Willard C. Blackney

Year Inducted: 1978

Willard’s roots run deep in the sports soil of Port Huron.  He was born in Port Huron on July 28, 1906 and played football, basketball and baseball at Port Huron High School.  He also was an outstanding baseball player at Western Michigan University.

He was baseball coach at Port Huron High in 1931 – 36, basketball coach at the Junior College in 1936 – 42, and basketball and baseball coach at St. Stephens High School in 1944 – 51.  At St. Stephens he was also head football coach from 1944 to 1949.

During Port Huron’s glory years in softball, Willard managed the Shoffner’s team to the State Class “B” Championship in 1959.  In 1960 Shoffner’s team was moved up to “AAA” Classification and Willard again guided them to the State Championship.

A great student of sports, a great teacher of boys and a natural leader of men - Willard Blackney set standards by which others are measured today