Longtime St. Edward, Elgin sports booster Wetzel dies at 90
Every city or town has a group of people who go above and beyond in their long-term support of the local high school and its athletic endeavors.
For St. Edward High School in Elgin one of those people was Wally Wetzel, a longtime friend and official for youth, high school and college athletes in the city. Wetzel died Jan. 24, just over three months shy of his 91st birthday.
"Wally was always such a nice guy and was a welcoming guy as part of my transition into the St. Edward community," longtime St. Edward football coach Mike Rolando said. "He was someone who was always positive and always was a smiling face being supportive of me. It was inspirational to see someone like that. He always had words of encouragement after some of those rough years we had in the early going."
Wetzel's support of youth athletics reached beyond St. Edward. A 1948 graduate of Elgin High School where he played football and wrestled, Wetzel was a key cog in Elgin Classic Little League where he coached from 1963 to 1973, winning seven major championships and being named an all-star manager seven times.
In a baseball-tradition-rich city, Wetzel also coached the Elgin American Legion Post 57 squad for five seasons, winning two district titles.
Wetzel helped construct the St. Edward press box at Greg True Field, and at one time was the school's basketball and football announcer.
His generosity at Elgin Classic including installing lights and a concession stand for the league, which merged with Elgin Continental Little League in 2014 and now has six fields at Wing Park.
"People who get involved in the community like that and are interested in volunteering their time, those are good people to meet and they don't come around very often," said Rolando, who became St. Edward's football coach in 2005. "I remember a game where they drove him to the end zone in the car so he could see the homecoming game. I ran over and took a picture with him. He was always talking about the school, the kids and sports. Wally always put a smile on my face. I am glad I got to know him."
A 1991 Elgin Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Wetzel was a basketball and football official at the high school, college and AAU levels. During a 28-year officiating run, he worked some 2,700 games. He officiated the Proviso West Christmas basketball tournament for 17 years and the Marengo Christmas tournament for 15. He was president of the Elgin Area Officials Association for three years and led the West Suburban Officials Association four years.
Wetzel officiated about 288 high school varsity football games, including four state quarterfinal games.
He played fastpitch softball for 23 years and competed in four world tournaments from 1962 to 1965.
Wetzel, a lifetime member of the St. Edward Booster Club and the first recipient of the Booster of the Year award, was also past president of the Elgin Riverside Club and a 56-year member of the longtime private city social club.
A Marine, Wetzel is survived by two sons, two daughters and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Feb. 13 at American Legion Post 57. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Edward football program or the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.