Dan Battles

Class of 1965 Dan Battles was an outstanding athlete at Ottawa High, playing both Varsity football and basketball from his sophomore through senior years. He was honored as an All-State quarterback selection in football in 1964. Dan Battles was an outstanding student as well, being awarded an academic scholarship to Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he also continued his football career. After graduation from Trinity, he taught mathematics initially, before receiving his Masters Degree in special education and moving into that specialty until his retirement from the Albany Public School System in New York. In his football career at OTHS, he amassed 2,898 passing yards, which still stands as the OTHS career record. He was honored as an All-NCIC Northeast selection all three years, in addition to the All-State selection. Ottawa was the NCICNortheast champion his sophomore and senior years, losing a total of one game in those two seasons. In basketball, he was the co-captain his senior year of the 20-9 Pirates that finished first in the Illinois Valley Conference and NCIC as well as winning the Regional title. Dan Battles was freshman class president, senior class vice-president, and a member of the National Honor Society.