One of the nation’s leading contributors to the sport of gymnastics, he coached the men’s and women’s gymnastics teams at Kent State University for over 20 years and sponsored children’s gymnastics teams at the University for 17 years. Served as a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee for Men’s Gymnastics from 1960 through 1972 and was the associate coach of the 1960 U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team in Rome. Was a judge at the 1959 Pan-American Games, was National Physical Director of the Slovak Sokol from 1954 to 1962 and Coach-Manager of the National Sokol Teams at the 100th Sokol Anniversary celebration in Vienna, Austria in 1960.
United States Men’s National Volleyball Coach since 1977 and a national team player from 1970 through 1976, playing in two Olympic qualifcation tournaments (1972 and 1976). Played for the U.S. team in 1970 and 1974 World Championships and for the U.S. Pan-American Games team in 1975. Was a USVBA Collegiate All-American and team captain at Ohio State University in 1969 when he was also named Midwest Collegiate Player of the Year. Was a USVBA Open All-American from 1972 through 1975 and USVBA Player of the Year in 1975, Midwest Collegiate Coach of the Year in 1972 and 1973 at Ohio State.
Native of Cleveland who migrated to Israel in 1970, and in September 1972, while representing his new country in the Munich Olympics, lost his life to terrorists along with ten other members of the Israeli delegation. U.S. national Intercollegiate Champion at Tulane University in 1965 and a member of the United States weightlifting team in 1966 when he won a gold medal in competition with Mexico. Represented the U.S. in the Maccabiah Games twice, winning a bronze medal in 1965 and a gold in 1968. Represented Israel in the Pan-Asian Games in 1971, winning a gold medal, and was elected to the national AAU Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 1974.
First ever to win national Highlander Class championship fives times, capturing the title in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1977. Was national runnerup in 1976, 1978 and 1979. Also won the Great Lakes Highlander Class championship in 1977. He was the Edgewater Yacht Club’s Highlander Class champion for 11 consecutive years and was acclaimed EYC’s “Skipper of the Year” for outstanding work in behalf of sailing in 1972, 1973 and 1975.
Won eight Ohio AAU Open Championships between 1946 and 1954, including the all-around title in 1954. Active as a member of the American Turners for over 40 years and served as a member of the Lake Erie AAU Gymnastics Committee for ten years. Coached many Junior Olympic all-around champions in the Cleveland area after her retirement as an active competitor.
A two-time member of the United States Gordon Cup: Senior Team (1958 and 1959), he was ranked second nationally in senior doubles in 1956 and again in 1964 when he was also ranked third in singles. Also ranked third in senior doubles and fourth in singles in 1963 and 1965 by the Western Lawn Tennis Association. Won numerous Cleveland and Northeast Ohio championships. Was an open singles finalist every year from 1953 through 1956 in various Greater Cleveland championships.
Member of the Cleveland Plain Dealer sports staff for 41 years, during which he covered almost every sport. Best remembered as a golf writer, covering that sport from 1925 until his retirement in 1964 and attending 24 National Opens. Covered hockey for some 35 years, was the paper’s pro football writer during the Cleveland Rams’ ten years in the city and also covered Ohio State football for many years.
Winner of the BPAA National Doubles title in 1960, runner-up in 1956 when she also set a national women’s record with a 205 season average. Finalist in the BPAA All-Star Tournament six times, finishing second in 1960, third in 1949. Won singles, doubles and all-events titles in Ohio State Womens’s Bowling Association Tournament in 1959, four state all-events titles in all. Elected to Cleveland Women’s Bowling association Hall of Fame in 1970.
One of the outstanding boxers of the late 1930s and 1940s. Fought and defeated such outstanding boxers as Joe Maxim, Ezzard Charles and light heavyweight champions Anton Christoforidis and Melio Bettina. When Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis entered the armed service he declared Bivins as his successor “for the duration.”
Among the first great wrestling products to come out of the Cleveland school system, winning three straight Ohio High School state titles for West High in 1949, 1950 and 1951. Went to Toledo University where he was Mid-American Conference champion three times and captain of two Mid-American Conference championship teams. Inducted into Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1975. Has been coach of Cleveland State University’s wrestling team since 1964.