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ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS 
Lowell Stouder is known as an outstanding athlete at Huntington. He was a starter as a freshman in both basketball and baseball.
He scored 1,554 points in just 92 basketball games, averaging 16.9 points a game. His senior year, he hit 68% from the field, 91% from the line, and averaged over 12 assists a game. He won the free throw award all four years, started every game, and never missed a practice. In baseball, he had a perfect 10-0 pitching record his senior year and a .350 batting average.
When Stouder graduated in 1961, he was the second leading scorer in Huntington basketball history, and he's still the #14 all-time scorer. He led the 1959-60 Foresters to their first ever MCC Championship in both sports as a junior, and then repeated the feat as a senior, taking the Foresters to the NAIA basketball playoffs, as well.
A HUNTINGTON PIONEER
Lowell Stouder was among the first players ever named to an All-MCC team in both basketball and baseball. But in spite of his success as a Forester, it came as a surprise this summer when Coach Platt told him that he had been chosen for the Huntington Hall-of-Fame. "I feel both pleased and honored to be added to the Hall of Fame," he says.
THINGS ARE DIFFERENT
Lowell admits that basketball has changed a bit since he played. There was no three-point field goal or a shot clock back then, but he and his teammates racked up some impressive scores anyhow.
He fondly remembers a basketball victory over Detroit Tech. The score was 129-126 and he scored 30 points. Scott Hosler also scored 30, Dean Merryman had 31 points, and Duane Kline had 28 (hit 14 of 14).
In addition to the three-point field goal and a shot clock, Lowell sees other changes. "More physical contact is allowed," he says, "and the players are stronger from weight room training. We weren't allowed to use
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the weight room when I played," he adds. "The coaches were afraid a player would become ‘muscle bound' and lose flexibility."
EMBARRASSING MOMENT
When pressed to describe his most embarrassing moment, he told this story. "I was a freshman and we were playing at Tri-State. They had a big deal opening there with spot lights and all, so my team-mates decided we should wear our warm-ups for the player introductions.
"They quickly grabbed the warm-ups and put one over my head. When my name was called I ran out onto the floor with the spot light on me and all the Tri-State fans started laughing and hooting. When I got back to the bench I found they had put a warm-up on me that said ‘Manager' on the back."
LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
After earning his degree in business, Lowell joined the U.S. Marine Corp. He returned on leave, attended a local youth meeting and met Phyllis, who would later become his wife. After the Marines, he settled in as a partner on the family farm with 1,000 acres, 90 dairy cows and farrow-to-finish hog operations. Now he enjoys being retired.
Stouder remains an active supporter of the Foresters, attending home and away games and helping out with fund-raising efforts for the basketball program. He notes, "I'm pleased that Coach Platt has kept the basketball program at such a high level. Small college basketball is the greatest."
WORDS OF ADVICE
Lowell offers these words to current and future Foresters: "Get a good education, work hard, play hard, and don't forget to have fun. The college experience will soon be over and you'll be out in the real world. Make the most of it."
Lowell is proud to be a significant part of Huntington baseball and basketball history, and Huntington University can be very proud of Lowell Stouder.
- by Paul Harrington ('64)
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Lowell Stouder - 2005
#43 Lowell Stouder
Lowell Stouder - 1961
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