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Dave Troyer was both an All-American and a national champion as a star basketball player at Bethel College during his outstanding collegiate career on the hardwood.
But for those who truly knew and loved the former Goshen native and longtime Mishawaka school administrator, he was much more valuable and treasured as a person than he ever was as a player.
"Dave's humility was absolutely incredible," said Mike Lightfoot, his coach at Bethel. "Dave's secret sauce was that he poured himself into people. His immediate focus was always on others.
"Dave just cared tremendously about people. His passion was people, and that's why he was loved by so many."
More: No. 1 Grace College rolls past No. 3 Bethel in clash of NAIA powers
Troyer, a 1993 Bethel graduate, passed away back on November 23 at age 56 due to a heart attack. He left behind his wife, Amy, and his sons, Ace and Jack.
Lightfoot and Brian Bechtel, Troyer's former teammate and roommate at Bethel, are the driving forces now behind the Dave Troyer 51 Scholarship Fund. Troyer wore the No. 51 as a high school player and while playing for Bethel. Bechtel heads a committee, which includes Lightfoot, Dave's wife Amy, brother Mark Troyer, Jody Goralski and Chris Hess.
The scholarship fund has a goal of $51,000 and has a match already pledged. The scholarship will go to Mishawaka students who plan to attend Bethel. Troyer, at the time of his death, was the student services director at Mishawaka.
"I came up with the idea and Brian, and I talked about it at Dave's funeral," said Lightfoot, who won 794 games as Bethel's Hall of Fame coach from 1987-2017. "We both felt called to keep his legacy alive, and all of his former teammates wanted to rally behind this, too. Dave's life was way too short, but he impacted so many people while he was here."
"Dave was a magnet to kids who struggled. He connected with them. He was willing to step out and believe in them. Ever since Dave died, I've heard from so many students who say that he saved their lives because he believed in them."
"This is what Dave's wife Amy wants, and it's also what Dave would have wanted to continue his legacy."
Bechtel had known Troyer since childhood, as both attended Maple Grove Church in Topeka.
"It's important to honor his legacy and make sure that it lives on," said Bechtel of his former teammate. "Dave just had a heart for kids. He just had a genuine care for people, especially kids. Dave always made everyone feel like they were the most important person in the room."
Troyer was a star high school player at Westview High School in Topeka. He started his college career at Huntington University before transferring to Bethel. The undersized 6-3 forward was a two-time captain, two-time team MVP, All-Conference and All-American for Bethel. He helped lead the Pilots to the 1992 NCAA National Championship and finished his Bethel career with 2,084 points and 1,098 rebounds, while shooting 57 percent from the field. Troyer was inducted into the Bethel Hall of Fame in 2002.
"Dave was an incredible player and pound for pound maybe the best that I ever coached," Lightfoot said. "He had an amazing ability to get to the rim and just incredible body control."
The highly-respected Lightfoot, who guided the Pilots to seven total national titles, recorded the most wins of Indiana college basketball coach. His 794 at Bethel surpasses the totals of both Bobby Knight and Gene Keady.
Bechtel, a former star guard at both Fairfield High School and for the Pilots, agrees with his former coach.
"Intense, dominant," responded Bechtel when asked about his former friend's play on the court. "Dave was pound-for-pound maybe the best player ever to play at Bethel. He was able to use his body to create space like no one I've ever seen."
Bechtel was also a two-time team MVP and captain as a heady point guard for the Pilots. He was the 1994 NCCAA National Player of the Year.
Bechtel, who spent 17 seasons as the Goshen High School coach and was also an administrator there, recalled one of his favorite stories about his free-spirited friend Troyer. It involved former Concord High School superstar Shawn Kemp. The 6-10 Kemp, known for his highlight-reel slam dunks, was drafted in the first round by Seattle in 1989 and went on to be a six-time NBA All-Star with four teams, scoring 15,347 points and grabbing 8.834 rebounds in his pro career.
"Dave's Westview team was getting ready to play Shawn Kemp and Concord," recounted Bechtel. "Dave cut out a headshot photo of Kemp from the Elkhart Truth newspaper and wore it on his shirt all week prior to the game. Before the game, he took the photo out and ate it. Then he went out and scored 36 points and ate Kemp up."
Lightfoot passed out information about the scholarship on Jan. 17 at Bethel's home men's basketball game. There will also be information distributed at the Goshen at Mishawaka boys' basketball game on Jan. 30. Lightfoot said that those wanting to donate to the scholarship fund can visit www.betheluniversity.edu or contact the Bethel Development office at (574) 807-7000. There is also a golf outing set for sometime in August to raise money for the scholarship fund.
"Dave and I remained close ever since he played for me," Lightfoot stated. "It was always fun to pop in at Mishawaka and see him and always a blessing for me to spend time with him. As a coach, you want all of your players to be successful. Dave was truly one of them who exceeded all of my expectations."
Bechtel, who now works in the business sector, recalled his teen years with Troyer.
"Dave was two years older than me and I remember him inviting me as a high school freshman to come play basketball with him at the courts in Topeka," recounted Bechtel. "I just remember how good he made me feel by including me in that and things like going to the movies and going bowling.
"Dave made me feel like I was the most important person in the World and he just had that way of doing that with everyone. Dave had a big personality. Everyone was attracted to him and wanted to be around him."
Lightfoot recalled hearing the news of Troyer's death.
"It was a shocker to me," said Lightfoot. "I went from disbelief to devastation. I just felt so bad for Amy, Ace, and Jack. It was a tragic loss that still hurts.
"I'm just so proud of Brian for what he is doing as the chairperson of our committee."
Bechtel credits his former coach for being there during a difficult time for so many.
"Coach Lightfoot is just so good about caring for his players," Bechtel said. "He kept us going when we lost Dave with texts and stories. We both just ran with the idea of the scholarship because Dave was really important in both of our lives. I'm just the point guard to keep this ball rolling."
Bechtel, who was also inducted into the Bethel Hall of Fame in 2002, says Troyer's lasting mark is all about others.
"Dave was just such a selfless person, altruistic and such a great family person," said Bechtel. "His legacy is all about giving to others first."
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Dave Troyer was a Bethel star and longtime Mishawaka schools admi
Continue reading...
But for those who truly knew and loved the former Goshen native and longtime Mishawaka school administrator, he was much more valuable and treasured as a person than he ever was as a player.
"Dave's humility was absolutely incredible," said Mike Lightfoot, his coach at Bethel. "Dave's secret sauce was that he poured himself into people. His immediate focus was always on others.
"Dave just cared tremendously about people. His passion was people, and that's why he was loved by so many."
More: No. 1 Grace College rolls past No. 3 Bethel in clash of NAIA powers
Troyer, a 1993 Bethel graduate, passed away back on November 23 at age 56 due to a heart attack. He left behind his wife, Amy, and his sons, Ace and Jack.
Lightfoot and Brian Bechtel, Troyer's former teammate and roommate at Bethel, are the driving forces now behind the Dave Troyer 51 Scholarship Fund. Troyer wore the No. 51 as a high school player and while playing for Bethel. Bechtel heads a committee, which includes Lightfoot, Dave's wife Amy, brother Mark Troyer, Jody Goralski and Chris Hess.
The scholarship fund has a goal of $51,000 and has a match already pledged. The scholarship will go to Mishawaka students who plan to attend Bethel. Troyer, at the time of his death, was the student services director at Mishawaka.
"I came up with the idea and Brian, and I talked about it at Dave's funeral," said Lightfoot, who won 794 games as Bethel's Hall of Fame coach from 1987-2017. "We both felt called to keep his legacy alive, and all of his former teammates wanted to rally behind this, too. Dave's life was way too short, but he impacted so many people while he was here."
"Dave was a magnet to kids who struggled. He connected with them. He was willing to step out and believe in them. Ever since Dave died, I've heard from so many students who say that he saved their lives because he believed in them."
"This is what Dave's wife Amy wants, and it's also what Dave would have wanted to continue his legacy."
Bechtel had known Troyer since childhood, as both attended Maple Grove Church in Topeka.
"It's important to honor his legacy and make sure that it lives on," said Bechtel of his former teammate. "Dave just had a heart for kids. He just had a genuine care for people, especially kids. Dave always made everyone feel like they were the most important person in the room."
Troyer was a star high school player at Westview High School in Topeka. He started his college career at Huntington University before transferring to Bethel. The undersized 6-3 forward was a two-time captain, two-time team MVP, All-Conference and All-American for Bethel. He helped lead the Pilots to the 1992 NCAA National Championship and finished his Bethel career with 2,084 points and 1,098 rebounds, while shooting 57 percent from the field. Troyer was inducted into the Bethel Hall of Fame in 2002.
"Dave was an incredible player and pound for pound maybe the best that I ever coached," Lightfoot said. "He had an amazing ability to get to the rim and just incredible body control."
The highly-respected Lightfoot, who guided the Pilots to seven total national titles, recorded the most wins of Indiana college basketball coach. His 794 at Bethel surpasses the totals of both Bobby Knight and Gene Keady.
Bechtel, a former star guard at both Fairfield High School and for the Pilots, agrees with his former coach.
"Intense, dominant," responded Bechtel when asked about his former friend's play on the court. "Dave was pound-for-pound maybe the best player ever to play at Bethel. He was able to use his body to create space like no one I've ever seen."
Bechtel was also a two-time team MVP and captain as a heady point guard for the Pilots. He was the 1994 NCCAA National Player of the Year.
Bechtel, who spent 17 seasons as the Goshen High School coach and was also an administrator there, recalled one of his favorite stories about his free-spirited friend Troyer. It involved former Concord High School superstar Shawn Kemp. The 6-10 Kemp, known for his highlight-reel slam dunks, was drafted in the first round by Seattle in 1989 and went on to be a six-time NBA All-Star with four teams, scoring 15,347 points and grabbing 8.834 rebounds in his pro career.
"Dave's Westview team was getting ready to play Shawn Kemp and Concord," recounted Bechtel. "Dave cut out a headshot photo of Kemp from the Elkhart Truth newspaper and wore it on his shirt all week prior to the game. Before the game, he took the photo out and ate it. Then he went out and scored 36 points and ate Kemp up."
Lightfoot passed out information about the scholarship on Jan. 17 at Bethel's home men's basketball game. There will also be information distributed at the Goshen at Mishawaka boys' basketball game on Jan. 30. Lightfoot said that those wanting to donate to the scholarship fund can visit www.betheluniversity.edu or contact the Bethel Development office at (574) 807-7000. There is also a golf outing set for sometime in August to raise money for the scholarship fund.
"Dave and I remained close ever since he played for me," Lightfoot stated. "It was always fun to pop in at Mishawaka and see him and always a blessing for me to spend time with him. As a coach, you want all of your players to be successful. Dave was truly one of them who exceeded all of my expectations."
Bechtel, who now works in the business sector, recalled his teen years with Troyer.
"Dave was two years older than me and I remember him inviting me as a high school freshman to come play basketball with him at the courts in Topeka," recounted Bechtel. "I just remember how good he made me feel by including me in that and things like going to the movies and going bowling.
"Dave made me feel like I was the most important person in the World and he just had that way of doing that with everyone. Dave had a big personality. Everyone was attracted to him and wanted to be around him."
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Lightfoot recalled hearing the news of Troyer's death.
"It was a shocker to me," said Lightfoot. "I went from disbelief to devastation. I just felt so bad for Amy, Ace, and Jack. It was a tragic loss that still hurts.
"I'm just so proud of Brian for what he is doing as the chairperson of our committee."
Bechtel credits his former coach for being there during a difficult time for so many.
"Coach Lightfoot is just so good about caring for his players," Bechtel said. "He kept us going when we lost Dave with texts and stories. We both just ran with the idea of the scholarship because Dave was really important in both of our lives. I'm just the point guard to keep this ball rolling."
Bechtel, who was also inducted into the Bethel Hall of Fame in 2002, says Troyer's lasting mark is all about others.
"Dave was just such a selfless person, altruistic and such a great family person," said Bechtel. "His legacy is all about giving to others first."
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Dave Troyer was a Bethel star and longtime Mishawaka schools admi
Continue reading...
