Upper Iowa University Athletics Hall of Fame
Randy "Butch" Harvey, class of 1956, was inducted into the Upper Iowa Athletic Hall of Fame in the Athlete Category. He lettered in football and baseball four times and two times in basketball. As a high school athlete at Toms River, New Jersey, he earned 16 letters in four sports.
Harvey was originally recruited to Upper Iowa after shaking hands with the legendary Coach Doc Dorman. While at UIU, Harvey played quarterback all four years earning All-IIAC honors in the backfield in 1953 and 1954. A two-sport star throughout his collegiate career, he was labeled as “a great runner and passer in football under the diverse plays of Coach Dorman.” He also excelled in baseball as a strong-armed shortstop with very good hitting skills. Harvey played on the undefeated 1956 Upper Iowa baseball team and was one of a very few black players to participate in collegiate athletics in the early 1950s.
Upon his graduation, the late Dr. Garbee – the President of Upper Iowa – secured a baseball tryout for Harvey with the St. Louis Cardinals. As he was preparing to sign a contract, Harvey received his draft notice for military service. He spent two years in the army at Fort Lee, Virginia. Upon his discharge in 1959, he then signed with the then New York Giants as a pitcher for $600.00 a month.
Injuries turned eventually turned him to a teaching and coaching career, which has spanned 29 years. He started teaching in Freehold, New York, with additional positions at A.I. Prince School, North Tech as head baseball and assistant basketball coach. He then moved to Lakewood, New Jersey spending the past 15 years as the middle-school coach. He continues to work with the summer recreation programs after his retirement in the spring of 2000.
Randy, whose wife Gloria is deceased, has a family of 10, Darien, Randy Jr., Alvin, Joe and adopted children Melvin, Latara, Christine, Ashley and Tyshaw. He also has 13 grandchildren.
