Creator of a scholarship fund in 1940 which quickly grew into the Cleveland District Golf Association Caddie Foundation. Served as chairman of that Foundation for its first 32 years, during which time college scholarships worth over $378,000 were awarded to 314 boys. Served as president of the Cleveland District Golf Association in 1941 and was also a president of Lakewood Country Club.
Wrestling coach at Cleveland John Hay High School from 1934 to 1943 and at Cleveland West High School from 1944 to 1951, he produced eight state championship teams while compiling a record of 150 wins, 30 losses and one tie. He was the national high school representative to the National Collegiate Wrestling Rules Committee from 1943 to 1956 and was inducted into the Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1971.
Served the Cleveland school system for forty years (1933-73) as a teacher and football coach, as supervisor of Physical Welfare and as Director of Athletics for the Cleveland Board of Education. Helped develop the Junior Olympics and Life Time Sports programs, both locally and nationally. Held the presidency of state and national associations of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and was secretary of the Cleveland Senate Athletic Council for 22 years.
Publisher of The Cleveland Kegler, one of the two oldest weekly bowling publications in the country, he was elevated to both the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame and the Greater Cleveland Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1971. Started the first charity bowling tournament in the nation. Began the Cleveland Press Charity Bowling Tournament and was co-originator of the Cleveland Plain Dealer “I Beat The Champion” Charity Tournament.
Elected to American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame, 1967. Recorded a season average of 238 in 1934-35, establishing a national record which endured for 37 years. Finished second in ABC Tournament singles in 1920. Compiled a 191 average in ABC Tournament competition over 25 years. Was considered one of Cleveland’s finest bowlers for nearly 30 years.
Elected to American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame, 1976. Won ABC Tournament doubles championship in 1953 with Eddie Koepp. Won every Cleveland and Ohio title “team, doubles, singles and all-events” during his career. Bowled in 40 ABC tournaments starting in 1921 and compiled a 194 average. Twice won National Elks all-events championship and finished sixth in BPAA All-Star Tournament three times.
Won World Welterweight Amateur Boxing Championship in 1916 at age 19, first Ohioan to win world amateur crown. Also won national AAU championship that year. Boxed for the U.S. Army during World War 1, winning every tournament he engaged in while in England and France.
World Lightheavyweight Champion from January 20, 1950, to December 17, 1952. Won title from Freddie Mills and surrendered it to Archie Moore. Fought 115 professional bouts between 1941 and 1959. He also held the American lightheavyweight title in 1949. Won Cleveland-Chicago-New York Golden Gloves Championship and National AAU title as amateur in 1940.
World Featherweight Champion from February 22, 1912, until June 2, 1923. Won title from Abe Attell. Finally lost crown to Eugene Criqui. Inducted into Boxing Hall of Fame in 1960.
Member of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1948 and 1956, alternate in 1952. Gold medalist in long horse at 1955 Pan-American games, also winning two silver and three bronze medals in those games. National AAU champion in parallel bars, 1948, 1949 and 1951 and in side horse, 1956. Two-time NCAA all-around and parallel bars champion (1949 and 1950) at Kent State University. Also won NCAA championships in horizontal bars, 1950, and side horse, 1951. Coach of U.S. team in 1966 North American Championships at Montreal.