Bill Hartman

Bio

William C. Hartman Jr. grew up in Madison, Georgia played football under Wally Butts at a prep school, Georgia Military, 1932-33, and under Harry Mehre at the University of Georgia 1935-37. He was a fullback and team captain in 1937, made an 82-yard punt against Tulane and a 93-yard kick return against Georgia Tech. Hartman played for the Washington Redskins, 1938, and was backfield coach at Georgia 1939-56 except for service in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps in World War II. Vince Dooley brought him back as the unpaid volunteer coach of punters and place kickers, a job he held 1972-91. When the NCAA abolished volunteer assistants, the school persuaded Hartman, 77, to enroll in graduate school. He was named a graduate assistant and coached kickers. Hartman operated an insurance agency and became a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Roundtable. He was twice president of the Georgia Alumni Association, co-chairman (with Fran Tarkenton) of a drive which raised $10 million for the Mehre-Butts Heritage Hall, and head of the Georgia Student Education Fund. The Bill Hartman Award, given annually to an outstanding alumnus, is named for him. In his days as backfield coach, Hartman tutored such greats as Frank Sinkwich, Charlie Trippi and John Rauch.

Career Highlights

• 1937 All-Conference