An outstanding high school (Euclid Shore) and amateur basketball player, Mel Riebe became a basketball pro at the age of 27 in 1943 and led the National Basketball League in scoring in 1943-44 and 1944-45 as a member of the Cleveland Chase Brass team. After a military stint, he played for the Cleveland Rebels in the Basketball Association of America in 1946-47, was drafted by the Boston Celtics and played two seasons with them.
For her many years and broad service to sports programs, Jane Pease was elected into the Cleveland State University Sports Hall of Fame. A charter member of the National Division of Girls and Womens Sports Committee for Track and Field in the 1950’s, she was a strong contributor to the revision of the rules and techniques of officiating. For stellar service, Jane has received Lifetime Honorary Membership in the Cleveland Physical Education Association and the Cleveland and Great Lakes Field Hockey Associations.
A graduate of Cleveland Central High in 1936, Louis “Babe” Pressley signed with the Harlem Globetrotters in 1937 to launch a professional career that lasted until 1958, captaining and later serving as playing coach of the world-famous team. He was named Outstanding Player in the championship tournament of the 1940 World Professional International Tour and placed on the all-star team in the 1943-44 International Cup Tour.
After a stellar athletic career at Parma High School and Notre Dame, Ron Mottl put his energies into public service and support for many sports programs that have benefitted untold numbers of youngsters. He was elected into the Parma Sports Hall of Fame and the baseball field on the Cuyahoga Community College West Campus bears his name. Ron continues to have a significant influence on the Greater Cleveland sports scene.
Jack March brought big-time tennis to Cleveland by promoting the World Pro Championships from 1959 through 1964. They were staged at the Shaker Racquet Club, Cleveland Skating Club, Lakewood Park and the old Cleveland Arena. John’s tournaments opened the door for Davis Cup matches in Cleveland by proving that Cleveland was a major league tennis town.
A product of Rhodes High School and Ohio State University, Don McCafferty later served as assistant football coach at Kent State and with the Baltimore Colts of the NFL. As rookie head coach of the Colts, he turned around a faltering team and led them to a win in Super Bowl V. From Baltimore, Don moved over to the Detroit Lions but tragically died the following year, cutting short an exceptional coaching career.
As Athletic Director of the CYO of Cleveland from 1972 to 1985, Richard Hyland doubled the number of programs during his tenure. An innovator, he introduced free substitution for baseball and softball (later adopted nationally), girl’s soccer, cross-country and co-ed hockey. He was instrumental in the development of the CYO Coaches Certification Program, the first of his kind in the U.S. Dick also served as Secretary of the Cleveland Baseball Foundation.
After a successful career as a gymnast with the American Turners, Swiss Turner Gymnastic Society, and Kent State University, Joe Gura launched into a coaching career spanning, at present, 13 years. Thirty-eight of his club gymnasts have competed in national gymnastic championships, producing three national champions. At Magnificat High School. he led the team to state titles in 1991 and 1992.
A member of the East Tech and John Carroll Halls of Fame, Peter Amico went on to coach football, basketball and baseball for 25 years. He has officiated both football (45 yrs) and basketball (47 yrs) at the junior high school, high school and college levels. A rules interpreter of football and basketball rules for 25 years, Peter has received appreciation awards from The Cleveland Touchdown Club and The Basketball Coach’s Association.
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.