ANNVILLE, Pa. – Former Gettysburg College standout James Ward '66 has been named to the Middle Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame it was announced by the organization on Tuesday, May 2.
Ward was one of 19 inductees in the Class of 2017 and he is the seventh Bullet named to the MAC Hall of Fame, joining Bob Kenworthy '59 (2012), Arif Husain '93 (2012), Lynne Cassidy '92 (2013), Hen Bream '24 (2014), Joseph Bavaro '66 (2015), and Lois Bowers (2016). Created in 2012, the MAC Hall of Fame recognizes the greatest student-athletes from former and current member institutions. Gettysburg competed in the MAC until 1993.
"We are delighted to announce the 2017 MAC Hall of Fame," said Executive Director Ken Andrews. "This is an exceptional group that represents the best of the Middle Atlantic Conference. It is an honor to recognize these contributors to the MAC legacy."
The Gaithersburg, Md., native competed in football, basketball, and baseball during his time with the Orange and Blue. On the gridiron, he raised Gettysburg to new heights as the starting quarterback in 1964 and 1965. In the former season, Ward guided the Bullets to their first and only title as a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference University Division, mowing down the likes of Hofstra University (27-7), Bucknell University (12-7), University of Delaware (22-19), Lehigh University (39-7), and Lafayette College (21-3) on the way to a 7-2 record. Ward accounted for over 1,500 yards of total offense and 23 touchdowns on the way to being named All-MAC First Team.
In 1965, Ward was named the MAC University Division Most Valuable Player after posting more than 1,700 yards of offense and scoring 21 touchdowns. He set 12 school records as Gettysburg's quarterback and was named Associated Press Little/Small College All-America Honorable Mention in each of his final two campaigns at Gettysburg.
The spring saw Ward assume starting duties at third base for the baseball team and he was among the best in the conference thanks to his powerful throwing arm. He was a three-year starter and led the team to winning records in each of his three campaigns. In 1965, Ward was named All-MAC University Division First Team after blasting three home runs and recording a team-best 17 RBI. He also appeared in 18 games as a reserve on the basketball team during his sophomore and junior campaigns.
Ward was elected to Gettysburg's Hall of Athletic Honor in 1985.
After graduating with a degree in Physical Education, Ward was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the 14th round. He spent five seasons as the back-up to Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas and he closed his seven-year career in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Following his career in the NFL, Ward worked at several large corporations including Inland Container Corporation, The Equitable, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, GMIS, and United Concordia. He retired from Temple-Inland in 2010 as National Account Sales Executive.
Ward and his wife, the former Pam Rundlet '67, have been married for nearly five decades and have three daughters and eight grandchildren. He resides in Plano, Texas.
