SUNY Cortland Athletics

Henry Vetter was a member of the 1939 Red Dragon soccer team that defeated the top team in the East, Springfield College, 2-0. Vetter, who had never played soccer before coming to Cortland, was one of the top scorers on the team in his senior year and was selected by coach "Prof" Holloway to demonstrate kicking in a film that Holloway made. Vetter also participated in gymnastics and track.

Vetter has held teaching positions at Candor, Corning, Northside, Rome Free Academy, Carthage Central, Union Endicott, and Auburn, all in New York State.

Vetter has been president of New York State Council of Administrators of HPER, a recipient of the New York Coaches Association Honor Award, was Coach of the Year in Corning, N.Y., and was named outstanding coach at the Rome Sportorama.

In talking about his years as a participant in athletics, teacher and coach, Vetter says: "I loved working with young people and I can think of nothing that influences their development more than athletics." In retirement, Vetter had his own business in which he reconditioned gymnastic and wrestling mats for schools in six Eastern states. He officiated college soccer for 41 years. Vetter holds an M.A. from Columbia University, has a director's certificate in HPER and did additional graduate work at Cornell, Oswego, Cortland and Potsdam.

Sadly, Vetter passed away on September 25, 1980. Hank became ill while officiating at a Cortland women's soccer team scrimmage and was taken to the hospital where he died.