Played six seasons (1947-51 and 1954) for Cleveland Browns. Was considered one of the club’s finest linebackers. Was All-City and All-Ohio fullback at Cleveland Collinwood High School in 1941, then enrolled at Ohio State University, where he played fullback for one season before entering the U.S. Army Air Corps. Played one preseason (1946) for Ohio State before turning professional. Continued studies in off-season, eventually earned his MD and became prominent surgeon.
Regarded as the finest offensive tackle in professional football during much of a ten-year career (1946-73) with Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams and Oakland Raiders. All-pro selection seven times. First round draft pick of Philadelphia after winning unanimous All-American selection as a guard at the University of Nebraska in 1963 and being named college football’s “Lineman of the Year” by the Washington, D.C. Touchdown Club. Began his football career at Cleveland East Tech High.
Deceased 6/16/2023
A prominent figure in women’s modern gymnastics on the local, state and national levels for 30 years, she was manager for the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team, and served as an official, judge and chair woman or meet director at every AAU national championship, Olympic Trials and World Games Trials for women’s gymnastics form 1954 through 1970. Started the Cleveland-area AAU Junior Olympics gymnastics into the educational system at an AAHPER national convention that year. Awarded a Lifetime Membership in the Ohio Gymnastics Association in 1982 for service to the sport in Ohio.
An active member of the American Sokol Organization for 55 years as a volunteer gymnastics coach, competition judge, organizer of new gymnastics clubs in the Greater Cleveland area and clinician. He served on the local AAU gymnastics committee for 28 years and helped organize the first AAU Junior Olympic gymnastics program for boys and girls. Coached seven champions from 1955 through 1964, three of whom earned Olympic berths.
National Open Champion in 1931 he was also a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup Team from 1931-33; twice, in 1934 and 1939, finished third in the Masters Tournament; was a quarterfinalist in the PGA Championship in 1936, 1938 and 1939, and was named to the PGA Hall of Fame in 1963. The first golfer to use steel clubs, he taught golf at the Country Club for 29 years, retiring in 1963.
Won national AAU half-mile championship in 1958 and repeated in 1960, setting American indoor records each time. Also won outdoor title record time. Earned All-American ranking in 1958 and 1960 and represented U.S. in dual meets with the USSR in 1959. Won several other AAU titles including the AAU Masters (indoor) in the 600 and 1000-yd. and mile races in the late 70’s.
Won Junior National AAU championships in the 220-yd. freestyle and the 200-yd. breaststroke and swam on the championship medley relay team in 1940. Won Ohio championships in the 100, 220, 440 and mile freestyle swim the following year. Also won the Fairport Open Water mile that year, beating the winning men’s time by almost two minutes. Taught swimming for 40 years, 30 for Cleveland Division of Recreation.
Goalie for the Cleveland all-star team which won the National AAU Championship at New Haven, Connecticut in 1939. Starred in amateur circles from 1929 to 1940, competing for strong Blepp-Coombs, Pepsi-Cola and Fisher Foods teams, once putting together a string of eight consecutive shutouts.
Enjoyed an exceptional career at St. Ignatius High School, earning all-scholastic honors three straight years and All-Ohio laurels as a senior, when he captained the Cleveland News all-scholastic team. Scored a then-amazing 58 points in one game in 1951. Named All-European Theatre in basketball, baseball and football while serving in the U.S. Army from 1953-55. Went on to play for the University of Dayton and one season for the professional Cleveland Pipers.
Played on 13 World Championship teams, nine in fast-pitch and four in slow-pitch, earning All-Ohio honors as an outfielder in 1961, 1962 and 1963. Also earned all star honors in World tournaments in each of those three seasons. Hit over .300 in fast-pitch from 1954 through 1959 to rank among the top ten in the area each season.