Creator of a scholarship fund in 1940 which quickly grew into the Cleveland District Golf Association Caddie Foundation. Served as chairman of that Foundation for its first 32 years, during which time college scholarships worth over $378,000 were awarded to 314 boys. Served as president of the Cleveland District Golf Association in 1941 and was also a president of Lakewood Country Club.
Cleveland’s Commissioner of Recreation since 1947, he developed a broad program of recreation for its citizens which has served as a model for many of the nation’s large cities. Instituted a program of competitive sports for girls in the 1950s, which was a national first. It was through this program that Madeline Manning Jackson began a track career leading to an Olympic gold medal in 1968. Elected to the National Softball Hall of Fame in 1976 and National Boxing Hall of Fame in 1977.
Active in the sports of swimming and diving and in the field of water safety for over 40 years, he founded numerous committees and associations involved with water sports competition. Was chairman of the Lake Erie Association Swimming Committee Board of Managers, from 1954 to 1974, president of the Lake Erie Association AAU in 1967-68, and coached, officiated and taught on a variety of levels form the mid-’30s through the ’70s.
Wrestling coach at Cleveland John Hay High School from 1934 to 1943 and at Cleveland West High School from 1944 to 1951, he produced eight state championship teams while compiling a record of 150 wins, 30 losses and one tie. He was the national high school representative to the National Collegiate Wrestling Rules Committee from 1943 to 1956 and was inducted into the Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1971.
Active on the Cleveland sports scene for 41 years, eh served as athletic director at Cleveland James Ford Rhodes High School from 1933 to 1942 and subsequently as Director of Playgrounds and Community Centers for the Cleveland Board of Education. He was president of the Greater Cleveland Boxing Commission in 1953, National AAU Chairman for Olympic Development in 1964 and president of the Lake Erie AAU. He helped launch the Junior Olympics program in 1946.
Managed and backed softball teams from 1939 to 1964 and was responsible for the running of numerous World Tournaments held in Cleveland. His Sheffield Bronze teams won Jewish Recreation Council or Cleveland major titles for 15 successive years and played in an unprecedented eight consecutive World Tournaments form 1956 through 1962. Also backed bowling teams for 20 years and, at various times, hardball, women’s softball, Little League and basketball teams.
Served the Cleveland school system for forty years (1933-73) as a teacher and football coach, as supervisor of Physical Welfare and as Director of Athletics for the Cleveland Board of Education. Helped develop the Junior Olympics and Life Time Sports programs, both locally and nationally. Held the presidency of state and national associations of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and was secretary of the Cleveland Senate Athletic Council for 22 years.
Pioneer organizer of the 14-inch slow pitch softball leagues, he also started the first Cleveland 12-inch leagues after World War II. Was an outstanding player himself. Served on the board of the Cleveland Baseball Federation and as chairman of the first two World Slow Pitch tournaments staged in Cleveland.
Worked closely with the Cleveland area coaching fraternity for 27 years as president of Olympic Sport Goods, Inc. He was a football and track official for 40 years and for 37 years served as president and secretary of the amateur Cuyahoga Valley Baseball League. After his own retirement he formed an organization for retired coaches and athletic directors which he headed until his death in 1976.
Publisher of The Cleveland Kegler, one of the two oldest weekly bowling publications in the country, he was elevated to both the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame and the Greater Cleveland Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1971. Started the first charity bowling tournament in the nation. Began the Cleveland Press Charity Bowling Tournament and was co-originator of the Cleveland Plain Dealer “I Beat The Champion” Charity Tournament.