Ada's latest news

Lee Sage, AHS Class of 1967 included in group of seven inductees

The Hardin County Sports Hall of Fame has released names in the 2023 Sports Hall of Fame class of inductees. Honorees in chronological order are:

SHARON MOORE
Kenton High School Class of 1958. First Kenton girls varsity tennis coach when tennis became a sanctioned OHSAA sport in 1977. Mrs. Moore led the Lady Wildcats netters to three straight Western Buckeye League Championships from its inception from 1977-1979 and shared a fourth League crown one year later (1980). During her tenure as a coach, she also was Head Boys Tennis Coach for three seasons from 1985-1987. She had numerous individual/doubles champions crowned both in league and OHSAA tournament play. Mrs. Moore retired from Kenton City Schools as an educator/coach in May 1992. Sharon passed away in August 2020. 

STEVE STITZEL
McGuffey High School Class of 1965. A three sport athlete in Basketball, Baseball and Track. Two time Hardin County Cross-Country Champion in 1962 and 1963 and runner-up in 1964. Sprinter in Track and Field. Considered by many to be the premier “3 sports star” of Hardin County. Excelled on the hardwood as well as on the grass field as a baseball player; with dynamic hitting, running and his glove defensively. 

LEE SAGE
Ada High School Class of 1967. A three sport star playing football, basketball and baseball for the Bulldogs. The diamond is where Lee shined brightest. During his senior season, threw a complete game no hitter versus rival Upper Scioto Valley in a 1-0 victory while striking out 16 batters. During the 1967 season, he surrendered only 4 earned runs in 62 innings pitched. Lee helped guide the Ada Bulldogs baseball team to a conference championship in 1967. Batted .483 while he and his teammates won League, Sectional, District Championships before losing in Regionals 4-3. NWC Player of the Year. Played collegiately at BGSU prior to being drafted in the 34th round by the Detroit Tigers organization. Played four years in the minors finishing with a 4-4 record and a 4.28 ERA with Erie and Batavia. 1000 pt scorer in basketball for Ada. 

How do you summarize a life in a few sentences? Some lives are covered using significant dates. Others, via family or work experience. For Amar Bhattacharya, his journey is best shared by chronicling the names he amassed over his lifetime.

Amar Nath Bhattacharya started out as "Bhondul" (meaning 'one who makes everything messy') on October 1, 1934 in what was then called Calcutta, India. Judging by his propensity to leave a mess in his wake, that childhood moniker appeared justified. He switched from "Bhondul" to "Cow Doctor" when he graduated from Bengal Veterinary College in the 1950's and worked as a government veterinarian (one can only assume with cows, based on the nickname) in a small Indian village. Delivering calves and regularly sticking his arms elbow-deep into large animals made "Cow Doctor" yearn for more, thus he leapt at the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in pharmacology at the Ohio State University in 1960. If he was ever called any nicknames as a grad student grunt, he never shared it with family.