An outstanding football player at West tech from 1921-23 and later an amateur basketball league star in Muny competition, he later became a highly successful coach of girls’ amateur basketball teams, winning 18 championships between 1927 and 1938.
Winner of the famed Heisman Trophy in 1944 when he led Ohio State University to an unbeaten, untied season, was a unanimous All-American selection at halfback and was voted the most valuable player in the Big Ten. Starred at Cleveland Rhodes High before enrolling at OSU where he was a starter for three seasons.
Among the finest players in Western Reserve University’s football history. Named as an end on the 1937 Little All-American Team. Also named to the All-American Team. Also named to the All-Ohio and All Big Four teams during his brilliant Career. Played in 53 consecutive games without experiencing defeat: 28 at Dover (Ohio) High School and 25 at Western Reserve. Picked to be on Sports Illustrated’s 1962’s Silver Anniversary All-American Football Team.
Named to the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1968. In an eight-year career with Cleveland Browns, beginning in 1946, he established himself as one of the great runners in pro history. Led Browns in rushing in six of his eight seasons, led team in scoring in 1949 and tied for leas in 1947. Averaged 5.7 yards per carry for his career, gaining a total of 4,712 yards. Was also an excellent defensive player. Named to the All-American Conference All-Pro teams from 1946-49 and to the National Football League All-Star Team in 1950.
An All-American tackle at the University of Kentucky he established himself as one of the finest defensive tackles in Cleveland Browns history during an illustrious career which lasted from 1952 through 1966. During that time he was named to the All-Pro team five times (in 1958-59-60-62 and 1963), played in six National Football League championship games and on the Browns’ World championship teams of 1954, 1955 and 1966. He was also honored by the Cleveland Touchdown Club as the “Defensive Player of the Year.”
A product of Cleveland South High and Ohio University, he started his professional career with Cleveland Rams, but elected to leave them to become a member of the Cleveland Browns when the All-American Conference was formed in 1946. Played for AAC championship teams in each of his three seasons with the Browns. A defensive tackle, he bulwarked a powerful line, which allowed the fewest points in the league in each of his three AAC seasons.
Deceased.
After a brilliant football career at Washington and Jefferson College capped by a Rose Bowl appearance in 1922, he mixed law studies and pro football while at the same time launching a coaching career that was to span three decades. St. Ignatius, John Carroll and University School were the recipients of his winning programs. He helped organize the “Big Four,” ushering in the golden era of local collegiate football.
A graduate of Cornell in 1916, he was a two time collegiate All-American. His professional career included playing for the Massillon Tigers, Cleveland Bulldogs, Akron Indians, and the Toledo Blades. He was the Tigers’ left end when they played Jim Thorpe and the Canton Bulldogs for the world title in 1919. The other Tigers end at that time was Knute Rockne of Notre Dame. Ladimir also helped in the establishment of the NFL Hall of Fame.
Football at Benedictine High School and the University of Dayton led to a seven year professional career with the Cleveland Browns as an offensive guard and linebacker. During his years with the Browns they won five divisional titles and played in three NFL title games (1953, 1954, 1955), winning two. Subsequently, as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers he led them to an unprecedented four Super Bowl titles.
After a distinguished football career at Shaw High School and Ohio State University, he went on to an eleven year professional career. Consistently among the leading rushers in the NFL, in 1965 he stepped in for ailing quarterback Johnny Unitas and, as the Colts’ “Instant Quarterback,” threw two touchdown passes to spark the victory over Los Angeles which then led to the memorable playoff game against Green Bay in which he again led the team as quarterback. He played in the Pro-Bowl in 1968 and 1969.