NHTI Athletic Hall of Fame
Timing is everything for our next inductee. A versatile athlete who played multiple sports at NHTI back during his time 1971-72 and again from 1975-77. Bob Bechard found lots of things at NHTI to be active in including men’s softball, golf, soccer and basketball.
Every inductee has a great story to tell about their time here at NHTI. Bob is no different. Bob was a highly regarded athlete by his former teammates and the NHTI coaching staff.
Bob was awarded the “Mohawk” award as the outstanding athlete in 1977. The “Mohawk” award has become the William O’Claire award which you can find a perpetual plaque in the Wellness Center lobby with all of the names for the past 40 plus years of award winners.
Playing sports at NHTI back in the early days of our college presented challenges for athletes, coaches and teams. NHTI athletic facilities were limited to the fields on campus and the use of off campus basketball facilities such as the gym at the Community Center (or now known as the Green St. Gym), the State Hospital off Pleasant St. in Concord.
Games were often played at Bishop Brady High School while away trips to Central or Southern Maine, Vermont Tech or Wentworth Tech in Boston were always challenging. No athletic trainer but the team was outfitted with athletic tape and band aids and Manager Roly Parsons would provide oranges at halftime of all the games. The head coach Bob Wheeler would drive one car, power forward Doug Ricard another car and NHTI Head of Grounds Bill O’Claire would drive the third car with the cheerleaders to away games.
Bob was a “go to guy” with a great shot and was not afraid of the big moment. A “Mr. Clutch” type of player helping NHTI to a very successful run only losing three games in two years. The team was made of players who knew how to utilize the strategies to keep the other team off balance mixing up zone defenses including a 3-2 to a 1-3-1 or 2-3 throughout the course of the game and season. Bob was a key player with his fine shooting providing consistent scoring for NHTI.
Lots has changed since the first teams played sports at NHTI over the years. Bob’s teammate Doug Ricard would take the uniforms home after games to wash them. The Chuck Taylor All-Star sneakers were in fashion. Everyone wore their Chuck Taylors and the old knee high socks for games and practices.
NHTI was a small campus with just three buildings. Little Hall, Farnum Hall (the library) and Stout Hall when Bob was first here. With only 300 students enrolled, NHTI was also a very cost-effective school costing $300 a year for students with full options to transfer to UNH after graduation.
Bob’s story here at NHTI is one that has been repeated many times over the years by future NHTI student-athletes. Athletics gave Bob an extra reason to attend college and study his career choice which was AET.
When the Wellness Center was built, Bob played a role in helping with the project using his expertise from his company at the time which was known as Space Design. Bob and his company played a major role with the installation of Operable walls, the basketball backboards and the divider curtain.
Bob is celebrating almost 50 years of marriage with 2 children and 4 grandchildren which continue to keep him busy year-round.
At this time, I would like to ask Bob’s former teammate Doug Ricard to come forward to assist with the Hall of Fame presentation.
On behalf of NHTI Athletics, let’s welcome Bob Bechard on stage for his induction to the NHTI Athletic Hall of Fame.
