Winter 2009 - K-Space Web Page - Central Catholic High School

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24 Sports Winter 2009 Meet Our Coach Bob Smith When hen you fi nd out that Coach BBob Smith has worked at Central Catholic for over 30 ye years, you might think that’s quite an accomplishment. But when you add the fact that prior to CCHS he spent 30 years yea at Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic High School, you realize that he has worked for over 60 years in high school athletics. The only thing that might possibly overshadow that accomplishment is that he is marking his 90th birthday on December 20. A Long Career Coach Smith grew up in Norwalk, Ohio and attended Norwalk St. Paul’s for grade school and high school. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from DeSales College in Toledo in 1941. Coach Smith returned to his alma mater in Norwalk to teach woodworking, mechanical drawing, and electricity. He had played both football and basketball in school, and he started his coaching career in Norwalk in both sports. After two years at St. Paul’s, Coach Smith served in the Coast Artillery and the Air Force from November 1942 to October 1945. He then went on to work at Fremont St. Joseph, where he taught health and physical education and classes as varied as biology, business, and religion. He also served as athletic director for 30 years, head football coach for 28 years, and head basketball coach for 22 years. In 1976, CCHS president Fr. Martin Donnelly asked Coach Smith to come to Central Catholic as the business manager. He served in that capacity for almost 10 years as he continued his coaching career at CCHS. He then planned to retire, but Fr. Donnelly asked him to stay on in a different capacity. Coach Smith agreed to help with the work-study program for several years, and he remained as the freshman gray basketball coach for a total of 25 years and the freshman football team coach for nearly 20 years. “After all those years, I decided I didn’t want to be the head coach anymore, but I still wanted to help out,” Coach Smith says. Today, he continues to help coach the two freshman teams and serves as an athletic consultant at CCHS. He handles such responsibilities as securing advertising for sports programs, scheduling offi cials for various sports, and whatever CCHS athletic director Bill Axe needs him to do. Secrets to Success But what keeps Coach Smith working at Central Catholic as he approaches his 90th birthday? “Each time a new president has come into the school, he has asked me to stay on,” he explains. “I’ve always agreed, under certain conditions, like being able to come and go when I need to and not working a regular schedule.” Coach Smith says that most of all, he enjoys working with the kids, which is why he went into teaching and coaching in the fi rst place. He has been particularly happy at Central Catholic because of its family atmosphere and the outstanding administrators and athletic personnel he has had the good fortune to work with. Coach Smith is looking forward to his 90th birthday party, which his family has planned for him in Cincinnati. He and his wife Ethel had fi ve children and were married for 33 years when she passed away in 1975. He and his present wife, Eileen, have been married since 1977 and she has two daughters. They have 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. As for the secret to Coach Smith’s long and healthy life, he says, “The best thing I have is a great dinner and a Manhattan every night! Actually, I’ve been very blessed to have had not one, but two wonderful and supportive wives, and I’ve worked with some great people over the years. I just want to go day by day, but if my health continues, and Central Catholic wants me in that capacity, I’ll continue to be here.” Career Highlights • Led football teams to a record of 189-62 and 12 Sandusky Bay Conference crowns at Fremont St. Joseph • Football team won 27 consecutive games at Fremont St. Joseph, a state record at the time • Led St. Joseph basketball teams to 11 Sandusky Bay Conference crowns • Ohio Class A Football Coach of the Year, 1960 • President of Northwest Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administration Association from 1970 to 1974 • Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame • Mac Morrison Lifetime Service Award • National Football Foundation Hall of Fame • Ohio Athletic Administration Association Hall of Fame • Fremont St. Joseph Athletic Hall of Fame • Central Catholic High School Athletic Hall of Fame, Citizen’s Award One Faith. One Community. One Mission. Fighting Irish Teams Capture Championships The Central Catholic Fighting Irish fall sports teams were very successful this season, capturing several City League and post-season crowns. The following is a recap of some of their honors. Way to go, Irish! Cross Country The boys’ team won the district championship, fi nished third in the regionals, and competed in the state championship on November 1. The team, with only one senior in its lineup, fi nished 13th overall at the state meet. The girls’ cross country team had the City League individual champion in senior Kelly Karcher and fi nished third in the league standings. Golf The boys’ team fi nished third in the City League - one stroke behind St. John’s for second - fi nished fourth in the sectionals, and qualifi ed for districts. This was the fi rst CCHS golf team in the district meet in 17 years. Tennis The girls’ team fi nished third in the City League and had the doubles team of sophomore Morgan Delp and freshman Sydney Delp qualify for the state tournament. They were the fi rst state qualifi ers in CCHS girls’ tennis in over 25 years. The Delps won their fi rst match at the state tournament and lost their second. Volleyball The Lady Irish fi nished second in the City League, won the district and sectional titles, and lost in the regional semi-fi nal match.
2005 2006 2007 2008 FIGHTING IRISH FOOTBALL TEAM WINS 4TH STRAIGHT CITY TITLE With its 37-12 victory over Waite High School on October 24 at Gallagher Stadium, the Fighting Irish football team completed a perfect 10-0 regular season and wrapped up its 4th consecutive City Championship. Central Catholic becomes only the third team in Toledo City League history to win four consecutive outright City Championships. The previous two teams were Waite High School from 1932 through 1935 and St. Francis de Sales from 2001 through 2004. Bowsher High School was the last team to complete a perfect regular season when the team went 10-0 in 1978. Other Irish season highlights included a 31-14 win over St. John’s Jesuit in September, the 31-6 victory over St. Francis that keeps the Irish Knight in residence on Cherry Street, and the 24-21 homecoming victory over Whitmer High School in October.
Page 1 and 2: Winter 2009 SCARLETGRAY
Page 3 and 4: Dear Alumni & Friends, Greetings in
Page 5 and 6: Central Catholic Classes Feature Ne
Page 7 and 8: 1965 The ladies of ’65 have forme
Page 9 and 10: John Hancock ’55 and Eileen (Hick
Page 11 and 12: Kristin La Chapelle ’02 married S
Page 13 and 14: “I saw the profession ultimately
Page 15 and 16: that petition. Even if I had a new
Page 17 and 18: PRAYER One evening, Fr. Jim Miller,
Page 19 and 20: The Many Ways to Support Central Ca
Page 21 and 22: Students Take Part in Washington D.
Page 23 and 24: Meet Our Students The Irish Go to I
Page 25: Events Winter 2009 Central Catholic

Winter 2009 - K-Space Web Page - Central Catholic High School

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