THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

William G. Shinn - Class of 1948

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Bill Shinn enrolled at the College of Wooster in the fall of 1939.  He graduated in January 1948.  Between those years he saw enough action and excitement for several average lifetimes.

Shinn was born in Canton, played reserve football for Canton McKinley High and was shortstop for the baseball team and good enough to go to the state finals.  His father Glenn, was transferred to Wooster where Bill spent his final year of high school. 

He called signals from the tailback slot as the Generals swept to an undefeated season.  He also became renowned as the last player in those parts to master the difficult art of drop-kicking.  Bill also filled a guard position in basketball and played the keystone in baseball.

Freshmen were no eligible for varsity competition, but Shinn immediately broke into the Scot lineup as a sophomore and repeated in 1941.  He lettered in baseball during his sophomore year, but dropped out of school the first semester of his junior to join the Navy.   

Shinn became a fighter pilot, flying Corsairs off carriers in the South and Mid-Pacific.  He received a Distinguished Flying Cross for scoring on a Japanese battleship and picked up a number of Air Medals.

After discharge, he returned to Wooster to resume his collegiate career.  He was quite likely the first Scot to play in every football game for four years.  During 1946 and 1947 again, he called signals from his tailback slot and handled the team's extra point and place-kicking chores.

He did not drop-kick while in college.  It was Shinn's 25 yard field-goal, from a difficult angle that won the 1947 game, 16-13, over Muskingum.  Since then the teams have met 21 times without a Wooster victory.

Bill picked up another baseball award, averaging better than a stolen base per game and earned an enviable reputation as a topflight softball player as a third baseman for the fast Orrville Highlanders.  Above all, he was known and respected as a clutch player who came through when the chips were down.  Although he completed his graduation requirements in January, he was still selected for the 1947-48 Manges Athletic Award.

Following graduation, he taught at Orrville in addition to doing work towards his master's degree at Springfield College.  He married a Wooster girl, Yolanda Tomasetti. Then came Korea.  Bill was recalled to active duty and decided to make the Navy his career.

After 26 1/2 years of service throughout the world, Commander Shinn and Yolanda retired to Wooster in 1972.  Since then golf, garden, and travel, particularly to the Caribbean, along with some real estate chores, keep the Shinn household busy.

Perhaps veteran coach Art Murray said it best, "During my 39 years on the Hill, I saw some great competitors. In my book the standouts were Harry Manchester, Johnny Swigart, and Bill Shinn.

Died 4/24/2004

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