James Moritz 

Inductees
Graduation Year: 1958
Induction Year: 2010
Teacher
Director of MHS auditorium
Lover of the Arts

Jim graduated from Marion High School in 1958. He attended Indiana University after high school and in 1962 graduated with a BS in English from Indiana University. Jim went on to receive his MS in English in 1977 from Indiana University. The theater was one of Moritz’ loves. He performed with the Singing Hoosiers and the Varsity Singers while a student at Indiana University in Bloomington.
Jim started his teaching career at Marion High School in 1962. He retired on June 6, 2000, from Marion Community Schools after teaching for 38 years. He taught speech and English and was director of the MHS Auditorium, later named the F. Ritchie Walter Performing Arts Center, sponsor of the Marion Boys’ Booster Club and the Girls’ Booster Club from 1964-1970. During his years as booster club sponsor, the total average student involvement was 600 students. Jim was very instrumental in helping to raise $10,000 for the 1970 Marching Giants to realize a dream trip to Europe. Jim was loved and respected by his students and colleagues.
You didn’t have to look far to see Jim’s love for the Marion Community. He had the rare gift of community leadership – getting people fired up about a project and being able to organize it and carry it off. He served as chairman of the Christmas City Walkway of Lights Committee, served on the Marion Easter Pageant Board of Directors, United Way Board of Directors, an officer and member of St. Martin’s Community Center Board of Directors, and was instrumental in helping the Marion Philharmonic Orchestra gain strength in its early years. Marion audiences were very familiar with his work with the Little Acorn Theater, Brag-More Musicals, and Marion Civic Theatre. As the Marion Easter Pageant Musical Director, he recruited and directed a 110-piece orchestra and 550 voice choir for 13 years. Jim also served on a community committee to raise funds for Kim and Wayne Seybold to represent the United States at the Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada. He also was chosen to receive the Rotarian 4-Way Test Awarded in 2000 and was awarded the Marion Jaycees Distinguished Service Award-Man of the Year in 1975.

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