In the post World War II years, East Tech dominated the Cleveland high school track scene and Baldwin-Wallace was easily the kingpin among the local college thinclads. One of the key contributors to their dominance was Ted Theodore. Running the 440 and 880 and on record-breaking mile and two-mile relay teams for legendary East Tech Coach Ivan Greene, he captained the Scarabs to the 1946 city title and a second place finish in the Ohio state championships. The two relays completely dominated their competition, winning blue ribbons in the Cleveland Indoor Senate meet, the West Tech and Ohio Wesleyan Relays and the district meet en route to their pair of state titles. Theodore added to his high school laurels by winning the 440 at the National Junior Olympic Championships run at Municipal Stadium, and collecting additional gold as a member of the meet’s winning mile relay. Moving on to B-W, he would win All-Ohio championships in the 440, 880 and mile relay four straight years and captain the 1950 team. Entering the Army, he coached and captained the Ft. Knox team to two runner-up finishes in the 2nd Army Championships. After returning to civilian life, he devoted several years to coaching cross country and track teams at Berea, Midpark and Euclid High Schools, winning a multitude of championships. Theodore served in a variety of administrative and service roles subsequently in the Euclid Schools and community and also for Baldwin-Wallace, he nevertheless remained active in the track world as a registered OHSAA track official for high school and college for 45 years and served as the announcer for the Knights of Columbus Track Meet for 20 years. Ostensibly retired, he continues to officiate track and makes his home in Euclid.
Daniel Ferrazza’s 31-year career with the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) left thousands of youngsters with enriched athletic experiences and Cleveland with a nationally prominent track event. While executive Director of the CYO eastern region from 1972 to 1988, he assumed a vital role in the operation of the annual Knights of Columbus Track Meet for 11 years, six as meet director. The meet brought numerous world class athletes to Cleveland to join with college, high school and grade school runners, creating a major stop on the indoor track circuit. He also served as president of the Meet Association, and as president of the Lake Erie Association of the AAU for two years and vice president for ten.
In 35 year as a track coach at Shaker Heights High School, Robert Rice never had a losing season, and was elected to the Ohio Track Hall of Fame in 1970. Bob officiated for 25 years in high school and college basketball, 40 years in track, and 17 seasons in football. During his 19 years as an NFL official, he worked the first Pro Bowl in 1950 and two Super Bowls. He has also served as Assistant Supervisor of NFL Officials.
Eddie Finnigan was an all-around athletic standout at Cleveland John Adams High School and Western Reserve University. He starred in three sports at WRU, achieving his greatest success in basketball, where he was a first team Little All-American. Eddie also earned Little All-American honors in football and starred in track, and garnered new fame as the head track coach at Baldwin-Wallace College, where he produced Olympic champion Harrison Dillard.
While a student at East Technical High School in 1953, Sherlie Herford Rainey became the National AAU Champion in the Standing Broad Jump with an 8′-11″ leap. Winning the championship 3 out of 4 times, in 1958 she set a new American record of 9′-½”. She was voted the Outstanding Female Athlete in the 1957 K of C Track Meet and garnered AAU All-American Honors in 1955, 1957 and 1958. A graduate of Cleveland State University, Sherlie served as Mayor of Woodmere Village from 1980 to 1989.