1984 UW-Oshkosh Hall of Fame

OSHKOSH, Wis. (5/6/1984) – The UW-Oshkosh Athletic Hall of Fame inducted four newcomers on May 6.

The 1984 inductees were Jim Gantner, Ed Kiddie, Harry McAndrew and Tom Rath.

The UW-Oshkosh Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1974 to give tribute and deserved recognition to former athletes, coaches and friends of the University. It is also intended to enhance school tradition by honoring those people who have shown exceptional ability while on the campus and since graduation.

In the two years Jim Gantner attended UW-Oshkosh, the baseball standout led the Titans to a third-place finish in the 1973 NAIA World Series and fifth-place in 1974. During those two seasons, UW-Oshkosh won the WSUC title, the NAIA District 14 crown and the Area 4 championship.

The former Titan shortstop is also a member of the NAIA 20-Year Bicentennial All-National Tournament team.

Gantner's name still appears in the Titan baseball record books. He is fourth on UW-Oshkosh’s career hits list with 54 in 1973 (Ken Hartwig is the leader with 58 in 1974). Gantner is also tied for fourth in career runs with 43 (Gary Varsho, 1981, has the most with 54).

Gantner played baseball four years at Cambellsport High School and also led the conference in scoring in basketball his senior year.

He signed with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1974 and progressed through their farm system to the New York-Penn league.

Gantner was a member of the All-star team in 1974 in that league and then a member of the Eastern League All-Star team in 1976. In 1977 he was a member of the Pacific Coast League All-Star team and played second base for the American League champion Milwaukee Brewers in the 1982 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Ed Kiddie attended UW-Oshkosh from 1938-42 and lettered in football four years, track three years, and basketball two years.

In football, he played tailback and was a triple threat, running, throwing and punting the ball. Kiddie was the conference champion in the javelin in 1940-42 and captained the team in 1942. He played minor league baseball in Oshkosh upon his graduation before joining the U.S. Navy.

Kiddie served as executive and engineering officer of a minesweeper in the Pacific, participating in four invasions. Ironically, Kiddie ran into his Oshkosh coach, Bob Kolf, on the Island of Manis in the Admiralties.

Kiddie taught and coached at Wonewoc, Sparta and Tomahawk. He is now the General Manager of the Westvaco Corporation's Maryland Container Plant in Baltimore.

Harry McAndrew, being honored posthumously, ran track for two years and played football 1920-22. He won the 100-yard dash in the conference championships in 1921 and 1922 and was a member of the All-Conference football team two years.

McAndrew then transferred to the University of Wisconsin in 1924 and had an outstanding track career.

McAndrew coached at Kaukauna High School and was an attorney for 21 years.

Tom Rath dominated the three jumping events in track in the WSUC in 1964-67. In his freshman season, he won the triple jump in the conference championships and played fourth in the high jump.

In '67 he was the only double winner in the WSUC meet, taking the triple jump and high jump. In '68 he was the only triple winner, taking the triple jump, high jump and setting a conference record in the long jump, which lasted until 1983. In 1970, he repeated his triple honors.

Rath became the first athlete in District 14 to be selected to the All-District track team in three separate events. He was named NAIA All-American in 1970.

Rath’s honors also include setting school records in three events, set the school record for the most points scored in track over four years, set conference records in the long jump and triple jump and was voted most valuable by his teammates twice and co-captain once.

Rath attended Washington High School in Two Rivers and graduated from UW-Oshkosh in 1970.