BLUFFTON, Ohio - Bluffton University honored and thanked George Hostetler, and his wife, Libby, for their tireless dedication to Bluffton's athletics programs on Tuesday, Feb. 13, prior to the men's basketball game with HCAC rival Mount St. Joseph. George grew up in Struthers, Ohio, before graduating from Bluffton College in 1964.

George taught junior high math at Bath Local Schools from 1964 through 1974 before moving to International Brake Industries in Lima, serving as their data processing manager from 1974 through 1999. After retiring from International Brake, he spent 18 more years driving cars to and from auctions for Statton's Auto Sales.

He began his press row work as a student statistician for the men's basketball program at Bluffton College, charting shots as a sophomore and junior before sliding over to the scorebook during his senior year. A few years after his graduation he took over the scoreboard operation for that same men's team. George added the women's basketball scoreboard and football scoreboard duties to his resume and the rest was history.

In a span that lasted over 50 years and culminated with the 2022-23 Bluffton hoops seasons, George sat at this table and did what it takes two people to do everywhere else for over 1,300 Bluffton men's and women's basketball games and he did the same thing at the football stadium for well over 200 Saturdays! On top of that he was also the scoreboard operator at Bath High School for 60 years, starting in 1964!

There is no way to repay George for everything he gave to Bluffton University, but we would like to thank him for his dedication, reliability and the care he showed our athletes. Thank you, George, for all of your outstanding work here at Bluffton and thank you, Libby, for sharing him with us, night after night and weekend after weekend. Bluffton is a much better place thanks to both of you.

-BEAVERS-