David J. Kiefer
The Mercer County Hall of Fame is proud to honor posthumous inductee David J. Kiefer, a former Sharon High athletic star who died in the service of his country.
Dave was an outstanding football player at Sharon High, graduating in 1961. His senior year he was selected to play for the Mercer County All-Stars against Lawrence County, under the direction of head coach Dick Bestwick and assistant Cliff Smith.
He went on to a brilliant career at Westminster College. An outstanding linebacker/lineman for Coach Harold Burry, he was a four-year letterman and co-captain his senior season.
In 1964, he led the Titans to the West Penn Conference championship, District 30 NAIA crown and the Tri-State Small College title. The team was ranked 6th in the national NAIA poll and ranked 9th nationally in Grift Ratings of 490 small college squads. The team, which went unbeaten his senior year, was ranked 2nd nationally in the NAIA and 3rd in the NCAA.
Kiefer won West Penn Conference and NAIA District 30 First-Team honors. He received a Westminster College Certificate of Honor.
He was an outstanding baseball player in his youth, competing for the Kiwanis team in the Sharon Babe Ruth League.
He carried his leadership qualities into the United States Air Force, where he won numerous honors including the Distinguished Fly Cross. He served a tour in Vietnam.
He earned the rank of major, before he was killed in a tragic mid-air collision of three planes during a training exercise in England.