Lakewood Lore

Hall of Fame recalls city's sports greats

Many of those who once sashayed through the hallowed halls of Lakewood High School remember their alma mater for its tradition of sports excellence.

"Lakewood's grads have always been proud of their school's sports achievements, and rightfully so," commented Alumni Director Anthony J.(Tony)DiBiasio.

DiBiasio can lead you, and will at the drop of a hat, to a 7-by-9-foot plaque in the East Gymnasium that lists awards won in nine different sports, representing 22 state championships and 26 second-place finishes.

One of Tony's prize projects - a Sports Hall of Fame, created at the school three years ago - now numbers 45 inductees.

"Who was the school's greatest athlete?" we asked.

"They say that as an all-around champion it was Norm Schoen, Class of '33 and one of our first Hall of Fame members," Tony pointed out. "He was a standout in basketball, football, baseball and tennis, but could have earned a varsity letter in any sport."

"He was Ohio tennis doubles champ in 1930, and in 1936 scored 117 points to lead the nation as a football backfield star for Baldwin-Wallace College. Norm died a few years ago. His wife and family live in Euclid."

Others enshrined, and their records, follow:

Bruce Wright, Class of '16, oldest inductee, now 93, still lives in Lakewood. Wright, an end and a punter, was first Lakewood High football player to make Plain Dealer All-Scholastic team.

Cliff Lewis, Class of '42, all-scholastic in football and basketball. Later played at Duke University. In 1946 he threw the first touchdown pass for the Cleveland Browns. It was to Mac Speedie in a game with the Miami Seahawks.

Lloyd Duff, also of '42, one of the greatest track men in Lakewood and Ohio history. Set indoor record of 8.5 seconds for 75-yard high hurdles. Also played varsity basketball and tennis.

The Graebners - Paul, '35, and Clark, '61 - were father and son tennis stars. Paul captured state singles championship in senior year. Son Clark won it three years in a row, played five years on Davis Cup team and was player-coach for Cleveland Nets.

Claire Doran, '41, considered one of greatest woman golfers developed in this area. Took four state, two mid-western, six city and three Westwood championships in amateur play.

State champ Frank White, '32, only Lakewood runner ever to beat Jesse Owens. At an Ohio meet he tied record for 100 and 220-yard dashes. Also lettered in football and basketball.

Dave Mills, '58, one of many who excelled in track. Holds school records in the 100, 220 and 440. In latter, he posted national record of 46.6 in 1958. Won five state championships and continued to set records at Purdue.

Pete Cusick, '71, starred in football, earning all-scholastic and all-Ohio honors. Played four years for Coach Woody Hayes at OSU and served several years as lineman with New England Patriots.

Remaining Hall of Fame players are William Schwartz and William Kastler, both Class of '26; Warren Blanke, '32; Bill (Whitey) Bocora, '37; Ken Eichwald and Cy Lipaj, both '41; Dick Jenkins, '42; Howard Duncan, '43; Alex Verdova and Don Burson, both of '45; John Sanders, '47; George Sehringer, Bob Burson(brother of Don), Chet Grob and Marty Mayer, all '49; Ed Lesko, '50; Ray Perkins, '51; Tom Zervas, '53.

Jerry Hershey, '54; Bin Barta, '54; Keither Moore and Jim Morick, both '55; Phil Dubensky, '57; Bill Edwards, '60; Marie Walther, '62; Alex Jamieson and Art Rowe, both '63; Dave Reid, '66; and Lori Haas and Judi Hart Norton, both '75.

Also inducted are Lakewood High coaches George Corneal, whose career ran from '17-'44; Jerry Ross, '22-'63; Ted Cunningham, '36-'71; Ralph Ness, '36-'50; and James Scullion, '43-'65.

"Are today's athletes better than they used to be?" we queried Tony, who came to the Lakewood School System in 1948 as teacher and coach, and advanced to administration before retiring from his full-time career in '85.

"Definitely," he replied. "The kids are bigger, faster, quicker and have more stamina. They start training younger and their coaching begins earlier.

"They have better equipment and better gyms, fields, tracks and other physical facilities. Also, the whole aura of athletics is more dominant today because of media exposure."

This article by Dan Chabek appeared in the Lakewood Sun Post August 23, 1990. Reprinted with permission.

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