After graduating from West Tech and Ohio University, where he won three Mid-American Championships, Steve Rudo, Jr. was named an All-American in 1957. He is a member of the Ohio University athletic and Wrestling Hall of Fame. Steve’s twenty years of coaching at Valley Forge High School led to numerous conference titles, two state runner-up titles and the Ohio state Championship in 1973.
Sandlot ball has long been a special love for Chuck Rozanski, and in 1991 the Cleveland Baseball Foundation recognized him for more than a quarter century on the sandlots. One of his charges, Brush’s Steve Stone, went on to pitch for the Baltimore Orieles and Chicago White Sox and won the Cy Young Award in 1980. Thirty-seven Rozanski-coached players have signed Major League contracts. When not coaching, Chuck scouts for the Cincinnati Reds.
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.
A gifted athlete at Cleveland East High School, John Olszewski starred for the Union Trust Bank basketball team which dominated the Cleveland amateur basketball scene in the 1920s, winning league, city, inter-city and national titles. An outstanding scorer and exceptionally fast, he later played professionally with the Rosenblum-Celtics. John was also a talented bowler and sandlot baseball standout.
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.
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.
Mannie Robbins was a successful fighter who remained in the sport to develop an extensive stable of successful fighters. As a trainer and gym owner, he produced some of the best boxers to come out of Greater Cleveland.
Chester Oblock sponsored and managed the Pyramid Men’s Softball team to Cleveland’s first national title in 1975. A longtime supporter and promoter of Cleveland teams, he gave impetus to the continued successful development of Greater Cleveland programs.