A prominent Cleveland business executive who devoted much of his time to the support of athletic activities in the Greater Cleveland area. Backed numerous youth and adult softball teams and has also been a consistent backer of youth and adult bowling leagues. Served as regional director for the amateur Athletic Union. Also an active member of the Shaker Heights Country Club for many years.
Active in the sport of hockey for 58 years as a player, coach, goal judge, timekeeper and supervisor of minor official. Played 16 seasons of amateur hockey, including six with the Blepp-Coombs teams of the ’30s. Coached at Western Reserve and Case tech from 1939 to 1942 before going into pro ranks as a minor official. Started as goal judge with the Cleveland Barons, became game timekeeper in 1949, a job he kept until the 1974-75 season with the Cleveland Crusaders. Appointed supervisor of minor officials in 1972. Retained that job until 1978.
A professional soccer player in Hungary in 1938, who then played in Italy from 1940 to 1945, he came to Cleveland in 1948 and played for several amateur teams before turning to officiating in the mid ’50s. Organized the Lake Erie Referees Association in 1957, and in 1962 became a charter member of the Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association. Officiated hundreds of amateur league, high school, collegiate and professional games. Has been named to the United States Soccer Federation Hall of Fame and has been recognized by the NCAA for his officiating.
Active in many areas of sports for over a half century. As vice president of the Cleveland District Golf Association in 1940 he was instrumental in the formation of the CDGA Caddie Foundation, which has made it possible for over 500 caddies from the Cleveland area to attend college on scholarships. Was president of CDGA in 1941 and 1952 and a respected club player. Was a stockholder in the Cleveland Indians for 19 years (1949-68). Played football and lacrosse for Swarthmore College, later served as an assistant hockey coach for John Carroll University during a series of championship years for the Blue Streaks in the 1930s.
Active in golf and golf promotions in the Greater Cleveland area for over 45 years. Spent nearly 30 years as tournament director of the Cleveland District Golf Association and also served as its Executive Director. Appointed Executive Secretary and Treasurer of the CDGA Caddie Foundation in 1972. Served on the Ohio Publinks Executive Committee for 15 years and assisted in promoting the 1959 Carling Open Championship and the first Cleveland Open. Was a charter member and organizer of the Great Lakes Senior Golf Association and served as its executive secretary from its inception in 1969. Won several senior four-ball championships as an active golfer and was Cleveland Match Play Champion in 1953.
After leading the Dandee Patches and Blepp-Coobs Sporting Goods teams to seven titles in the Lakewood Recreation League, he was appointed to select and coach an AAU team representing Cleveland in the 1939 national hockey tournament. Playing under the banner of The American Legion, the underdog Clevelanders won their first game in overtime and their next in double overtime to move into the championship game against the heavily favored University of Minnesota. The Kern-coached Cleveland club responded with a stunning 4-3 victory to annex the National AAU title.
One of Cleveland’s finest bowlers during the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, he and his partner, Steve Nagy, set a record of 1453 in the doubles event of the American Bowling Congress Tournament in 1952 which still stood in 1981. Klares contributed a 755 three-game series to that score. He finished fifth in the all-events of that ABC Tournament and his team won the team all-events crown. He bowled three sanctioned 300 games and three series of 800 or better during his career, averaging 191 for 30 ABC tournaments.
One of Ohio’s all-time great lady bowlers, she was named Queen of the Cleveland’s Lady Bowlers four times. Captained the Cole Furniture team which won the Women’s International Bowling Congress national title in 1952 and bowled on six Ohio state championship and seven Cleveland city championship teams. Won ten Ohio individual titles and 16 City crowns, including doubles, singles and all-events in both competitions. Also won two Central States single titles and played on three Central States championship teams. Her 203 average in 1965-66 was the second best in the nation and her 198 mark in 1956-57 ranked her third that season. Elected to the Cleveland Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1973.
Won the national AAU bantamweight championship in 1923 to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team. Competed in the Olympics in Paris in 1924. Won Cleveland and Ohio bantamweight titles in 1922 and 1923. Went undefeated during his climb to his local, state and AAU crowns.
Head golf professional at The Cleveland Club (later The Country Club) and a top player of his day, he collaborated with Coburn Haskell in the invention of the rubber-cored golf ball. This ball is still used today in modified form.