Brought up to the Cleveland Barons to bolster the defense for the 1957 playoffs, he remained for 16 seasons. Set an American Hockey League record by playing in 526 consecutive games and captained the Barons for eight years. Was voted the team’s Most Valuable Player four times by his teammates and three times by the fans. In all he played over 1,000 regular season games in a Barons uniform and helped the team to the playoffs 15 times in 16 seasons. In 1966-67 he was picked as the Most Valuable Defenseman in the AHL and was named to the league All-Star first team.
One of Cleveland’s finest bowlers during the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, he and his partner, Steve Nagy, set a record of 1453 in the doubles event of the American Bowling Congress Tournament in 1952 which still stood in 1981. Klares contributed a 755 three-game series to that score. He finished fifth in the all-events of that ABC Tournament and his team won the team all-events crown. He bowled three sanctioned 300 games and three series of 800 or better during his career, averaging 191 for 30 ABC tournaments.
A member of the Cole Furniture team which won the Women’s International Bowling Congress national title in 1952, she also shared the WIBC Doubles crown in 1958. Won Ohio state doubles and all-events championships and played for five Ohio state championship teams. Also played on three City of Cleveland championship teams and won ladies City titles in doubles, singles and all-events, as well as the City Match-Game championship. Twice elected Queen of Bowlers she was inducted into the Cleveland Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1959.
One of Ohio’s all-time great lady bowlers, she was named Queen of the Cleveland’s Lady Bowlers four times. Captained the Cole Furniture team which won the Women’s International Bowling Congress national title in 1952 and bowled on six Ohio state championship and seven Cleveland city championship teams. Won ten Ohio individual titles and 16 City crowns, including doubles, singles and all-events in both competitions. Also won two Central States single titles and played on three Central States championship teams. Her 203 average in 1965-66 was the second best in the nation and her 198 mark in 1956-57 ranked her third that season. Elected to the Cleveland Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1973.
Won the national AAU bantamweight championship in 1923 to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team. Competed in the Olympics in Paris in 1924. Won Cleveland and Ohio bantamweight titles in 1922 and 1923. Went undefeated during his climb to his local, state and AAU crowns.
Cleveland’s flyweight champion in 1920, 1921 and 1922, he earned the right to compete in the National AAU Boxing Tournament in Boston in 1923. Fought his way to the semi-finals of that tournament before losing a split decision to Fidel Labarbra who went on to win the AAU crown, the 1924 Olympic championship and eventually the world professional flyweight title.
Built a 40-0 record as an amateur boxer during World War 1, then turned professional, meeting many of the great fighters of his time. Defeated Willie Jackson shortly before Jackson KOed Johnny Dundee. Also defeated English Featherweight champion Joey Fox. In 1920 he met Johnny Kilbane for the featherweight title in a memorable match staged at League Park. With more than 14,000 fans looking on, Root staggered Kilbane in the fourth round, but Kilbane rallied to win a decision. It was Root’s last fight.
A rugged lightweight who came out of Cleveland’s “Little Italy” to face some of the finest fighters of his era. Among those he fought were three world champions: Tony Canzonneri, Barney Ross and Jimmy McLaren. He defeated Mclaren, the former lightweight champion, in a match in Los Angeles on March 17, 1926.
Won eight Ohio AAU Open Championships between 1946 and 1954, including the all-around title in 1954. Active as a member of the American Turners for over 40 years and served as a member of the Lake Erie AAU Gymnastics Committee for ten years. Coached many Junior Olympic all-around champions in the Cleveland area after her retirement as an active competitor.
Began his career at Cleveland East Tech High where he was a three-time state tumbling champion (1933-34-35). All-American gymnast at the University of Illinois where he became the first gymnastics athlete ever to win seven NCAA championships. Also won National AAU Tumbling Championships in 1938, 1939 and 1940. Went on to coach and judge gymnastics at high school, college and national levels until his retirement in 1975. Enshrined in the National Association of Gymnastics Coaches section of the Helms Hall of Fame in 1966.