North Central College in Naperville in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Bill Shatzer

"College Community Country"; 2001

— Naperville Century Walk —

Bill Shatzer Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 15, 2024

1. Bill Shatzer Marker

Inscription. Bill Shatzer, a graduate of nearby Mooseheart Academy, enrolled at North Central College in 1938. He was a four-sport student athlete garnering all-conference and "Little All-American" honors in football.

After graduating in 1942, Bill enlisted in the Naval Air Corps and at the Training Station in Iowa City gained national gridiron fame for his brilliant play as a member of the pre-flight team, the Iowa Seahawks. Their wartime opponents included major powerhouses such as Michigan, Northwestern and Notre Dame.

Before leaving for duty in the Aleutian Islands, Bill married his college sweetheart, Sue Truesdell. He was reported missing in action on May 16, 1944 and never saw his son, William Warren Shatzer, III.
Shirley Moss, Sculptor

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Sports • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is May 16, 1944.

Location. 41° 46.205′ N, 88° 8.689′ W. Memorial is in Naperville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is in North Central College. It is on Brainard Street 0.2 miles south of Chicago Avenue. The marker and its accompanying

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statue are on the campus of North Central College, in front of its football stadium, Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 455 South Brainard Street, Naperville IL 60540, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Potawatomi and Fort Payne (within shouting distance of this marker); Henry Tayama (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); James L. Nichols (about 500 feet away); Mildred Rebstock, Ph.D (about 500 feet away); North Central College Community Garden (about 600 feet away); Rev. George St. Angelo (about 600 feet away); North Central Students at Selma (about 600 feet away); WONC-FM 89.1 (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of

Bill Shatzer statue and marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 15, 2024

2. Bill Shatzer statue and marker

all markers in Naperville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Fort Payne (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this memorial. The statue, featuring a life-size Bill Shatzer carrying a football, was unveiled in October 2001, with William Shatzer III in attendance. Efforts to create Shatzer's statue were driven by Al Benedetti and Dick Wehrli, school alumni who are the namesakes of the neighboring football stadium.

Regarding Bill Shatzer. Bill Shatzer was one of the finest athletes in North Central College's history, in particular as a football player who starred at quarterback, running back and punter. Shatzer signed with the Detroit Lions football team before he was called to active duty in 1942. While abroad, he was a leading player on that Seahawks team referenced on the plaque, which included several college All-Americans and professional players. Shatzer was declared missing in May 1944 while on patrol from his base in Aleutian Islands. In addition to the statue, North Central issues the annual William Shatzer Award to its top senior male

Bill Shatzer statue and Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 15, 2024

3. Bill Shatzer statue and Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium

athlete.

Also see . . .
1. North Central College Hall of Fame: Bill Shatzer.

Excerpt: "After signing to play football with the Detroit Lions, Shatzer was called to active duty in August 1942 during World War II and, while in training, played for the Naval Pre-Flight School Seahawks. On a team that included many All-Americans and professional players, he was the leading ground gainer and regarded as the greatest running back of that time. Shatzer went overseas in April 1944. A month later, he was declared missing in action while on patrol from a base on the Aleutian Islands."

(Submitted on September 19, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. N. Central statue honors legendary player from ’40s. From the Chicago Tribune, a 2001 article about the statue's dedication in front of North Central's football stadium. (Submitted on September 19, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

3. North Central Football official site. North Central's football team won NCAA Division III national championships in the 2019, 2022 and 2024 seasons. (Submitted on January 6, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

North Central College championships image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 15, 2024

4. North Central College championships

North Central fields teams in 26 sports in NCAA Division III and is a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. The football team has appeared in the Stagg Bowl, the Division III championship game, five straight times as of 2024, including winning the title in 2019, 2022 and 2024.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 374 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 19, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.