Active in the sport of hockey for 58 years as a player, coach, goal judge, timekeeper and supervisor of minor official. Played 16 seasons of amateur hockey, including six with the Blepp-Coombs teams of the ’30s. Coached at Western Reserve and Case tech from 1939 to 1942 before going into pro ranks as a minor official. Started as goal judge with the Cleveland Barons, became game timekeeper in 1949, a job he kept until the 1974-75 season with the Cleveland Crusaders. Appointed supervisor of minor officials in 1972. Retained that job until 1978.
Reynolds, Billy
Billy Reynolds
Induction Year : 1980
Sport: Football
A pro football star with the Cleveland Browns for three years after a notable career at the University of Pittsburgh, he became a prominent high school football and basketball official, officiating state final contests in both sports during a career spanning over 20 years. As president of the Cleveland Touchdown Club he revived a failing organization and made it an important part of the Cleveland sports scene once again. Has also been active in the promotion of the Cleveland Browns Muny Football, Pee Wee and Bantamweight Leagues.
Mraz, Jo
Jo Mraz
Induction Year : 1980
Sport: Bowling
One of the founders of the Cleveland Women’s Bowling Association, she served as its secretary from the time it was founded in 1918 until her retirement in 1945. Also founded the Central States Ladies Bowling Association and served as its secretary for 33 years. Was a member of the Board of Directors of the Women’s International Bowling Congress for seven years and an officer for four. Elected to the CWBA Hall of Fame in 1956 and to the WIBC Hall of Fame in 1959.
Dunn, Jimmy
Jimmy Dunn
Induction Year : 1980
Sport: Boxing
A fine professional lightweight boxer in the early years of the 20th century, he retired to Cleveland and opened a gymnasium on the city’s West Side which was to produce some of the nation’s best fighters under his tutelage. His first renowned pupil was Johnny Kilbane who won the world featherweight title in 1912 and retained his championship for 11 years. Two other Dunn-trained boxers, bantamweight Carl Tremaine and middleweight Bryan Downey, fought the reigning world champions and are members of the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame.
Gombos, Zoltan
Zoltan Gombos
Induction Year : 1980
Sport: Media
The editor and publisher of several ethnic weekly newspapers serving the Greater Cleveland area for over 40 years, he has been a vigorous supporter of amateur sports. In 1956 he was a major factor in the establishment of the Cleveland International Invitational Fencing Tournament. The tournament grew to be one of the country’s best-known fencing competitions. He also served as Ohio’s racing commissioner from 1952-59.
Marotta, Vincent G.
Vincent Marotta
Induction Year : 1980
Sport: Softball
A prominent Cleveland business executive who devoted much of his time to the support of athletic activities in the Greater Cleveland area. Backed numerous youth and adult softball teams and has also been a consistent backer of youth and adult bowling leagues. Served as regional director for the amateur Athletic Union. Also an active member of the Shaker Heights Country Club for many years.
Gardner, George W.
George Gardner
Induction Year : 1980
Sport: Sailing
The mayor of Cleveland from 1890 to 1896, he left a profound mark on yachting, both locally and nationally, through his innovative planning. To preserve a portion of the lakefront for the people of Cleveland when railroads began laying their tracks he founded the Cleveland Yacht Club in 1878 and served as its commodore from 1878 to 1894. Founded the Inter-Lake Yachting Association in 1885 to develop a sensible handicapping rule for sail yachts and was commodore of the I-LYA from 1885 to 1894. Was the driving force in establishing the Yacht Racing Union of the Great Lakes and finally organized the North American Yacht Racing Union (now the U.S. Yacht Racing Union) in 1897 to further develop equitable handicapping rules on a national basis.
Bossu, Augie
Augie Bossu
Induction Year : 1980
Sport: Football
Head football and baseball coach at Cleveland Benedictine High School for over a quarter century, he is considered among the most successful coaches in Greater Cleveland scholastic sports annals. His first Bengal football team in 1955 enjoyed a 9-0 season, including a 47-6 victory in the City Championship game. He captured eight more city crowns and the 1957 Ohio high school championship before Benedictine left the East Senate in 1971. In 1973 and 1980 the Bengals won the Ohio Class AA state championship playoffs and Bossu was named Ohio Coach of the Year for a second time in 1973. His baseball teams have won nearly 75 percent of their contests and eight city titles. He is a member of the Ohio High School Coaches Hall of Fame.
Weiser, Benjamin “Bud”
Bud Weiser
Induction Year : 1980
Sport: Softball
Coached and managed many of the city’s finest women’s fast pitch softball and basketball teams during the 1920s, including the Fleming Furniture Girls’ Team which was the national fast pitch champion from 1922 to 1927 and won the international championship in 1927. Among his players were such area greats as Stella Walsh, Whitey Doljack Primosch, Rose Boczek, Rose Nagy and Ann Smith.
Ferenczy, Alex
Alex Ferenczy
Induction Year : 1980
Sport: Track & Field
One of the nation’s finest women’s track coaches for nearly a quarter century, he took the coaching reins of the Cleveland Division of Recreation Track Club (later the Cleveland Track Club) in 1957 and produced five Olympic and/or Pan-American Games contestants, including two-time Olympic Champion Madeline Manning. His athletes won and outdoors. He coached the U.S. Women’s Olympic Track Team in 1968 and 1976, and coached several National AAU squads before retiring after the ’76 Olympics.
Miller, Earl
Earl Miller
Induction Year : 1980
Sport: Hockey
Active in the sport of hockey for 58 years as a player, coach, goal judge, timekeeper and supervisor of minor official. Played 16 seasons of amateur hockey, including six with the Blepp-Coombs teams of the ’30s. Coached at Western Reserve and Case tech from 1939 to 1942 before going into pro ranks as a minor official. Started as goal judge with the Cleveland Barons, became game timekeeper in 1949, a job he kept until the 1974-75 season with the Cleveland Crusaders. Appointed supervisor of minor officials in 1972. Retained that job until 1978.