OUTSTANDING ATHLETE

Induction Year: 2003 | Graduation Year: 1972

Heiner Steffen was born in Canada, son of German immigrants, who arrived there shortly after WWIl. His family left Canada in 1959 for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. After living in Michigan for eight years, his family moved to New Carlisle in 1967. In New Carlisle, Heiner met and grew up with some of Tecumseh's great athletes. Two of them have already been inducted into the Tecumseh Athletic Hall of Fame. Heiner, a 1972 graduate, participated in every athletic program possible while attending New Carlisle Jr. High as well as Student Council and National Jr. Honor Society.

In Heiner's sophomore year he participated in football, basketball and baseball. He was also in National Honor Society at Tecumseh. He lettered in both football and baseball. The basketball and baseball team both won their respected league titles that year. Heiner's first varsity baseball start came a s a pitcher against an 8-0 Springfield North team in which he struck out ten batters for a 5-3 Tecumseh win.

In Heiner's Junior year he was elected president of the National Honor Society. However his most important accomplishment was becoming a citizen of the United States of America. For Heiner and his sister Karin and his two brothers, Willie and Ernie, this was the most important and proudest day of his life. His senior year the football team won its first league title in a decade. Tecumseh defeated Shawnee for the championship and Heiner received All League recognition for his play on defense and offense. Heiner lettered in basketball and received All-League mention. In baseball he started 12 games a s a pitcher and finished 10-1. The baseball team won the league title and he received All-League. In his baseball career he lettered three times and started 35 games as a pitcher.

Heiner was recruited nationally for his football accomplishments. He initially signed a full scholarship to the U.S. Naval Academy, but later settled at the University of Cincinnati. As a Cincinnati Bearcat he lettered four times. He started as outside linebacker his sophomore, junior and senior years. After graduating from UC with a BBA, he began a career in the automobile industry. He is currently in his 20th year with General Motors.

Heiner married the former Susan Parrish of Tipp City, in 1980. Susan graduated from Bowling Green University and is a school teacher in Bellefontaine. They have two sons, Erik and Kristopher. Since both boys were involved in athletics, Heiner coached 25 youth sports teams in a 10 year period. In 1995 his Little League team from Sandy Plains, Georgia won the state championship. Erik became an outstanding pitcher for Valparaiso High School in Indiana and also played at the collegiate level at Saint Josephs College in Indiana. Kristopher was an outstanding athlete at Valparaiso High School and at Bellefontaine. Kris was a four-year letterman in football and a three year letterman in baseball. Kristopher will attend EasternMichigan University on a baseball scholarship. What Heiner learned at Tecumseh has been passed onto both his sons.