Futchi to receive Lifetime Achievement Award.

William Futchi moved to Cleveland as a child and he attended North High School in Eastlake where he had an outstanding athletic career. Futchi’s compassion for competitive sports continued once he joined the Army, where he won many wrestling championships. Futchi was a 4th Army wrestling champion at Fort Hood, Texas.

Boxing became more of an interest to Futchi after he won two fights at the old Navy Park Gym. These fights helped him reach the 1961 Golden Gloves finals where he went up against Ted Humphrey for the Novice heavyweight title at the old Cleveland Arena. Futchi had only three prior bouts, but he proved himself to be a great fighter when he beat Humphrey. After the fight, the Plain Dealer called him “Slugging Futchi” and he received the Samuel D. Otis Trophy. After working in the construction industry, Futchi retired with 35 years of service.

Aside from boxing, Futchi coached softball and wrestling, and his girls softball team won three championships. Futchi won seven Ohio championships and one U.S. championship in flag football. Futchi also refereed a Tough Man competition with the late referee Jackie Keough. In addition to being inducted into the Ohio State Former Boxers and Associates, Inc. Hall of Fame, Futchi is in the North High Sports Hall of Fame for wrestling and in the Touch Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the North High School Legends Hall of Fame. Currently, Futchi resides in Mentor with his wife Karen, of 48 years. They have one son and two daughters, and 5 grandchildren. His granddaughter, Gabriella, was on the 9th grade varsity state championship volleyball team.

Futchi is being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award along with Tom Lorek, Paul LaBuda, and Joe Gentile.