Legends of Mercer County Sports: Volume One

By Mark Bixler

Some legends reached the national stage. Others built their legacies in hometown gyms and on local fields. All left a mark worth remembering.

In Legends of Mercer County Sports: Volume One, author and broadcaster Mark Bixler brings together twenty stories celebrating the athletes, coaches and sports figures connected to Mercer County, Ohio.

Beginning with Mendon-Union basketball standout Bob Howell, this collection includes familiar names such as Jim Otis, Wally Post, Jeff Hartings, Jim Lachey and Bobby Hoying. It also honors outstanding women athletes, influential coaches, a Paralympic medalist, an All-American hockey goaltender and the journalist who helped preserve the area's sports history.

These chapters reach beyond records and trophies. They explore the opportunities created by coaches, the contributions of teammates and the community connections that give local sports their lasting meaning. Tim Goodwin's story includes not only Marion Local's championship tradition but also the tragedy that reminded a grieving school community how much more important life is than a game.

The volume closes with the 1971 Fort Recovery boys basketball state champions-a team whose achievement became part of the town's enduring identity.

This is not a ranking or a complete list. It is the first twenty stories in a continuing celebration of Mercer County's sports heritage.

For longtime fans, former players, alumni and readers discovering these names for the first time, this book offers an invitation to remember-and to pass those memories along.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0HMF97Z7J
• ISBN13: 9798160826820
• Release Date: October 2026
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 153 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.3" x 6.0"