Althoff Catholic High School - Crusader Yearbook (Belleville, IL)

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. .. Bishop Wurm

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Coach was a great contributor Thanks for all the great memories So why would a guy spend thousands and thousands of afternoons and evenings and weekends trying to teach kids how to hit a curve ball or, 1 throw a block or catch a pass? Because that s just the way he was. It was what he did better than anything else in the world. He was blessed with a remarkable talent of dealing with young people, in his own unique way. Many believe the talent was God-given, and Coach never shortchanged the one who gave it to him. Coach Martz is gone now. He will be sorely missed but he will not be forgotten for as long as there is still one person left that he once touched. He was a great contributor to our society. Many of the young people he dealt with in his life have gone on and had con¬ siderable impact on the world of business, government, religion, labor, whatever. All of us who knew him should feel fortunate that we did. He was a great guy. The last time I saw Coach was about a month ago when he was in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. He was asleep, so I left without saying a word. I wish he had been awake. I would have liked to thank him. Coach Martz died late Tuesday afternoon of cancer at the age of 56. He will be sadly missed by everyone who crossed his path. He always will be remembered as a man who cared, a coach who loved to win, but not at the cost of hurting his players’ feelings. He always felt that sports were meant to be fun. For 31 years, he had a special way of making all of his athletes feel special, everyone from the s tarting pitcher or quarterback to the scorekeeper or third-string center. He had a joke for every occasion, a smile for every unneeded tear. He could tell a mother that her son should be out for the debate team instead of baseball and Mom would walk away laughing. Call it personality. Call it charm. I’m not really sure what it was. Just call him special. I was one of the lucky high school athletes who had the chance to play for Coach Martz. I know I am a better person from that experience. Terry Mackin Belleville News-Democrat Pat Keefe Belleville News-Democrat Coach George Martz left a lasting impression It would be easy to point to a record of 533-253-1 as a baseball coach at first Assumption of East St. Louis and then at Althoff or to point to a 92-61-11 mark as a football coach at Assumption, but pumbers do not convey the meaning of Martz, who also coached basketball at Assump¬ tion and was an assistant football coach at Althoff How well I recall watching George coach last spring while wearing bis left arm in a sling. The game was one of those offtm sive shows similar to the spring weather—gusts of wind, gusts of run scoring. At one point the Crusaders fell behind and George removed his starting pitcher. But a few innings later, there was the coach with his free hand on a shoulder of the star¬ ting pitcher. “Get ready,” said George, “if you couldn’t get them out the first time, maybe you will the second time. Besides, you’re . still warm and you’re now ' going to hurt your arm ” “Got to have horses to finish this race,” Martz chattered to me. Sure enough, the Crusaders rallied, took the lead and into the game to earn a save came the Althoff starter turned reliever. Too often a coach is judged by his ability to face the opposition one-on- one. Martz was more than just a tough Irishman. His teams, especially his football squads at Assumption, reflected the coach’s strength and determination, but George also was a master psychologist and a teacher. He mixed laughter with work—a combination that carried him through the changes of coaching in four decades. Death did not bring defeat to George Martz. His spirit lives, and, as long as there are games to be played and lessons to be learned, his wit and courage will prevail with those of us who were fortunate enough to come into contact with him—or to know him. Art Voellinger Belleville Journal Excerpts reprinted by permission. The Messenger Scholarship to Honor Martz A “George A. Martz Memorial Scholarship’’ will be set up at Althoff High School for the former athletics coach and teacher for more than 35 years in diocesan high schools. John O’Brien, principal of Althoff, an¬ nounced last week the establishment of the scholarship in memory of Mr. Martz, who died Nov. 29 at age 56. “George was an example of what Catholic education is all about,” said O’Brien. The scholarship will be to aid needy students in attending Althoff, O’Brien said. Funeral services for Mr. Martz were held Saturday, Dec. 3, at St. Luke Church, Belleville. Burial was in Mount Carmel Cemetery. He had been varsity baseball coach and assistant freshman football coach and taught at Althoff since 1973. Previously, he had served as varsity baseball and foot¬ ball coach at Assumption High School. East St. Louis. He also had coached at the former Central Catholic High School, East St. Louis. Mr. Martz was a member of the Hall of Fame of Illinois High School Football Coaches Association.

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