James Gratz, a Bluffton High School graduate, received seven collegiate letters at in football, basketball and baseball.
Gratz served as teacher and coach in many Bluffton-area high schools and held the position as associate professor of HPER at Manchester College, director of athletics, head wrestling coach, head baseball coach and assistant football coach.
Gratz earned the mythical title of “Father of the Hoosier Buckeye Collegiate Conference,” because it was under his leadership as president of the conference consisting of only Indiana colleges, that Bluffton and three other Ohio colleges were invited to consider membership in the re-named HBCC. He was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics executive committee beginning in 1971.
Gratz received honors from his fellow coaches by being selected to coach the Indiana Boys Club North Football All Stars in 1966, 1967 and 1969. The HBCC recognized him as wrestling coach of the year in 1970.
