One of the original founders of the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. (1975), he served as a Trustee until 1984. His lifetime commitment to civic, religious and charitable causes put him frequently in the midst of new and innovative community programs. He was instrumental in creating Cleveland’s first marathon race which subsequently has developed into the Revco-Cleveland Marathon.
A graduate of Maple Heights High School, he continued a distinguished competitive career as a walk-on at Michigan State where he was a finalist for four NCAA titles, winning twice, winner of three Big-10 Titles and the Big-10 Medal of Honor, and was chosen All-American all four years. He was subsequently voted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. He is also the youngest NCAA wrestling champion in history.
A long successful career has marked his competitive participation in weightlifting which began in 1940 and has run up to the present where he has three Masters Division World Records pending. In 1953 he won several “Mr. Physique” contests and placed 5th in the National Junior Mr. America competition in 1957, the same year he was crowned National Junior Weightlifting Champion. Numerous Masters titles have been his, covering multiple weight classifications. In one 6 month span, he broke 32 national Masters Records. In 1973 he entered the Weightlifting Hall of Fame.
A winner of numerous City, Northeastern Ohio and State Championships from 1966 to 1985 in Singles and Doubles Competition. A durable competitor, he was elected to the Dartmough College Hall of Fame in 1985. Was named Captain of the U.S. Squash Team that competed in the World Championships in 1983 in Auckland and repeated in the position in 1985 in Cairo.
A hurdler in the 1948 Olympic Games, she subsequently moved to Cleveland and more recently has distinguished herself as a competitor in the Master Program. In the Masters Pan American Games in Canada she won and set records in the Shot Put, Discus and Javelin. In 1983 she placed 2nd in the Shot Put and Discus and 4th in the Javelin in the World Masters Games and then again as recently as 1985, in the 55 to 60 years age group, placed 4th, 4th, 6th respectively in those same events.
A graduate of East Technical High School, he went on to NAIA All-American honors (1955-56) and (1956-57) in college in the high hurdles and long jump. He qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1956 as a hurdler. A consistent competitor, his participation always showed the excellence which marked his distinguished career.
A long distinguished competitive career included Cleveland Muny Singles Championships in 1935, 1939, 1940 and 1941, the Midwestern Open Senior Singles title in 1960, and five National Public Parks Senior Doubles titles pairing with Ed DiLeone. In 1982 he continued with an appearance as a finalist in the NPP Senior Championship.
In 1936 he won the All-Around Title in the Northeastern District of the American Sokol Organization. That same year in AAU competition he won the Side Horse and Parallel Bars competition. A national title was his in the All-around category in 1937. In addition to a highly successful competitive career, he subsequently lent leadership to the sport as a coach and administrator.
A consistent winner, he qualified for the National Amateur in 1962 and 1963 and in 1968 won the gold medal in national competition. He has won the District Senior Tournament 12 times in the last 14 years. In 1985 he continued his winning ways by copping the NOGA seniors championship.
A stellar competitor for two decades, in 1952 he fenced epee on the team which won the National Championship. At the same time that he was participating, he served as Vice President and then President of the NODFLA during a nine year span and chaired the U.S. Olympic Fencing Committee for four years.