Year Inducted – 2019

Bill Reppa grew up in Lakewood, Ohio with his 4 brothers and 5 sisters. He attended Lakewood high school and was inducted into their Hall of Fame.  He then went to Kent State University between 1944 and 1947 where he excelled at baseball.  He met his wife of 65 years, Patricia, while at Kent State.  Bill was a 4-year starter and hit .348 his senior year.  He has been inducted into the Kent State Athletic Hall of Fame.

After college, he entered the United States Army, playing baseball there as well.   He had a short stint with the Washington Senators farm team in 1946-47.  Once out of the military service he worked for over 35 years in the Cleveland school system as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and finally as Director of Physical Welfare.  He also was Player and Manager of Rosenbloom Hardball Team.

Along the way, Bill has earned many awards and recognitions.  He received the Distinguished Service Award from KSU Alumni Association, he was a Varsity K Person of the Year, received the Outstanding Graduate Athlete Award, and is in the Who’s Who among Students in American Universities/Colleges.

Along with being inducted into the Lakewood High School and Kent State Hall’s of Fame, Bill has been inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports HOF and the Parma Amateur Athletic HOF.  His awards include the Golden Deeds Award in baseball and basketball, Touchdown Club Community Service Award, and the CYO Community Service Award.  In giving back to the community, Bill was one of the founders of the Greater Cleveland Sports HOF in 1976.

Bill was President of Lake Erie AAU, President of many basketball associations, and Vice President of ASA.  At the Cleveland Public School system and other school systems, Bill spent time as an Assistant Football Coach, Head Baseball Coach, Basketball Coach, and taught and coached at Independence HS.  He was an Assistant Principal at Nathan Hale, FD Roosevelt, and Collinwood HS and a Principal at Empire JHS.  He was on the Board of Directors of Golden Gloves, member of Rainbow Sports Medicine Clinic, and Director of Physical Education and Athletics central office in Cleveland.

He loved all sports but loved his family and friends the most.