Member of the first Cleveland Browns football team. Played in ten professional football championship contests was named all-pro end eight times. Played on Ohio State University’s 1942 national championship team before going into the U.S. Army. Decided to forego balance of college career in favor of pro football, basketball and baseball at Hudson (Ohio) High School. Inducted into Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1975.
Regarded as the finest offensive tackle in professional football during much of a ten-year career (1946-73) with Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams and Oakland Raiders. All-pro selection seven times. First round draft pick of Philadelphia after winning unanimous All-American selection as a guard at the University of Nebraska in 1963 and being named college football’s “Lineman of the Year” by the Washington, D.C. Touchdown Club. Began his football career at Cleveland East Tech High.
Deceased 6/16/2023
Established himself as the greatest place kicker in football during a 21-year career (1946-67) with the Cleveland Browns. Became the first player in NFL history to score 1,00 points and retired with NFL records for most career points scored, most field goals and most extra points. Also was a starting offensive tackle for 11 seasons. His most famous field goal gave Browns a last-minute 30-28 win over the Los Angeles Rams and the NFL championship in their first season (1950) in the league. Inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
Quarterbacked the New York Giants from 1929-1931, leading the teams to second place finishes in first two seasons. Giants owner Tim Mara purchased the entire Detroit Wolverines team in order to secure Friedman’s services. Was All-American quarterback at University of Michigan and part of the famed “Benny to Bennie (Oosterbaan)” passing combination there. Considered the greatest football player ever to play for Cleveland Glenville High School.
Helped develop an age-group track program that was adopted nationwide by the AAU and served as Greater Cleveland Area Chairman for this AAU sport from 1959 to 1970 and nationally until 1965. Served on the CYO Girls Sports Advisory Committee from 1968 through 1979 and on the Cleveland Board of Women Officials from 1962. She was chairman of the later organization in 1969 and 1970. Honored for her volunteer work in 1978 when she was presented the CYO’s Father James O’Brien Award.
A long-time volunteer in the solicitation of business support and financial guarantees needed to hold major tennis events in Cleveland, he helped make possible the staging of seven Davis Cup matches, five Wightman Cup matches and 17 other major national and international tennis events in the city since 1964.
Boating editor for The Cleveland Plain Dealer since 1943, editorial writer for Mid-American Boating News since 1970, he helped organize the Marine Trades Association and the Mid-America Boat Show. Was also a founder of the Great Lakes Historical Society in 1944 and helped establish I-LYA’s Junior Race Week in 1956.
Directing Supervisor of the Physical Education Department of Curriculum and Instruction for the Cleveland Public Schools since 1973, he has contributed thousands of free hours of service to promoting amateur sports in the Cleveland area since 1952. Former local AAU president and an AAU Basketball Committee Chairman on the local and national levels, a trustee for the Cleveland Golden Gloves Association and a founder and treasurer of the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame Foundation he has also been an active participant in the function of the Cleveland Baseball Federation, the Muny Football and Basketball Associations and the Amateur Softball Association.
A prominent figure in women’s modern gymnastics on the local, state and national levels for 30 years, she was manager for the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team, and served as an official, judge and chair woman or meet director at every AAU national championship, Olympic Trials and World Games Trials for women’s gymnastics form 1954 through 1970. Started the Cleveland-area AAU Junior Olympics gymnastics into the educational system at an AAHPER national convention that year. Awarded a Lifetime Membership in the Ohio Gymnastics Association in 1982 for service to the sport in Ohio.
An active member of the American Sokol Organization for 55 years as a volunteer gymnastics coach, competition judge, organizer of new gymnastics clubs in the Greater Cleveland area and clinician. He served on the local AAU gymnastics committee for 28 years and helped organize the first AAU Junior Olympic gymnastics program for boys and girls. Coached seven champions from 1955 through 1964, three of whom earned Olympic berths.