Art Caldwell

Converse High School/Marion High School

ART CALDWELL   Art graduated from Converse H.S. in 1944 and Ball State in 1950 after serving in the Navy from 1944-46.  In Art’s senior year at Converse, he started on the basketball team that had an undefeated record of 27-0. Art was the 2nd leading scorer with 294 points. His famous two-handed set shot and underhanded free throw shooting style was his trademark.  The team won Sect., Reg., before losing in the 1st game of Semi-State to Culver, another undefeated team. The basketball team won the Four-Way County tournament, and was County Conference champions. At Ball State, Art was not selected as part of the university team, so he and other players that were let go put together a team that played in the Delaware County basketball tournament.  His team beat the Ball State’s Men’s team to claim the Delaware County Championship. After graduating from B.S.U. with degrees in Business Ed., Physical Ed., and Math, he started teaching at Roll H.S. for 3 years.  In 1954 he started his teaching and coaching career at Marion H.S. retiring in 1985 after a total of 34 years in education. Art began coaching as an assistant baseball coach in 1957 through 1961. He then became the Athletic Director at Marion in 1962 serving 7 years while also managing the season tickets.  During his tenure as AD, all Marion sports began to be respected around the state in an era of great Athletic Achievement.  Marion’s greatest year was 1968-69, when Marion won its 1st NCC All-Sports Trophy in history. After leaving the AD position, Art returned as the Varsity Baseball coach for the next 10 years 1970-1979.  In his final year as a coach, he was named the Assistant in the Indiana North-South Baseball All-Star game.  The high point of that experience was that Mickey Mantle was the banquet speaker and Art got to talk with him at the dinner.