Class of 1970 Athletic Legends

In June 2021, the Naval Academy Athletic Association announced a program to honor Navy “Sports Legends” in the newly built Ron Terwilliger ‘63 Center for Student-Athletes. Inside the Center, the Class of 1965’s “Navy Legends Exhibit” celebrates past Navy Student Athletes who excelled in their respective sport at the Naval Academy. Each Class was requested to submit the names of athletes the class considered an “athletic legend” to add to the ’65 Exhibit in the Center.

Gino Marchetti took the lead for the Class of 1970 and worked diligently to identify and recognize our ‘70 Sports Legends that are currently on display at the Ron Terwilliger Center for Student Athletes. In choosing the ‘70 Class Sports Legends he first looked at those who were elected to the USNA Sports Hall of Fame. Then what recognition they had received for their play.

We are pleased to announce we were able to get nine ‘70 athletes into the display. Here are our ‘70 Athletic Legends.

Walter Elliot “Casey” Bahr (Soccer)

Casey Bahr was one of the best soccer players in the United States during his four years at USNA. He was Captain of the USNA Soccer team under Coach Glenn Warner and was a 1968 and 1969 honorable mention (third team) All America. He was one of 47 Class of 1970 graduates to win the “N” Award, awarded to athletes who earned at least three varsity letters. He was also an excellent baseball player, playing on Navy’s Varsity Baseball team for three years

Photo is from 1970 Lucky Bag, captioned: “...That other kind of football, and some of the reasons for a damn good season, Casey Bahr (All American and Olympic Selectee) being just one of those reasons…” (Navy’s record was 8-2-2)

After graduation, Casey Bahr was chosen to be a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic team that competed in the 1971 Pan American games in Cali, Columbia and became the first US soccer team to qualify for the Olympics since the 1956. He started and played every minute in each of the three games the US played in Munich.

Casey received his Naval Aviation Wings in November of 1971 and was assigned HC-4/HSL-30 as an ASW helicopter pilot operating out of NAS Lakehurst. He played one season for the Philadelphia Atoms in the North American Soccer League balancing his squadron duties with evening practice and weekend games before deploying to the Mediterranean. Casey served as an assistant soccer coach under Coach Warner during his shore duty rotation. After Coach Warner retired, he served as the interim head coach until Greg Meyers was hired in the summer of 1976. After leaving active duty he continued playing for semi-professional and amateur teams whenever his duty assignments or work permitted. He played for teams in the American Soccer League, German-American League, United League, and the Washington Area Soccer League. He also played in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Over the years he coached both men’s and women’s youth soccer teams. After retiring he continued coaching at a local high school, as an assistant with the men’s program and as the head coach of the women’s program.

Academically, Casey was one of only eight members of the Class of 1970 to be awarded a BS in Mechanical Engineering. As a naval officer, Casey served six years on active duty and 14 years in the reserves, retiring as a Commander. Much of his civilian career was spent at the Naval Air Systems Command, serving as an engineer, engineering manager, logistician, and program manager. At NAVAIR he was selected to head the E-2/C-2 program. At the time he was the only civilian to lead a major aircraft program office at NAVAIR. He was chosen a second time to lead a major program this time at the Office of Naval Research where he led the Stealth and Counter Stealth Technology Program Office. During his career he attained two master’s degrees, with one coming from the National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Casey came from a legendary soccer family. Casey’s father, Walter Bahr played on the 1948 Olympic team and the 1950 World Cup team. He played on virtually every national team for the next 10 years. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1976. He coached at the high school, collegiate (Temple and Penn State) and professional levels. Casey’s younger brothers, Chris and Matt, played professional soccer in the North American Soccer League. Both Chris and Matt were placekickers in the NFL, each with two Super Bowl rings.

J. Bertram “Bert” Freeman (Fencing)

As a Plebe while listening to a presentation by Navy Fencing Coach Deladrier, J. Bert Freeman (Bert) applied himself to the sport of Fencing. In a sport never before exposed to, in three years of hard work, Bert became the NCAA Fencer of the Year & a few years later National Champion and represented the United States in the Olympics. At USNA Bert was a member of the USNA Glee Club & Catholic Choir. We all remember Bert as a Cheerleader using his athleticism, motivational skills, and infectious enthusiasm to support other sports teams and the Brigade. We are proud of our classmate and his positive contribution to our Class, USNA and our nation.

USNA Athletic Accomplishments:

Athletic Accomplishments after Graduation (USMC)

Bert utilized the same positive drive, work ethic, skills & talents honed as an athlete, Midshipman, and USMC officer to become a successful Positive Direction Expert & Speaker to develop others. Since 1982, he has successfully been facilitating, coaching, lecturing & instructing organizations & individuals in different areas of organization development, personal performance, leadership consistency & diversity. Bert has a B.S. in Engineering (USNA) & an M.S. in Human Relations from Golden Gate University.

Bert’s accomplishments after athletics include:

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