Three to be inducted into the Olivet College Athletic Hall of Fame

OLIVET, Mich. -- Olivet College will induct Stanford Baker, Bruce Barea and C. Daniel Fitzpatrick (posthumously) into its Athletic Hall of Fame at a dinner Friday, Sept. 9. The trio will also be honored at halftime of Olivet’s home football opener versus Franklin (Ind.) College Sept. 10 at the Cutler Athletic Complex.

Baker, a 1984 graduate, was a letterwinner on the football, basketball and track teams at Olivet. In track, he was a three-time All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) selection and a two-time All-American. Baker was the MIAA champion in the 100-meter dash in 1982 and 1984. After graduating from Olivet, he played one year in the National Football League, one year in the United States Football League and five years in a semi-professional league. Baker, who lives in Defuniak, Fla., has also worked in various fields, including juvenile prevention, retail management and as a golf club professional.

As a member of the Olivet men’s golf and baseball teams, Barea was a four-year varsity letterwinner in each sport. In golf, his team won the MIAA Championship each year. Individually, Barea, a 1982 graduate, was a two-time All-MIAA choice. For 18 years, he worked at the Michigan Department of Corrections in Coldwater and Jackson where he attained the rank of acting Assistant Deputy Warden. Barea, who resides in Battle Creek, has played in the B.C. City Major Leagues.

Fitzpatrick, a 1967 graduate, is being posthumously inducted following his death on July 10, 2005. At Olivet, he participated in football for four years and baseball for one year. In football, Fitzpatrick served as team captain during his senior season. He was also selected as the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week on three occasions. Fitzpatrick owned and operated a successful real estate appraisal company in Atlanta.