William H. Hollinger Hall of Fame
Proverbs, known as "Rock" was a four-year letter winner in football and basketball, earning Little All-American as an end in 1957. Bill became a lifelong member of Hiram College athletics as a coach, administrator and mentor to many.
A military veteran and professional baseball player for the Cleveland Indians, William Proverbs decided to take classes at Hiram College. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1958, having majored in Health and Physical Education.
He was teaching secondary education when he was offered a one-year position at Hiram. He accepted and began in 1959. One year turned into two, and soon Proverbs found himself with a Masters of Education from Kent State University. He remained at Hiram College teaching and coaching until his retirement in 1991.
When Proverbs was a student at Hiram, there were about five hundred students, most of them from the area. He remembered the importance of the bell - its ring echoed on Campus Days or when major victories were won. "There was a closeness ... " Proverbs explained. The family-like atmosphere remained all the years he was at Hiram College.
"There were many" memorable moments in Proverbs' past at Hiram. He cherishes the closeness andrespect within the athletic department, much of which he attributes to his colleague, William Hollinger. The strong relationships built with his players also meant a great deal to him. In fact, that is where he got his nickname, "Rock."
He enjoyed his role in the classroom, especially in first-aid classes, bowling, and racquetball. He enjoyed all of it.Â
Although it was hard for him to pinpoint any one humorous event, he laughingly remembered the summer trips to Otter Lake in Canada. Several members of the faculty made the venture annually to a cottage owned by Dr. Sprogis, the College physician. Sprogis and Proverbs also had a wonderful bond in that both were amateur artists. Sprogis was a photographer, and Proverbs created oil paintings. On two separate occasions,
they were able to have a joint art show-another of Proverbs' memorable moments.
As for Hiram College on the whole, it really made a major impact on Proverbs. He said, "I think I grew overall...It gave me an opportunity to satisfy a lot of the needs that I had." Hiram provided him with both an outlet to accomplish personal goals and a place where he could work doing something he dearly loved.
To new professors at Hiram College, Proverbs advises them to cherish the closeness between faculty and students. "That is what's so important ... don't lose it."
As of his induction, Proverbs and his wife, Pat, live in Nevada to be nearer to other relatives in Arizona and California. Retirement has allowed him to enjoy the weather and play golf. He also plans to begin painting again.
