practice of medicine in Wellington. He had a large ride, but the exposure so impaired his health that he was obliged after twelve years to refuse to go. He became a member of the Ohio State Medical Association in 1871. In 1863 he received the degree of A. M. in course. That year established the Drug and Book house in which he has continued. From 1876 to 1885 he owned and conducted "The Welling-ton Enterprise." Since 1883 he has been the manager of the Central Union Telephone Exchange, which before the hard times had the largest list of local subscription of any town of its size in the world. As a citizen and church layman he has filled the highest positions, discharging the duties pertaining to them with conscientiousness and ability. His tastes are in the library rather than with trade, and the pen is more congenial than the pestle and mortar, but is also a competent mechanic and machinist. Dr. Houghton has been a Trustee of Baldwin University since 1892.

Citation: Albert L. Marting, ed., “We Will Celebrate,” Baldwin-Wallace Alumnus 23, no. 2 (1945): p. 2.

Municipal Judge Bradley Hull, Law 1919, humanitarian and fighter for civil liberty, died at Charity Hospital, Cleveland, after collapsing in his judicial chamber in City Hall on the morning of May 4, 1945.

Aged 65, Judge Hull had been on the Municipal Court bench nearly 21 years, and had served Cleveland for 45 years through the Humane Society, Legal Aid Society, Urban League and ration board. Until last year he was president of the Urban League, formerly the Negro Welfare Association, which he had served for many years. He will be remembered as the founder and first director of the county bureau of domestic relations and for his devotion to freedom of speech and to the downtrodden and unfortunate.

Born within a block of Public Square on April 3, 1880, Judge Hull at 20 was working his way through college. Attempting to burn the candle at both ends he was compelled to spend a year in the open spaces of northern Minnesota. He often told his friends that he regarded the year in the northwest as the most valuable in his life because it influenced his attitude towards the wanderer's problems.

One of his sons is with the Army Air Forces in California, another is an Army Doctor in the Philippines. His wife, Julia, also survives him.