Little League World Champion, High School Soccer All American,  All Ivy League Baseball player, Marine Squadron Commander…  few others have achieved as much and been as gracious in doing so as Mike O’Connor.  Beginning with the legendary pickup games at Denslow Park through his days with the CH Dexter Little League team (coached by his father Hall of Fame member Bob O’Connor) and the original “Shapiro’s Shamrocks,” Mike was a star even before he became a member of the 1965 Little League World Champion Team.
In high school, Mike lettered in soccer, basketball and baseball.   Coach Dan Sullivan considered Mike one of the best players on the remarkably talented WLHS soccer teams that won back to back State Championships in 1970 and 1971.  In his junior year while playing left wing Striker, Mike led the league in goals and assists and ranked as one of the leading scorers across all leagues in the state.  His aggressive, consistent play was instrumental in the team’s quest for and ultimate victory of the State Championship.   During his senior year, Mike rotated between the center forward and center halfback positions demonstrating athletic prowess that effectively combined offensive goal scoring with defensive stability. Mike’s unselfish positional rotation may have impacted his overall scoring statistics but proved to be the catalyst that launched Windsor Locks soccer to it second state championship in two years.  His soccer acumen earned him the distinct honor of High School All American.  Mike outstanding athletic ability was not limited to the soccer field.  He played various outfield positions for the Raider’s baseball team and was a key contributor to the teams’ winning records, while receiving  All -Conference honors in the process. Mike rounded out his High School athletic career by playing a guard position for both the JV and the varsity basketball teams.
After graduating from WLHS as a member of the National Honor Society, Mike attended the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, Mike continued his athletic success playing both varsity soccer and baseball.  His soccer skills earned him All Ivy League Honorable Mention honors and in his senior year he was voted the soccer team’s Most Valuable Player.  Mike played three years of varsity baseball at Penn, where he helped lead his teams to numerous NCAA tournament bids and again earned him All-Ivy League Honorable Mention honors.
After college Mike joined the Marine Corps and became a Naval Flight Officer specializing in the F-4 Phantom fighter jet as a Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) and later in the F/A-18D Hornet as a Weapons and Sensors Officer.  In 1994 after having achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Mike was assigned as the Commanding Officer of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 flying F/A -18D Hornets.  Mike retired from the Marine Corps in 1998 and now resides on a farm in Vermont.  Mike has one son, Christopher, who currently lives in North Carolina.  Unselfish teammate, remarkable athlete, dedicated Marine… Mike O’Connor is a true Hall of Famer.