The late Mack Schaffer of Ottawa, Ohio, secondary supervisor of the Putnam Country Schools, played football and baseball at Bluffton while he earned his bachelor’s degree in science education. He received his master’s degree in chemistry and education from Miami University, attended Indiana and Bowling Green Universities and received the Ed.S. degree in school administration in 1965. With further graduate study he received a Ph.D. in school administration at Bowling Green State University in 1970.
Schaffer began his teaching and coaching career in the Leipsic Junior High School, coaching both boys and girls basketball for three years. He then moved to Columbus Grove, Ohio, where he taught chemistry and physics at the high school for eight years and served as baseball coach and assistant high school principal. He then went on to be supervisor in the Putnam County Schools.
Schaffer was active in sports as an official in basketball and football, working in high school, college and professional ranks. He officiated in 15 Ohio high school basketball tournaments, the last 10 in succession. He also acted as the state basketball rules interpreter for 18 years. He was a member of the National Federation Basketball Rules Advisory Committee for 15 years.
He served a one year term on the State Board of Control in 1972 and was a member of the Northwest District High School Athletic Board. He served five years in the U.S. Navy during World War II being discharged as a Lt. Commander.
“As a school man, I have held a great deal of respect for Bluffton,” Schaffer said. “The moral, religious and academic training I received from Bluffton certainly shaped my life.”
