Sunday, December 05, 1999
Butler Co. salutes sports heroes
BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — The years have gone by, yet the names still evoke memories of greatness: Lucas. Nuxhall. Ewbank. Walker.
They are just a few of the names that will grace the halls of a new wing on the second floor of the Butler County Government Service Center. The new portion of the building, known as the “Wall of Honor,” will feature the names of about 170 Butler County sports heroes.
They include the likes of Middletown basketball star Jerry Lucas, his late coach Paul Walker, former Miami University (and pro) football coach Weeb Ewbank, and Reds pitcher and broadcaster Joe Nuxhall, as well as the 10 athletes and coaches inducted last week.
“It will be very high-profile,” said Butler County Commissioner Chuck Furmon. “I think it will add a warm glow to the building, because it is something the whole community can identify with. Whenever there is sports involved with something, it is popular and you get a lot of interest from people.”
Mr. Furmon said nearly two-thirds of the wall will be covered with names when it is finished early next year. As visitors step into the hall, they will be greeted by the wall — constructed of imported, black polished stone — which will feature each Butler County Hall of Famer's name and year of induction engraved in gold lettering.
Halls a poppin'
The wall of honor is just the latest example of how more local communities have stepped up efforts to recognize past athletic achievement. Sports halls of fame are popping up like dandelions at area high schools.
The Butler County Hall of Fame was started in 1982 by local sports leaders including longtime Middletown sportswriter Jerry Nardiello.
“I think (the hall of fame) resurrects a lot of memories of athletes in the past who brought fame to Butler County,” said Mr. Nardiello, who covered Middletown sports for more than 50 years. “There are some outstanding people in that hall that brought a national spotlight to this area. This county has a reason to be proud of that.”
Several Butler County public high schools have sports halls of fame — including Fairfield, Hamilton, Lako ta, Madison, Middletown, New Miami and Talawanda. Among Warren County high schools, Mason, Franklin, Kings, Springboro and Waynesville have halls of fame in place or under development.
Community spirit
“We started a sports hall of fame in 1994 to try to build up a community spirit,” said Bill Stewart, athletic director at Fairfield Senior High School. “You see your Elders and St. X's — all of which have a population that remains the same. They have a strong tradition. We're a growing, very transient community where people move in and out. We thought doing this would build up community spirit and pride.”
Mr. Stewart estimated that probably 10 percent or fewer of Fairfield's athletes have fathers, uncles, grandfathers or other family members who played for the Indians, compared with St. Xavier or Elder, where probably 80 to 90 percent of the athletes had a family member go there and participate in sports.
Establishing roots
“We're trying to establish roots here,” Mr. Stewart said.
Middletown and Hamilton high schools will be enshrining their latest Hall of Fame inductees Dec. 12 and Jan. 16, respectively. For Hamilton, it will be the fourth class welcomed into the school's hall of fame. For Middletown, it will be the second.
“Obviously, it helps to honor the athletes,” said Ed “Skeeter” Payne, who served as Middletown High's athletic director from 1972 to 1976. “But it also lets the younger people know of the tradition in the school.”
Sue Kiesewetter contributed to this report.
INDUCTEES
The Butler County Hall of Fame welcomed 10 new members during a ceremony at the Hamiltonian Hotel in Hamilton. A crowd of 372 people attended the event, the largest attendance in the hall's 18-year history.
The latest inductees:
• Bob Alston of Hamilton High School.
• Mike Mueller of Lakota High School.
• Jane Murphy of Lemon- Monroe High School.
• Jack Reck of Middletown High School.
• Bob Schwab of Middletown High School.
• Ralph Smith of Fairfield High School.
• Willie Townsend of Garfield
• Charles “Mick” Urban of Seven Mile.
• Glenn “Duke” Winkler of Hanover.
• Jimmy R. Woodrey of Trenton (deceased).
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