Author’s Commentary

Many years have passed since I last walked the hallways as a student at Ironton High School. The building has since been torn down and replaced by a modern structure. Yet, no heavy equipment can remove the memories of my time in that iconic structure. Senior march-ins and march-outs at the auditorium, sitting upstairs as a freshman in the auditorium’s ‘peanut gallery’( the last freshman class to do so), lifting in a weight room without air conditioning or functional windows, the new gym decorated for the prom in 1980 (first junior class to select that site), using Ohio University’s computer room and writing programs in BASIC, eating lunch upstairs in the cafeteria my senior year with football players such as Brent Wilcoxon, David Clay and Darwin Conwell, and receiving an outstanding education from distinguished teachers such as Sherman Blagg (Best math teacher I ever had at any educational level.) and Murray Greenstein (It’s hard to top hearing about Woodstock and Vietnam from a man who was actually there!).

(L) The hallways at Ironton High School were once walked by nationally-famous athletes such as George McAfee and Coy Bacon. (CL) Senior portraits were shot in the summer. With Ironton’s strict haircut policy (off the neck and ears with a finger’s width of space above the eyebrows) for all sports, students often let it grow long in the summer. A few guys even sported a little facial hair which was also taboo. (CR) Sherman Blagg, a brilliant mathematician, taught my Algebra I, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus and Computer Math classes. (R) Eye-catching lockers in school colors were added while I was a student. Each full-length locker contained a built-in combination lock. Unfortunately, students quickly found out that the locks could be defeated by simply jerking the upper corner of the locker. Students subsequently added their own locks to eradicate the problem.

One of the great traditions during our time at Ironton High School was senior march-ins. With the others classes already seated in the auditorium, seniors marched in right past the rest of the kids to take their seats near the stage. While the other classes remained seated, seniors would march out of the auditorium.

John Moritz, a senior, struts into the auditorium for an assembly. Marching in behind John Moritz is Nita McClary. Seated on his right side are Sheila Rath (dark hair) and Lisa Snoddy, juniors from my homeroom. Tim Steele, a junior, is seated behind the young ladies. I am seated to Tim’s right.

The two-floor auditorium was a beautiful facility that was capable of holding about 1,200 people. It was the perfect facility for major school and community events. When I was a freshman at Ironton High school, pep assemblies for the football team were held in the auditorium. With a booming band and a loud student body, pep assemblies inside the auditorium were thrilling and earsplitting.

Pep rallies for the 1979 football team were conducted inside the new gym. The Ironton Sports Center (Harold Conley Center) was a nice facility, but pep rallies never had the same ambiance inside the massive gym.

Students and teachers at Ironton High School openly discussed teachers’ unions and strikes during my time in the building. The 1978 strike at Logan and media coverage of strikes at other school systems in Ohio brought the topic to the forefront. Unlike other districts around Ohio, Ironton had no teachers’ union. One teacher told me that he/she was a professional and did not need a union. Another teacher vowed that he/she would never join a union.

Years later, the Ironton district finally unionized. Interestingly, both teachers became members of Ironton’s union.

Frau Ori was my teacher for German I and German II. Friedrich was my designated first name in her class.

She was a talented and well-loved teacher. During her time in the building, German became the most popular foreign language at Ironton High. I must have talked a few dozen kids into taking her class.

“Frau Ori’s favorite color is lavender, she loves pizza, and the only thing she dislikes is winter. Her hobbies are traveling and reading. The thing she likes most about life is people.” (1978 yearbook)

Even after all these years, I still have a decent vocabulary. Here is a brief message to one of my favorite members of the Ironton High faculty. Du bist sehr schön! (You are very beautiful!) Can’t forget those German umlauts!

The school produced both academic and athletic stars during my years in the building. Yet, it was a team accomplishment in 1979 that thrilled an entire city and set in place a new bar for football at Ironton High. Despite the passing of almost four decades, the accomplishments of the 1979 football team are just as vivid in my mind today as it was my junior year in high school.

I was privileged to grow up in the Sedgwick Meadows area of Ironton. Within easy walking distance was the Sedgwick Dairy Bar at 1725 Thomas Street (owned and operated by Thelma Mowery), the ballfields at the Ironton Junior High School on Delaware Street, the hills along U.S. 52 which the local kids hiked and a colossal private pool called Sta-Tan that was owned and operated by the Staton family.

This group of Ironton High students from the 1975 yearbook took time to climb the high dive at Sta-Tan Swim Club. The high dive was strategically positioned between two lower diving boards. The depth of the water directly below the higher diving board was fourteen feet.

I must have climbed that staircase thousands of times every summer. The lifeguard sat in the nearby elevated chair, and high divers had no problem drenching the chair’s occupant with a well-placed ‘cannonball’ or ‘watermelon’.

The pool was a virtual orphanage every summer. Once the membership price was paid, the pool became the cheapest babysitter in town.

This Green Valley house served as Fred Staton’s business office in 1964.

Not only did residents of Sedgwick Meadows and Green Valley typically join the nearby pool owned by the Staton family, most of us lived in homes constructed by Mr. Staton. Some of us even lived on streets named after members of the Staton family.

(L) Sta-Tan Swim Club, a private pool that opened in 1960, saw enormous crowds in the 1970s. There were days when the massive parking lot was so full that cars parked on Means Street. Many kids peddled to the pool and locked their bikes on the bike rack. At times, it was nearly impossible to find your 10-speed or banana-seat bicycle in the rack. As a high schooler, I enjoyed flying off the high dive, pick-up basketball games on the weekends and euchre over at the covered-concession stand. Slowly, the city’s declining economy took a toll on the business. The iconic pool failed to open for the 2018 season, leaving the city without a facility offering vital swim lessons. ( R) Released on October 20, 1979, Tom Petty’s breakthrough album made him one of the hottest artists around. I can still remember hearing Don’t Do Me Like That (Released in November 1979, it was the band's first Top-10 hit.) and Refugee (Released in January 1980, it peaked at 15 on the charts.) blasting away on the jukebox located in the concession area at Sta-Tan. Tom Petty, now a rock legend, passed away in 2017 while I was in the process of writing this story. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

When I was first asked to write this article, I felt that I was not the appropriate person to convey the story of these young men. After all, I was a kid that walked away from the football program following my freshman season. Although I am not sure if I would have added anything more than an extra practice body, a few team members might feel that I should have gotten off the diving boards at Sta- Tan and joined them at physical fitness and two-a-days.

On the other hand, I believed I was fully capable of telling their amazing story. I knew every player on that 1979 team. I had tackled most of the backs, and I was blocked by most of the linemen. I was also close friends with several of the players.

(L) The 1977 freshman football team at Ironton High School had a large contingent of kids on the team when the season started. The number dwindled to around 17 or 18 before the end of our schedule. We had a great team, and our only loss was at Waverly in the final game of our season. We are pictured here in our red practice jerseys with ‘Ironton Frosh’ on the front.

We wore the red jerseys to varsity home games at Tanks Memorial Stadium, where we worked gate security and performed other tasks for the school. Most of our team worked to secure the gates and field from improper entry. I was positioned in the stands to ensure people did not hop the fence into the reserved seats.

A few freshmen performed duties for the varsity team on Friday nights. “David Clay and I were managers for the team, so we travelled and schlepped bags and equipment, and set up cups of Coke in the locker room that the team got at halftime,” recalled Steve Sutton in a 2018 interview.

Not a single member of the freshman team ever complained about what we were asked to do on Friday nights. All of us considered it a great honor to help out.

(R) Our head coach was Tom Ben. Jeff Handley was his assistant.

Seated (L to R) Terry Royal, Craig Dunson, Steve Sutton, David Clay, Rod Rowley, Dick Carter, Fred Ehrlich and Gary Underhill

Kneeling (L to R) Jim Lewis, Jim Ridgeway, Kent Koerper, Scott Willis, Darwin Conwell, Brian Carter, Steve Malone and Lon Hilton

Standing (L to R) George Lewis, Keith Sanders, Larry Lambert. Patton Riffe. Darrell Harris. Dan Fisher and Brent Wilcoxon

Ironton residents living on the southside of Ironton took advantage of the convenient shopping offered by Bartram Brothers Grocery. Steve Bartram operated the store throughout the week, but ended up down at Sta-Tan Pool on weekends in the summer for the pick-up basketball games.

Older men like Steve Bartram, B.J. Hannon and Lowell Bodmer ran the basketball court. Paradoxically, I sometimes ended up getting picked to play on Bartram’s team over kids around my age who were on the varsity basketball team at Ironton High School. Steve would always encourage me to launch a long shot by yelling, “Cash it, Ridgeway!”

Nobody wanted to win those games more than Steve Bartram. His illustrious defense and hustle had changed little since his collegiate playing days. Steve once dove through a chain-link fence surrounding the baby pool to save a loose ball. It took all of the players to lift the fence in order to pull out a bleeding Steve. Steve wiped the blood off his back with a towel and went right back to playing basketball.

Ironton had a J.C. Penney’s that was superior to the one in Ashland, KY. With so many local residents working there, the store never felt corporate. Penney’s offered a warm, friendly shopping environment. Young children in Ironton eagerly anticipated the opening each Christmas season of the upstairs ‘Toyland’. Penney’s could outfit every adult or child in clothes from head to toe. The store would also create and sell clothes that promoted our local schools. Penney’s kept the downtown business district busy throughout the 1980s. The corporation consolidated the Ironton location when a new mall in Ashland, KY opened on October 23/24, 1989. Glimcher Company, mall developers, received a couple million dollars in assistance from the Kentucky city and paid no property taxes for the first twenty years of operation.

Rick Mayne was a part-time employee at Penney’s during 1974-1975. “Gordon Walker was the manager of J.C. Penney's in Ironton while I worked there,” said Mayne in 2019. “He had an interesting combination of veteran employees who had been with the company for quite a while, and a group of newer, younger employees just making their mark in the business world. My neighbor, Harold Wireman, was the assistant manager at Penney's, and he had spoken up for me to catch on with the store, not uncommon at the time, in a community like Ironton where everybody knew somebody. I worked primarily with the maintenance guy and out in back of the catalog center near the loading dock. I did help stock Toyland in advance of its season, and to add in new merchandise as it arrived.”

Mayne added, “The catalog center stayed busy. Hard to imagine, but folks would actually order things by mail (or call), and come pick them up at the catalog desk. City and county residents alike made regular trips to the Penney's catalog desk to retrieve purchased items not available in the store. Toyland was a big deal during the Christmas shopping season. You could see parents bring young children up the impressive staircase from the main sales floor, eager to see what new toys or old favorites Santa Claus had put on display.

Mayne continued, “It seemed everyone in town shopped at Penney's. The various departments had employees assigned to work those areas so customers could get help with items from a knowledgeable store associate. The store had a chime system for paging certain employees (I was one of them.). A specific chime pattern which could be heard all over the store by employees and customers alike, was rung from the business office for a Penney's representative who could address a particular need.”

“Penney's in Ironton was a bustling, pre-shopping mall place to look for household goods for the bath and bedroom, shoes for every member of the family and clothes for every season,” recalled Mayne in 2019. “It was one of the anchors at the time of a busy downtown business district, and staffed with local residents who shoppers could relate to as neighbors, friends and trusted retailers.”

This is what downtown Ironton looked like during the 1974-1975 school year. Residents of Ironton shopped primarily in town. Very few residents bothered to drive to Ashland, KY to shop. With numerous shopping options in town, there simply was no need to do so.

There was not a large shopping mall in our area in the 1970s. Columbus, Ohio had a few malls, but that was a long and inconvenient drive. Things changed for every downtown business district in the Tri-State when the Huntington Mall opened in 1981 near the end of my final year of high school.

The 2nd annual Tri-State Fair and Regatta took place the weeks leading up to the 4th of July weekend in 1979. Ironton held a three-day event as part of the Tri-State Regatta. A huge tent was erected on Parcel One near the downtown mall area. The Shrine Energy Parade was one of the major events. Musical acts, including a gospel music festival on Sunday, were on the schedule. A scheduled water ski show on the Ohio River had to be cancelled due to river conditions.

“Last weekend’s Ironton Regattafest proved a shot in the arm to downtown Ironton and to the citizens in general,” wrote Art Ferguson in a 1979 Ironton Tribune commentary. Ferguson added, “Never have we seen such a large crowd downtown, except during the Memorial Day Parade.” Hank Haller, who brought his band to town, told Art Ferguson, “We enjoyed being in your beautiful, clean city of Ironton.”

The hydroplane races was the most popular part of the Tri-State Regatta. After racers discovered dangerous, choppy water at nearby Ashland in 1979, the Valvoline Cup Races found a new home in the calmer waters off Ironton. On June 28 and June 29 in 1980, as many 12,000 people were expected to watch the race sanctioned by the American Powerboat Association.

The above photo, by an unknown local photographer from an unidentified Regatta year, depicts the Ironton boat races. (Image courtesy of Briggs Library) Memorial Hall, a historical structure that housed all city offices in that era, is on the far right.

All area hotels were booked solid in advance, and members of the national media were expected to be in town to cover the event. Besides the boat races in 1980, Ironton had the privilege of hosting the Regatta’s circus. After the event was cancelled by the Huntington Civic Center for a lack of ticket sales, the circus utilized empty space near the downtown mall on Center Street in Ironton.

Hydroplane races on the Ohio River brought thousands of people to the downtown. While race fans lined the banks of the Ohio on both sides, the best view was from the Ironton-Russell Bridge. Cars would stop and catch the action on the western side of the bridge. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

The Valvoline-Budweiser Regatta boat races were part of the National Powerboat Association circuit. Irontonians quickly became familiar with the Seabold family, prominent boat racers from the St. Louis area.

Featuring strong musical acts and amazing food, the Regatta was something all Ironton residents looked forward to every summer. Pontoon boats quickly became a popular way for affluent residents to take in all the festivities from the river.

Many older residents liked to sit under the tents and listen to the polka music provided by the Hank Haller Bavarian Band while munching on traditional food provided by Schmidt’s Sausage Haus. It would be after midnight before the massive street party slowed down and the crowd started to disperse.

In addition to the significant cultural, social and economic impact on the community, the Regatta served for years as a major town reunion. It was always exciting just to walk around and see what old friends you might run into.

Like with Sports Day, Jim Heald was highly involved in the early Ironton Regattas. Heald also managed to weave the Sports Day ceremonies into the fabric of Ironton’s segment of the Tri-State Fair and Regatta.

(L) Darwin Conwell, the 1981 Jack Wolfe Scholarship winner, was among a plethora of outstanding student-athletes at Ironton High School. Conwell is now a physician. (R) On May 17, 1981 at 2:00 p.m., inside a sweltering basketball gym, my classmates and I received our high school diplomas at the school’s 113th commencement. Ironton won big on the field and in the classroom during our time at Ironton High. It was truly a golden age for the Fighting Tigers and the school system.

My senior year at Ironton High School saw the remarkable appearance of a future POTUS on stage in the school’s iconic auditorium. Only a Million Dollar Marching Band was good enough to play for a man that would eventually become our 41st POTUS. Woody Hayes, the fabled Ohio State University football coach, also spoke to promote the election of Ronald Reagan.

Tim Hickman, on stage that day as a junior band member, recalled in 2018, “We practiced what we knew like the back of our hand, over and over, via the stern eye of the staunch maestro himself, Ralph Falls. We did our national anthem proud. The band shined like a million bucks!”

“Ken Auble, owner and operator of WIRO/WITO-FM at the time, worked diligently on providing coverage of the event,” recollected Rick Mayne in 2018. “Station personnel were granted clearance and access to the I.H.S. auditorium. Ken and I worked in advance to tote broadcast equipment from the station's vehicle.” Mayne also remembered a likely U.S. Secret Service agent inspecting one of the last cases he lugged into the auditorium.

“I’ve learned that Jimmy Carter and I have something in common,” Bush said to the Ironton audience in 1980. “We’ve both lost debates to Ronald Reagan.” Bush also vocalized opposition to the proposed SALT II agreement with the Soviet Union. “We do not trust the Soviet Union,” declared the campaigning Bush. “We will enter into a treaty that will reduce these weapons, but we’re also going to keep the United States strong.”

Wednesday, October 29, 1980 was likely the initial appearance of George Herbert Walker Bush to our area. Sadly, President Bush passed away on November 30, 2018 while I was in the process of writing this story.

(L) Participating in the 1981 Memorial Day Parade was the final school function for my classmates in the band. Leah Rae Osborne (right), my childhood neighbor and classmate, speaks with Patty Rase before marching in her final parade as a proud member of the Million Dollar Marching Band. (C) The parade route has changed several times over the years. Participants marched up 6th Street when I was in high school. (R) Ralph Falls, Ironton band director, guided the Million Dollar Band through the parade route.

The band had enough members to form a script ‘Tigers’ on the gridiron in 1979. Dotting the ‘I’ in Tigers was a great honor for a band member. Phil Heald, a senior in 1979, had the privilege on at least one occasion.

Murray Greenstein taught my World History and Current Events classes. He was part of an outstanding faculty at Ironton High School.

With at least three players now deceased and the remaining players in their fifties, it’s certainly time for their incredible story to be recorded and preserved for the ages. When one of the players informed me he was sick, I knew it was time to push my reservations aside and plunge full steam into composing this article.

Still, I discerned I would encounter difficult moments while researching and writing this tribute story. The drowning death of my classmate and former football teammate, Darrell Harris, still haunts me to this day. Near the end of our sophomore year, a bunch of guys at a lunch table in the school cafeteria planned out a great canoe race at nearby Lake Vesuvius. My designated boating partner and I failed to make the trip to the lake.

My mind has always wondered if my presence at the lake would have made a difference for my friend. Would another strong swimmer in the water have helped in getting Darrell to safety? Would I have used my brain that day and tossed him a paddle or a preserver? Could I have guided my canoe to his aid? Unfortunately, I will never know the answers to a bevy of questions that have flowed through my mind over the years. It’s something I probably should not dwell on, but I recognize I am somewhat complicit in the planning of a canoe contest which resulted in his death.

The Ironton High yearbook contained a eulogy to the Fighting Tiger.

The academic achievements at Ironton High School often reached a championship level, too. At the preliminary part of Ohio University’s American History Contest, Ironton High School demonstrated it was unquestionably the best academic institution in Lawrence County and one of the finest high schools in Ohio. Three Ironton High School scholars, including the author, were among the 165 Ohio high school students earning the right to take the American history final examination in Athens, Ohio. On November 4, 1980, State Senator Oakley C. Collins sent a letter congratulating me on the academic accomplishment.

(L) Kent Freeman (left) and Steve Sutton (right) were named valedictorian and salutatorian in 1981. Freeman, an exceptional cross country and track runner, finished with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Sutton, salutatorian of my class, took home the 1981 Tiger Clan Award. (R) Steve Sutton performs an experiment in the chemistry lab.

Both young men were active on scholarship teams. As members of Mrs. Lewis’s chemistry team, they made a spectacular splash at the district and state levels. Freeman, a close friend since grade school, placed first in the Ohio University district and third in the state. Sutton finished third in the Ohio University district and twelfth in the state.

Students from Ironton High School were active at the annual Science Fair. Lorie Wyant, a junior during the 1980-1981 school year, was recognized for her superior presentation on interferon. Superior ratings qualified for the district Science Fair held inside the Convocation Center on the campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Following college, Lorie put her communication skills to use as a TV news anchor/reporter.

This change purse, with the 1979 football schedule printed on reverse, was handed out by a downtown bank to its customers. A decade later, the bank gave out an identical change purse with the 1989 football schedule printed on it. The change purses serve as simple reminders of the greatest seasons in Ironton High School football history.

There was also Larry Lambert to think about. Larry was the strongest and toughest kid on my freshman football squad. Coach Lutz started him on the offensive line as a sophomore. He was headed for a great football career at Ironton before his vision departed him. I have not spoken to Larry since college, but I frequently wondered about my classmate’s health and well-being. While researching this article, I was informed that Larry is doing well, and that he is planning on writing a book about his life. I wish Larry all the best in his book efforts.

Unlike today, the school system was full of students. There were several grade schools in town. The junior high school even had its own band. Ironton High School was a much bigger school in 1979. Despite some loss in enrollment, the building still had 740 students in the top four grades. By 2017, the enrollment number had dropped to 397 students.

Life was much different for kids living in Ironton during the 1970s. Most Ironton students came from a two-parent household positioned within a strong middle class. Divorce was still a word we spelled out like Tammy Wynette. Televisions were wooden boxes with small screens that rested on the floor. Cable television in Ironton started at channel 2, the high school’s public access channel, and ended at channel 13. Kids purchased their favorite music on albums. When we needed to call home from high school, we used the payphone inside the new gym. A 10-speed bicycle was the standard mode of transportation for most kids. When a licensed high school student wanted to drive somewhere, he or she typically had to ask the parents about borrowing the family station wagon. Even then, we could hardly afford to drive our gas-guzzling cars in 1979. Dependable economy cars, such as the Toyota Corolla, became prized cars. The 1973 oil crisis drove the price of gas from a national average of 38.5 cents per gallon dramatically upwards. During the summer of 1979, which is often called the second oil crisis, long lines at gas stations could be found in Ironton. There was great fear of possible gas rationing due to the Iranian Revolution. In order to prevent gas theft, people across the country purchased locking gas caps to place on their existing vehicles.

Compared to what people see today, Ironton was a much different city. There was substantial industry in the city, a full-service hospital, and a downtown business district anchored by J.C. Penney and S.S. Kresge. Ironton boasted two Kroger stores and numerous other grocers. Irontonians shopped for clothing and groceries in town. Residents of Greenup County crossed the Russell Bridge to shop our downtown. Many Irontonians worked in the factories and stores here in town. Nearly all Irontonians, and even some residents of Kentucky, were born in Ironton at the Lawrence County General Hospital. Without doubt, the city school system provided the best education in the county.

Ironton residents enjoyed a memorable Christmas in 1979. The best Christmas gift came early courtesy of the football team at Ironton High School.

In contrast to the current public school system, there were numerous grade schools (West Ironton, Lawrence Street, Kingsbury, Campbell, Central, Whitwell and Lombard) scattered throughout the city. We played basketball and football for the neighborhood grade school we attended. My father took these photos before I walked down to the Ironton Junior High School for a Saturday morning game. The back of the purple and gold jersey had our team name, Bears, on it. The grade school games were typically played before a packed house. After each game, our coach usually treated us to a tasty meal at Burger Chef. (Photos by Will Ridgeway)

Tim Hodges, a 6th grader that would later become a varsity basketball star for the Fighting Tigers, managed to outscore my team by himself in a 1974 game. The Bears from West Ironton allowed an amazing 53 points. (Newspaper clipping courtesy of Tim Hodges)

The grade school football games were also played at the Ironton Junior High School on Saturdays. Unlike basketball, it was impossible to collect an admission when the field was unfenced. Crowds often lined the field in order to take in the intense gridiron action of the grade school teams.

After spending our 7th and 8th grade years together at the Ironton Junior High School, we lost our prior grade school identities and emerged as Fighting Tigers ready for high school.

Without a McDonald’s in town, Burger Chef was the place to eat for Irontonians in the 1970s. The highlight of grade school football and basketball was a trip to Burger Chef after the game. Located fairly close to the high school, students would often sneak out of the school at lunch time for some great food. These classic images were found in the 1971 and 1972 yearbooks.

(L) J.C. Medinger was an integral part of the staff at Ironton High School. Besides his counseling duties, J.C. teamed with Pat Sheridan to teach Driver’s Education to the students at Ironton High School. Mr. Medinger told me that I was the worst driver that he ever had behind a steering wheel. But with his great instruction, I surprisingly passed the driver’s exam on my first attempt!

Mr. Medinger also worked part-time in the Ohio University office. His presence in both offices made the transition from Ironton High School to the local branch of Ohio University seamless.

(R) Following my freshman year, Gene Jones was hired to replace Andy Nameth. Mr. Jones immediately set about policing the hallways at Ironton High School. With a military background and the vocal command of a drill instructor, kids jokingly started calling him ‘G.I.’ Jones. He was extremely effective in keeping the building under control.

By the time I was a senior, Mr. Jones knew who the good kids were and loosened up a little with them. He once caught me eating a bag of food from Burger Chef in the school cafeteria. He leaned over and said, “That looks good. Bring me back something the next time you go up.”

CB radio was our generation’s smart phone. People had to have one close by. By 1975, most residents had a base unit in their home and a ‘mobile unit’ mounted in their car. Large antennas allowed you to communicate for free to places miles away from you. You could travel knowing that the police monitored an emergency CB ban. Truckers and other motorists alerted you to nearby wrecks or the presence of state troopers using radar.

CB clubs formed around the country. Users needed to learn F.C.C. rules, CB jargon and basic etiquette.

As a young teenager, I remember talking on the CB with a teenage girl that lived across the Ohio River in Kentucky. I always figured she probably looked like a truck driver, but when I met her in person by accident a decade later, my eyes found her quite attractive.

(L) Mearan’s, a successful downtown clothing store, celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1979. (R) Drive-in theaters such as the 500-car Trail in Ashland, KY provided cheap entertainment for local movie enthusiasts. The East in Huntington, WV had room for a thousand cars and was the largest Tri-State drive-in.

(L) People actually bought their clothes in town. Harmon’s was one of the popular places to shop in 1979. (R) Smokey and the Bandit was the top attraction at the 500-car Tri-State in Chesapeake. The 400-car Starlite Auto Theater in South Point and the 500-car Corral in Flatwoods, KY were other popular outdoor theaters in the area. Young couples often enjoyed the ‘privacy’ provided by the outdoor theaters. It was also great for families on a tight budget. Kids could play on the playground, run to the concession stand for snacks and sleep in the car while their parents watched multiple movies.

S.S. Kresge was a nice place to shop, or to get a good sit-down meal. Along with J.C. Penney, the two companies anchored a diverse and vibrant downtown business district in 1979.

Kresge was a favorite place for little kids in Ironton. Provided that I behaved while my mom shopped, she would treat me to a toy from Kresge, a meal that we would eat by a window facing Center Street and possibly a ride on one of the metal coin-operated toys on the sidewalk outside the store’s front.

Yet, the signs of change were in the air. I recall that the downtown business slogan for 1975 was, “Ironton will come alive in ’75.” Urban Renewal, a poorly-conceived federal program, had turned a chunk of the downtown business district into a weed field. Ashland, Inc., the area’s most significant employer, was threatening to pull its corporate headquarters out of nearby Russell, KY. Additionally, city school enrollment was in decline.

A company that made Valvoline, one of its divisions, a national brand, was worth fighting to keep. The prestigious company decided to relocate out of the area in 1999. Once a household name in Ironton, Ashland, Inc. has rapidly become a part of the city’s and region’s forgotten history.

Founded by Mr. Paul Blazer, few kids living in Ashland today have any idea why their high school bears that name. The same could be said for Ashland’s middle school which is named after George M. Verity, the founder of American Rolling Mill Company (Armco). Unlike Ashland, Inc., which has virtually vanished from our region, AK Steel (formerly Armco) still operates, albeit, at a much greatly-reduced capacity in Ashland.

Together, a bustling Ashland, Inc. and a full-capacity Armco made our small part of Appalachia a great place to call home. Besides paying a great wage with ample benefits, both companies were generous benefactors of education, the arts and local charities.

(L )The Dayton Malleable plant was the backbone of the Ironton community. (R) First National Bank was the 30th oldest national bank in the United States in 1979.

Dayton Malleable was a substantial employer of Ironton residents. The plant was vital to the health of the Ironton economy. ‘Malleable Mules’ was a nickname the hardworking, foundry workers proudly gave themselves.

The city’s 1979 economic problems seemed temporary, minor and solvable. Many city leaders believed the optimum solution was to change the form of government in Ironton. A city charter commission was formed to examine eliminating the city manager position and going with a strong mayoral form of government. The formation of a charter commission sent a wave of optimism throughout the community.

The biggest 1979 game for Ironton was not played on a gridiron. Ironton was in the process of changing its governmental structure. A new form of government sounded like an easy solution to the city’s woes. Unfortunately, the charter was not a panacea for all the problems in the river city. In the decades following the adoption of the charter, Ironton continued to lose business and industry.

Despite a slight economic downturn in Ironton, a new restaurant opened in 1979.

Residents in Green Valley Estates and Sedgwick Meadows had the convenience of shopping at Fad. As a kid, I often went there to buy packs of baseball cards. Inside each pack of baseball cards was a hard stick of bubble gum.

High school football was played under a different set of rules and standards in 1979. Blocking below the waist was legal and freely utilized. Helmet-first tackling was typically viewed as a ‘great hit’ instead of a 15-yard penalty and a likely ejection. There was no concussion protocol. Players that got their ‘bell rung’ typically took a few plays off before returning to action. Physical contact during practice often exceeded what a player might experience during a game. Water breaks during training camp and practices were few and far between.

Football was truly a game for the tough- and conditioned-athlete. No coach in the country had a team better prepared for such battle than Bob Lutz. The 1979 team had players that were strong and able to run all day. Conditioning gave Ironton an advantage in the second half of nearly every game. The weight room, located upstairs in the Ironton Sports Center (now called the Conley Center), was always full of life. Mandatory lifting for football was not necessary as it was already an institutionalized activity at the school. Great camaraderie existed in the weight room with lifters encouraging each other to set higher personal records.

It was an enormous achievement to get your name up on the big board which hung on the wall near the weight benches. Three hooks existed under every weight class to hold the names of the best lifts in bench press and deadlift. Weighing 155 pounds, I managed to get my name up there for a 235-pound bench and a 315-pound deadlift.

Coach Schrickel was a great instructor and role model for all the school kids using the weight room, and a few of us, including the author, continue to lift weights to stay in shape. Schrickel concluded his response to my request for comments for this tribute article to the 1979 football team with the brief phrase, “keep on lifting”. Those three words of motivational advice should not surprise any of Coach Schrickel’s former athletes.

My junior high football coach, Mark Lewis, along with my freshman football coach, Tom Ben, did a remarkable job with the wrestling team. The wrestling program produced several outstanding wrestlers in the 1970s and 1980s.

No group of Ironton athletes worked harder than the wrestlers. I remember watching wrestlers skip their lunch in order to make weight. Some wrestlers would run laps in the gym with heavy winter clothing on to help shed the final ounces.

A memorable moment for the Ironton mat program was Ken Fritz’s school-record, five-second pin in a 1976 heavyweight match against Wellston.

Ironton City Council recognized the monumental feat accomplished by the 1979 football team.

The 1979 football team has often been thought of as one of Lutz’s less talented squads. I think that is an absurd evaluation. The backfield in 1979 was outstanding. Brent Wilcoxon was likely the best quarterback that Bob Lutz ever coached at Ironton. Brent was cool under pressure, and he could run the option or pass the ball deep down the field. Gabriel Lewis is widely considered the hardest hitter ever at Ironton. Tim Hodges, the emotional team leader, had a senior season where he could have been named SEOAL MVP. Terry Royal had great vision as a running back and was very elusive. The backfield was extremely deep with Dennis Bacon, Jimmy Morris and Mike Smith waiting for a chance to showcase their talents.

Great talent was not limited to the backfield. Joe Fletcher was a very talented receiver. He had great size and soft hands. He was also the best placekicker I ever saw at Ironton.

With the losses of Lambert and Harris, the lines probably lacked significant depth. The offensive line was also small by today’s standards, but the guys could really run. The linemen could get out and block on a flip right or left. They were also pretty dedicated to the weight room. When push came to shove, they got the job done in the trenches. It was a cohesive unit that played well together, especially in big games.

(L) Jim Weber, an Ironton man, was just getting his feet wet in the insurance business in 1979. (R) When the 1980 yearbooks went on sale for nine dollars, few students knew that the school year would be a very memorable one.

Like most Ironton High School students, I attended several games during the 1979 regular season. I am sure I witnessed the Ashland and Jackson games. Whether I attended a game or not, I always caught the replay on TV-2.

(L) Mr. Phil Steed, a physics teacher that chaired the Science Department at Ironton High School, started theTV-2 program in a classroom at the high school utilizing just a one-camera videotape recording system. (R) Within a short period of time, the program had its own studio near the football stadium equipped with professional film equipment. The 1974-1975 TV crew proudly posed in front of their studio for the 1975 yearbook. “The time I spent around TV-2 probably fanned my flame of interest in broadcasting,” said Rick Mayne in 2018. Mayne added, “Clint McElroy got me involved in his live Bright Side comedy show that aired once a week from Phil Steed's physics lab. We wrote skits, performed them on camera and produced four lengthy Christmas specials under the Bright Side banner, 1973-76. When McElroy would dream up his Bright Side Christmas extravaganzas, the skits and special effects us ‘college types’ would bring to the studio, we would challenge folks like those pictured to make it happen. Often times, they did.”

“I think Ironton football game broadcasts on TV-2 in 1972 were some kind of collaboration between B.B. Crawford's local cable company and TV- 2,” stated Rick Mayne in 2018. Mayne added, “Phil Steed asked me to get involved in TV-2's ambitious coverage of Ironton High School football games, home and away, in 1974.”

“When they asked me to take over the job in 1971, I knew very little about TV,” said Mr. Steed in a 1979 Ironton Tribune story. “I am completely self-taught. I spent a small fortune buying books to learn about it.”

“We are one of the few city school systems in the 22-county Central Ohio Educational Television Association that even have a cable station,” added Steed. “This is quite an operation for a school our size.”

Two federal grants, yearly support by the Ironton Board of Education and money earned by students kept TV-2 a solvent entity.

TV-2 boasted a professional color video camera courtesy of Allied Chemical. The station had previously produced an industrial safety program for the local company. The station broadcasted all home and away football and basketball games in 1979. Home games were televised at 10:45 p.m. on Fridays with replays at 10 a.m. on Mondays and 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays. First telecast of away games was at 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Jay Wolfe, a sophomore, was TV- 2’s outstanding football announcer.

Dean Kennedy, one of the students highly involved in the TV program, worked with the younger kids at the grade schools and junior high to produce the weekly school news program on cable TV-2 in 1979. Kennedy, a high school junior, helped turn the young boys and girls into school reporters. The 30-minute weekly school news program aired at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and 10:15 p.m. on Fridays.

The station also featured programs from the COETV which aired from 8:00 a.m. till 3:30 p.m. during the school year.

The program had several graduates working in TV and radio in 1979. Rick Mayne and Russ Irish were at WIRO-WITO in Ironton. Jerry (J.B.) Miller was at WGNT in Huntington. Clint McElroy was working at WWBA-FM in Tampa, Florida. Howard Miller was working in television with WSAZ in Huntington.

By my senior year, Mike Barber had taken over for Phil Steed at TV-2. Dean Kennedy, Phil Irish, Victor Fox and Richard Cardwell were four of my classmates that I recall being highly involved at TV-2. I remember Cardwell lugging around that ridiculously-heavy video camera.

Tiger Quarterback Club, hosted by Coach Mike Burcham, was my favorite show produced by TV-2 during the station’s early years. The TV show ended before I got into high school.

In 2018, Rick Mayne provided a quick recap of the broadcasting careers for some of the program’s graduates. Howard Miller spent many years at WSAZ before becoming a producer/director at ESPN. Russ Irish worked many years in the media and video production department at Ashland Oil. Russ’s younger brother, Phil, worked part-time for a brief period at WIRO before doing production and studio assignments at WSAZ. Clint McElroy joined WKEE in Huntington before starting almost a 25-year run with WTCR-FM. J.B. Miller broke into radio at a very young age at WGNT-AM. In addition to radio stints in Cincinnati and Michigan, Miller has worked at area stations such as WKEE-AM and FM , WTCR-FM and WRYV-FM. J.B. can still be heard in the mornings at WXBW-FM.

Ironton had a local cable system in 1979. Tower Communications was instrumental in the rise of TV-2. That partnership made it possible for Ironton High student-athletes to go home after a game and watch the replay on their TV set. Dan Sutter, a starter for Akron S.V.S.M. in 1979, said in 2018, “I don’t remember any of the St. V.’s games during my playing years ever being on TV- either live or by rerun.”

I travelled to Groveport with my dad and brothers to catch the playoff game against Badin. It was a packed house, and we could not find a seat in the stands. We ended up leaning on the fence that lined the field. Mr. Boggs, our principal, stood next to me on my right.

At the half, Ironton was scoreless and down by a touchdown. I remember Mr. Boggs telling some fans that he was, “proud of the boys no matter how the game ended up.” I replied, “This team isn’t that good. We looked like we came out a little tight. We will roll in the second half.” Of course, that is exactly the way the game worked out.

Unfortunately, my father had to work on the day of the state championship game. I was asked by a neighbor to ride on one of the chartered buses to far-away Akron, but elected to listen to the game on the radio in the comfort of home. Like many Irontonians, my ears were glued to the coverage provided by Rick Mayne and his broadcast partner at WIRO. Rick’s electric voice and insightful commentary made all the fans stuck at home feel like they were right there in the booth with him. His description of the championship game’s final moments remain deep-rooted in my brain.

After defeating my West Ironton Bears 6 to 0, the Central Giants took home the 1979 grade school football title. It was the second time in the past three seasons that the Giants were crowned champions. Some of these young men would later go on to play for Coach Lutz at Ironton High School.

The 1979 football season was huge for Ironton and Ohio. Not only was the local high school football team having an extraordinary year, but so was the squad at Ohio State. Earle Bruce was in his first year as head coach of the Buckeyes. One of the finest players on the team was from Ironton. Ken Fritz, an offensive guard, was having an All-American senior year. After beating Michigan to cap an undefeated regular season, Ohio State was off to California to take on the University of Southern California in the Rose Bowl. In a game with a national championship on the line, Ohio State lost to a talent-laden Trojan squad in a very tight game. Still, it was a colossal senior year for Ken Fritz. Bob Hope, the famed comedian, introduced Fritz and the other All-Americans on national television during his Christmas Special. The National Football League also recognized Fritz’s talents. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Fritz. Fritz joined George McAfee and his brother, Wes McAfee, as the only Ironton Tigers ever drafted by the NFL.

It was incredible to see a young man from Ironton, my distant cousin, put Ironton on the national map in such a way. The whole city was proud of what Fritz had accomplished at Ohio State. For the student-athletes at Ironton High School, Fritz was the embodiment of what hard work, especially in the weight room, produced on the field.

This wire photo of Ken Fritz ran in newspapers across the country. When the Ironton football team was honored on February 10, 1980, the school also honored its Ohio State gridiron hero. The day started with brunch at the South Point Holiday Inn. An awards ceremony at the Ironton Sports Center (now called the Harold Conley Center) followed at 1:30 p.m. Fritz’s jersey was retired by the high school at the ceremony. The 1979 squad received team picture plaques, championship jacket patches and championship rings. A $3,700 donation by the Ironton Elks Lodge made the ring presentation possible. Admission was free for students and children, but adults were charged two dollars.

The 1979 state championship squad shared the spotlight that year with one of the greatest football players in school history, Ken Fritz. Fritz was a first-team, All-American guard on an Ohio State team that played in the 1980 Rose Bowl for the national championship. Recognized as the team’s strongest player, Fritz had a bench press of 430 pounds. Fritz also had amazing speed and agility. He often pulled from his guard spot to block. As an Associated Press All-American, Fritz appeared on the Bob Hope Christmas Special which was nationally broadcasted. Fritz was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is the only player in the Bob Lutz era at Ironton to be drafted by the NFL. (Photos by Jim Ridgeway)

The ceremony to honor the state champions and Ken Fritz took place at 1:30 p.m. on a Sunday. (Image courtesy of Craig Thomas) “This is a great event for Ironton High School,” said Athletic Director Mike Burcham. “Today we honor two of the biggest events in Fighting Tiger football history. One is our first state championship and the first in southeastern Ohio and the other is a great football player.”

“I believe having my jersey retired is the greatest honor I was ever given,” said Fritz in 2017. “When your hometown bestows that type of honor on you, it is just something words can’t describe. One of only three in our rich athletic history- it amazes me.”

With his younger brother, Rick, on the 1979 football team, it was a memorable day for the Fritz family. With a state championship ring on his finger, Rick had about the only football award his older brother failed to earn in high school.

“I am extremely proud of the fact my brother, Rick, was on that championship team,” said Ken Fritz in 2017. “I’m also honored. It is a very proud moment when your alma mater wins state championships because it is not an easy task.”

Rick Fritz, a sophomore on the Ironton High School football team in 1979, had plenty to grin about with a state championship ring on his finger.

“He’s a tough kid who loves football,” said Glenn Mason of Ohio State to reporters about Ken Fritz on December 26, 1979. “He possesses tremendous physical strength.”

Kenny Fritz appeared on the Bob Hope Christmas TV Special that aired across the nation on December 13, 1979. Most residents of Ironton, including the author, tuned in to catch a glimpse of the hometown star.

Nearly every member of the 1979 Ironton team had known Ken Fritz for years. Despite his stardom at Ohio State, Ken was always good at coming back to the alma mater. As a teenager, the author even had a chance to lift in the same room with Ken Fritz during the summers at Ironton High School.

“He’s the epitome of what athletics are at Ironton,” said Coach Mike Burcham in an Ironton Tribune special edition tab highlighting Fritz’s great football career. (February 10, 1980)

By the time he finished at Ohio State, Ken Fritz had an athletic resume that made him a household name in the city, county and state. (Image courtesy of Tim Hodges)

“We are very proud of his accomplishments at Ironton High School and Ohio State,” stated Coach Lynn Schrickel in 2017.

Ken Fritz, the star offensive guard at Ohio State, was the biggest name in Ironton that year.

“I get goose bumps to this day when I go to Ironton football games,” said Fritz in 2017. “I’m extremely proud to be from the program. We have been able to accomplish a great deal over the years with our confidence, attitude and hard work.”

“As I have always said, I was blessed to play at the high school and college levels for the best coaches in the country,” said Fritz in a 2017 interview. “It is certainly true of Coach (Bob) Lutz and Coach (Woody) Hayes. They cemented their places in football history. There will never be any others like them.”

‘Coach Lutz was a perfectionist,’ recalled Fritz. “Things had to be done right or he wasn’t happy. He expected discipline on and off the field.”

“When I was a sophomore, I remember having to get a haircut if you wanted to play football,” explained Fritz. “It wasn’t about the haircut as much as it was commitment to the team. If you wanted to be part of the team, you would get a haircut. Remember, I grew up in a high school era where long hair was the thing to do.”

Fritz continued, “I also remember Coach Lutz was never a person to lay out compliments to anyone. He was tough on you, and expected you to perform or get out of the way. That motivated me to be the best I could be because I wanted to prove to him I could do it.”

“Coach (Lutz) gave me the opportunity when I was a sophomore in high school against Meigs County,” remembered Fritz. “Coach Lutz didn’t like playing sophomores. He didn’t think you were ready to perform on Friday nights. I’m forever grateful for him giving me that opportunity.”

“I was in college and had become an All-American in 1979 before I ever received a compliment from Coach Lutz,” stated Fritz. “I guess I was always trying to prove to Coach Lutz and his coaches that I was good enough. That’s what motivated me throughout my career. I looked up to those guys.”

Even with a state championship trophy on the table, all eyes were focused on Ken Fritz. Fritz joined George McAfee (#13), the legendary back for the Chicago Bears, as the only players have their jersey retired by the high school. Coy Bacon would later join that exclusive group.

Coach Jim Payne (far left), a former football star at Mississippi State, and Senator Oakley C. Collins watched the ceremony from behind the table. Senator Collins, a strong advocate in the Ohio General Assembly for our entire region, passed away in 1994.

The other man, partially obscured by the trophy, appears to be Ohio Representative Ron James. (Image courtesy of Craig Thomas)

“My grandmother made the cake for this celebration, shaped like (the state of) Ohio,” recalled Steve Sutton in 2018.

The Ironton Sports Center, now known as the Conley Center, had a nice crowd on hand to honor Ken Fritz and the 1979 state championship team. The team was seated on the gym floor in front of the speaker. (Image courtesy of Craig Thomas)

Ken Fritz (70) is pictured with Coach Lynn Schrickel and Coach Tom Ben. Front row (L- R) Tyree Allen (40) Alfonso Johnson, Ronald Vinson (88) and Donald Vinson. Rusty Mittendorf is standing in the back row. Coach Schrickel’s son, Mike, is also in the photo. During his tenure as head track coach at Ironton, Lynn Schrickel compiled a nearly perfect dual-meet record. (Photo courtesy of Lynn Schrickel)

Coach Schrickel was honored by Findlay College in June 1975 for his work with the Ironton track team. He was presented the Frank G. Egner Memorial Award for his outstanding coaching.

When it came time to name a 1980 Ironton Sports Day honoree, the accolade went to Ken Fritz. Indisputably, Fritz had earned the homage by the committee. With Woody Hayes in attendance, it was one of the best events the committee ever produced at the Ironton Country Club.

Implausibly, the 1979 Ironton football squad had to wait a full decade to be recognized by the committee. Even then, the men had to share the stage with the talk-of-the-town, the recently-crowned 1989 state football champions from Ironton High. After a 25-year wait, Ironton High School finally honored the 1979 Ironton football team on the field at a game in 2004. It was a memorable time for all in attendance.

While the 1979 football team had to share the stage with the 1989 football team, the 1972 AA state baseball championship team fared far worse with the Ironton Sports Day committee. The young men that brought inordinate exultation to their community never received recognition at the prestigious event. It was likely the greatest oversight ever made by the committee.

“That first state championship win set off a wild celebration that began in Columbus and stretched all the way back to Ironton,” recalled Rick Mayne in 2018. “Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Carrico got our group back to Ironton just as the impromptu parade got rolling downtown, complete with the trophy- bearing champs riding an Ironton fire truck down Second Street. The baseball championship set the tone for what it takes to play for state titles, as would happen numerous times in Ironton's gridiron future over the next three decades.” Nevertheless, I always viewed the 1979 Ironton football squad as forgotten men that never received sufficient recognition by their community. Unlike most schools, Ironton High had so many great gridiron teams in the Lutz era that the 1979 squad became a distant memory. In the school’s defense, the Ironton Fighting Tigers simple won too much to make a big deal out of one football team from 1979. From 1979 until the early 1990s, Ironton played for a state title almost every other year.

(L) The pizza place on Elm Street was another popular place to gather after the game. It was extremely convenient for fans living near West Ironton Elementary. (R) Unlike today, Ironton was a new-car town in the 1970s. The Chevrolet dealership was one of many new-car dealerships in town. John Wolfe, also known as ‘Wolfie’, was a prominent backer of Ironton athletics in 1979. Even after the sale of the family automobile dealership, the local attorney has continued to serve as one of the school district’s strongest advocates and boosters.

Yet, the school and community owe so much to these men. The players on the 1979 team won Ironton High its first state football title and helped put the city on the state map. The team proved that Ironton could defeat the best teams in Ohio- including the big parochial schools up north. A state title made the Tigers a true powerhouse in Ohio football.

I also believe the 1979 team changed the public’s perception of Coach Bob Lutz. He was no longer considered a very good area coach. With a championship trophy in hand, Coach Lutz was widely-recognized as one of the best coaches in the state of Ohio. Fans in Ironton finally realized that the best man for the Ironton football job was Bob Lutz.

One of the most popular groceries in town was Tipton’s. This photo from the 1981 yearbook shows Mrs. Helen Vinson helping customers select some doughnuts.

Tipton’s Bakery was a ‘staple of life’ for Ironton residents until its closure in 2003. This rare photo of the inside of the bakery was taken on the last night of baking for the Ironton company. Arriving around midnight, Tom Tipton and his small crew worked meticulously to turn out a from- scratch product second to none in the country. The locally-owned and locally-operated company was a major sponsor of Ironton High School athletics and the Million Dollar Marching Band. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

Along with a plaque, each player received the above bumper sticker at the assembly to honor the 1979 state champions. (Image courtesy of Craig Thomas)

Undoubtedly, the 1979 team raised the bar for future Ironton football squads. Winning a S.E.O.A.L. title was no longer the big prize. A league title was just a step in getting to the playoffs and competing for a state title. Making the football playoffs became an expectation at Ironton, and winning state titles became the primary objective.

The football program at Ironton High School became the city’s calling card. When I started dating my college girlfriend, a 1983 graduate of Athens High School, I asked her what she knew about Ironton. She replied, “The only thing I know about Ironton is that they always killed us in football.”

Of course, Ironton rolled over many league teams besides Athens in the 1970s and 1980s. Few football teams in our area could offer much competition for the gridiron powerhouse. Winning so much made scheduling a huge challenge for the athletic department.

(L) The title win in 1979 led to wire stories like this one which was published on August 12, 1983 in the Dover Times Recorder. (CL) Many Ironton athletes and students toted their books and athletic equipment around inside a fashionable bag. Manufactured in school colors, the zippered case had Ironton Fighting Tigers printed on the exterior. Students would toss in whatever was needed and carry it around by the black handles. (CR) Scott Willis, my classmate and friend, was an excellent student, a rugged football player and a fantastic human being. (R) Steve Sutton (left) and Tim Hopkins (right) play a little euchre at a lunch table inside the school cafeteria during our junior year. Hopkins, a distant cousin and close friend, has on a flannel shirt which was fashionable during our time in the building. Since I was possibly the only kid in the high school to pack a lunch from home every day, I am confident that the paper bag on the table belonged to me.

Ken Fritz was honored at the 1980 Ironton Sports Day.

The players on the 1979 squad were in their mid- and late-20s when they were recognized by the Ironton Sports Day committee. With many team members living far away from Ironton, less than half the team attended the 1990 Ironton Sports Day. (Image courtesy of Craig Thomas) “The ultimate goal of anyone that is involved in high school athletics is to win a state championship,” stated Bob Lutz in the 1990 Ironton Sports Day program. “That is what you shoot for.”

(L) Rick Mayne of WXVK radio (right) interviews Scott Willis during the open house at the Ironton Elks Lodge, Wednesday night’s segment of the 1990 Ironton Sports Day ceremonies. (R) John Moritz smiles for the camera at the festivities on Wednesday night. (Images courtesy of Craig Thomas)

“This team was blessed with great athletes in Brent Wilcoxon, Joe Fletcher, Tim Hodges and Gabriel Lewis,” stated Bob Lutz in the 1990 Ironton Sports Day program. “It also had a group of linemen that accepted their roles and blended together beautifully, culminating with the big upset of Akron. This team will always remain special because it was our first state championship.” “I look back and think of the time and efforts put forth by so many football players, coaches and fans in order to achieve these titles (1979 and 1989) that it is overwhelming,” stated Lutz in the 1990 Ironton Sports Day program. “The almost year-around conditioning and work of the players, the preparation of the coaching staff, and the following of the many fans of Tiger football has allowed the City of Ironton to bask in the sunlight of success.”

Due to work requirements and many players living far away, the 1979 state championship team did not have enough players at the Wednesday Sports Day picnic in 1990 to fill a 6-man team in a tug-of-war contest with the 1989 state championship team. Bobby Lutz, a manager in 1979, filled the empty spot. Chris Wright, J.D. Cyrus, Brad Davis, Aaron Brown, Heath Brownstead and Dick Neal represented the 1989 team. The 1979 squad defeated the 1989 squad in the event. (L to R) Coach Bob Lutz, Brian Jenkins, Craig Thomas, Bobby Lutz, Joe Fletcher, Joe Hacker and Brent Wilcoxon. (Image courtesy of Craig Thomas)

The 1979 team was honored 25 years after their last football game. (L – R) Team members present included Rick Ferguson, Joe ‘Bubby’ Fletcher, Bruce Roach, Terry Royal (in blue), Vince Murdock (in back), Dr. Darwin Conwell (in suit and tie), Jimmy Morris (in back), Dave Morgan (in back), and Frank McClellan. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

“It was a honor and a thrill to be on the field with them at Tanks Stadium in 2004,” stated Rick Mayne in 2018. “It was a pleasure and privilege to have called their games that unforgettable season.”

The great 1979 squad was honored at Tanks Memorial Stadium on October 22, 2004. (L – R) Team members present included Dr. Brian Jenkins, Craig Thomas, Brian Rodehaver, Gen. Jeff Underhill and Tim Hodges. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

The crowd at Tanks Memorial Stadium on October 22, 2004 gave Tim Hodges and the state championship team a standing ovation. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

“I couldn’t be more proud of the players that were on that team,” said Tim Hodges in 2017. “To face adversity early on and pull it all together just in time to make a run for the title showed what we had inside of each and every one of us; the will to win. The last two games before the title game were ‘win or go home’. Well, we were never ready to go home, and walking off that field number one was an experience of a lifetime that I will never forget.”

Rick Mayne (center) interviews Dr. Brian Jenkins (left) at the 2004 team reunion while Gen. Jeff Underhill (right) looks on. (Photo courtesy of Tim Hodges)

“Like Coach Burcham told Rick Mayne (at the 2004 team reunion), ‘They might not have been one of our better teams, but they were on the scoreboard,’” stated Tim Hodges in 2017.

The title of this article came from a tribute song written by Tim Hodges following the deaths of two of his 1979 teammates. I found it a fitting title as virtually nobody in Ohio thought much of the 1979 gridiron squad. Even Tom Clutters at the Ironton Tribune

(L) Tim Hodges helped Joe Fletcher put on his orange jacket at the Ironton Hall of Fame ceremony in 2018. (R) Fletcher joined his former gridiron coaches, Bob Lutz and Mike Burcham, as members of the exclusive club. (Photos courtesy of Lori Thomas)

Fletcher is the first player off the 1979 team to be inducted. Hopefully, more players from that great gridiron squad will receive such honor in the coming years. purportedly voted for Wheelersburg over Ironton in the Associated Press poll. An abundance of naysayers only inspired the team to prove they belonged at the top of the football chart in Ohio.

With the 40th anniversary of that championship season fast approaching, the school and community have another chance to step forward and recognize the efforts of the players and coaches on the 1979 state championship team. Hopefully, folks at the school and city hall are already planning a major celebration for the 1979 squad. As part of such a ceremony, I would love to see the 1979 team step out of the tunnel under the stadium one more time and lead the 2019 version of the Fighting Tigers onto the field. Those exceptional men have truly earned the honor to do so.

The once-young football players are now men old enough to be called grandpa. No matter how many years have already passed, and will continue to pass, these men overcame enormous odds against a powerful opponent and walked off the not-so neutral field in Akron as the number one team in Ohio AA football. As one of only three state champions that football season, it remains the greatest on- field accomplishment by any team in Ironton gridiron history.

It is my sincerest hope that this article provides suitable tribute to a true hometown sports legend, the 1979 Ironton High School football squad, and keeps their gridiron legacy alive for future generations. Jim Ridgeway 2019

(L to R) Adam Ainsworth, Craig Thomas and Tim Hodges, seniors on the 1979 state championship squad, share a moment together in 2018. (Photo courtesy of Tim Hodges) 1979 Ironton High Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Score Sept 7 Ashland AWAY 6 to 0 Sept 14 Portsmouth HOME 22 to 18 Sept 21 Washington C.H. AWAY 13 to 13 Sept 28 Waverly AWAY 22 to 8 Oct 5 Athens HOME 35 to 0 Oct 12 Meigs AWAY No Contest (teachers’ strike) Oct 19 Logan HOME 42 to 6 Oct 26 Wellston AWAY 41 to 15 Nov 2 Gallipolis HOME 42 to 20 Nov 9 Jackson HOME 7 to 0 Nov 16 Hamilton Badin Groveport 21 to 6 Playoff Game Nov 23 Akron St.V-St.M. Akron Rubber Bowl 7 to 6 State Championship

This is how Tanks Memorial Stadium looked in 2002 for a visit by Ashland. The old stadium lights are clearly visible. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

Fall of 2019 will mark the 40th anniversary of Ironton’s first state championship in football.

When Steve Sutton was asked in 2018 about what it was like to take the field as a varsity football player, he responded, “It was a rush! Having the best stadium around, one that once upon a time served pro football, it made us feel invincible.

Like many Ironton kids, I attended games when I was in junior high school and looked forward to playing on that field myself someday. I especially enjoyed the pre-game warmups, which happened before the sky got dark, when you could see the stands filling up and feel the energy building for the game.”

The hallways of the high school we once attended are gone, but the recollections remain. On the left of the main floor was Ohio University’s business office which featured a prominent sign above the door.

First open door on the left of the main floor contained the I.H.S. guidance office. Next open door on the left was the principal’s office. The ticket booth and main entrance to the two-level auditorium can be seen on the far right.

Prior to the construction of its own campus, the branch of Ohio University was located within the high school itself. After school let out, the classrooms used by Ironton High School’s faculty filled up with college students taking night classes. Early college classes started at 5:15 p.m. on weekdays. Late branch classes started at 7:00 p.m. and continued until 10:30 p.m.

Principal Boggs was a strong leader. He was a strict disciplinarian, but popular with students. He also had a great rapport with the faculty.

(Top) The Million Dollar Marching band marched in Ironton’s Christmas Parade in 1980. The downtown Kroger’s store, one of two Kroger’s on South Third Street, is to the far right in this photo. (Bottom) The band performs on stage during the 1980-1981 school year.

(L) and (C) With a state championship trophy in the case, Ironton High School became the place for talented area players with immense gridiron dreams. My senior year saw the arrival of an athletic sophomore quarterback from South Point, Ohio named Mark Snyder.

“He fit in pretty well (at Ironton High),” recalled his Ironton High teammate, Mark Dickess, in 2019. “He was very competitive. He started quarterback as a junior, during my senior year.”

(R) After a successful stint in the collegiate assistant coach ranks, Mark Snyder was named head football coach at his alma mater, Marshall University, on April 24, 2005. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

Throughout his lengthy collegiate coaching career, Snyder has been a vibrant emissary for Fighting Tiger football. Like Ken Fritz, Snyder has remained close to his high school coaches and continues to credit the football program at Ironton High School for his success.

The young high school kid that I first met in the new gym during the summer of 1980 has become one of the most famous graduates of Ironton High School alive. About the Author

Mr. Ridgeway graduated from Ironton High School in 1981. An outstanding business student in college, his real passion was always history. In his spare time, he enjoys researching the history of his hometown and the development of professional football in Ironton, Portsmouth and Ashland. A member of the Portsmouth Spartans Historical Society, he appeared in Before the League, a TV documentary on early professional football that aired nationally in 2015.

Coach Bob Lutz talks with his team and staff in a 2002 game against Belfry. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

Coach Bob Lutz looks onto the field at Peden Stadium during a playoff game against Bellaire. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

After receiving his first head coaching job in 1969, Lutz compiled an impressive 381-91-5 record in 42 years as an Ohio high school football coach. Retiring from coaching following the 2012 season, he departed with the most wins in the history of high school football in Ohio. As of 2017, he ranked 17th nationally on the list of coaches with most wins in the history of high school football.

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“It doesn’t surprise me that Coach Lutz is the winningest coach in the state of Ohio,” expressed Ken Fritz in a 2017 interview. “He worked hard for that achievement, and mentored a lot of young men throughout his career. I know he made a huge impact on my life. Without the type of start I received from Ironton High School and the coaches, I would not have accomplished the things I did. To Coach Lutz and the staff at Ironton, I owe a great deal. It was an honor to have played for them.”

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“It is no surprise to me that Coach Lutz holds it (Ohio wins record),” said Tim Hodges in 2017. “He was very knowledgeable about the game, and had an excellent staff to boot.”

PLEASE NOTE: The above quotes by two former players were taken in mid-2017 prior to Lutz’s wins record being broken by another Ohio high school football coach.

(L) An euphoric Coach Bob Lutz embraces his, the school’s and the SEOAL’s first state championship trophy in football. (R) With the big win at the Rubber Bowl, Lutz had an eight-year record at Ironton High of 72-9-2, a .867 winning percentage, entering the 1980 football season.

Bob Lutz was selected SEOAL Coach of the Year seven times (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1982 and 1983). The year Bob Lutz won the school’s and SEOAL’s first state championship in football, the award went to Jackson’s Terry Adsit. The SEOAL was formed in 1925. (Photo courtesy of Tim Hodges)

Tim Hodges received this award for his performance on the gridiron. (Image courtesy of Tim Hodges)

There was no Eye of the Tiger being played by the Ironton Million Dollar Marching Band in 1979. Instead, it was the Ironton fight song which thrilled the fans and inspired the players.

“Honestly, as many times as we played it, I think I could pick up a saxophone today and hit every note,” recalled Lorie Wyant in 2018. “But I can still hear it- heavy on the woodwinds, because that’s where I stood in the band.”

“I can pick up a coronet or a trumpet and still hit every note of Men of Ironton,” replied Tim Hickman in 2018. Hickman added, “It’s just like typing class by Mrs. Mason; all finger memory/motion.”

“The year after we won state, before each home game, we would march around the back alley and around the block to enter the field for band run- on,” stated Tim Hickman in 2018. “We would say in unison to the drum beat, 1-2-3, ‘State champs’. It was so much fun.”

Coach Bob Lutz guards the door to the team bus before a game at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

“Bob Bruney got Ironton on the winning track, but Bob Lutz took it to another level,” proclaimed Mike Burcham in 2012 to the Herald Dispatch.

The fans at Tanks Memorial Stadium appreciated the covered roof whenever it rained, which it did against Belfry in 2002. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

A portmanteau of the words scenic and cruiser, Ironton’s GMC Scenicruiser stylishly, comfortably and safely transported the Tigers to numerous regular season and playoff games. Many Tiger fans, including the author, were often behind the team no matter where the illustrious bus was headed. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

(L) Fans continued to pack Tanks Memorial Stadium throughout Coach Lutz’s tenure. Little kids often preferred to sit on the concrete and dangle their feet over the stadium wall. This photo was taken at a contest against Belfry in 2002. (Photo by Jim Ridgeway) (R) The players on the 1979 state championship team received rings to commemorate their monumental achievement. The presentation rings were designed and manufactured by Balfour. (Photo courtesy of Tim Hodges)

These are the men that received rings for winning the 1979 AA state football championship. (Image courtesy of Tim Hodges)

“Those players that were with us at the end of the season gave 100 percent all the time,” said Tim Hodges in 2017. “That includes the freshmen that were brought up as well: David Morgan, Rick Ferguson, Vince Murdock, Bruce Roach, Mark Hixon, Frank McClellan and Mike Smith.”

The cover of the 1980 program for the Ohio football playoffs recognized the 1979 Ironton Fighting Tigers as AA champions.

Tim Hodges, Joe ‘Bubby’ Fletcher, Gabriel Lewis and Craig Thomas (L-R)

Joe Hacker, Gabriel Lewis, John Moritz and John Lewis (L-R)

Gene ‘Tink’ Williams, Ariz Sengal and Jeff Underhill (L-R)

Not pictured in uniform for yearbook: David Kelley and Jeff Crockrel

“Jeff Underhill, David Kelly and Jeff Crockrell were seniors that did not get a lot of playing time until we hit the SEOAL part of the schedule,” stated Tim Hodges in 2017. “But they didn’t miss a step when they were in the game. Jeff (Underhill) was a big hitter and tough as nails.”

Scott Willis, Terry Royal and Brent Wilcoxon (L-R)

Darwin Conwell, Steve Sutton and Patton Riffe (L-R)

David Clay, Jeff Jackson and Kent Koerper (L-R)

Bill Allen Not pictured in uniform for yearbook: Dick Carter and Brian Carter

(Photo courtesy of Lorie Wyant)

(L to R) Bruce Taylor, Dennis Bacon and Brian Rodehaver

(Photo courtesy of Lorie Wyant)

(L to R) Kraig Koerper and Jimmy Morris

(Photo courtesy of Lorie Wyant)

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(Left: L to R) Mark Dickess and Rick Fritz (Right) Dale Spencer

“There were three game balls that the Tigers got to take home with us to Ironton as a result of our stunning and unexpected victory,” said Steve Sutton in 2017. “One went to Coach Lutz, one went to the trophy case in the gym with all the other accolades from our sports program, and the third one was raffled by the Tiger Clan to raise money for the sports boosters for one dollar per ticket. I did not pay much attention to who won the raffle, but come graduation day a full year and a half later (1981), my good friend, Kent Freeman, gave me a graduation present, and low and behold, it was the third game ball. It even had the raffle ticket that they purchased taped to the ball!

This was a huge surprise, and I am happy to say that I still have that game ball. It is a prized possession of mine, and I have carried it with me for these many years. It proudly sets atop my desk in my house. I like to tell people stories about how I have ‘the game ball from the 1979 state championship’, which is really impressive of course. Then I tell them how I really came to get the ball, and then I tell them about the interception at the end of the game!” (Photos courtesy of Steve Sutton)

OHSAA recognized the players in the state championship games with the above certificate. (Image courtesy of Steve Sutton)

Representative Ron James made sure that each Ironton player was honored. (Image courtesy of Steve Sutton)

Special thanks to Coach Lynn Schrickel, Coach Mark Lewis, Ken Fritz, Rodney Boykin, Tim Hodges, Brent Wilcoxon, Steve Sutton, Mark Dickess, Jimmy Morris, Craig Thomas, Joe Fletcher, Gabriel Lewis, Brian Jenkins, Dave Berry, Rick Howard, Rick Mayne, Dan Sutter, Brian Dodds, Lorie Wyant, Tim Hickman, Tim Thomas and Joe Holtzapfel for their assistance with this article. Interviews with the above participants were conducted in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Article is an educational tribute to a hometown legend, the 1979 Ironton High School football team. Written and researched by Jim Ridgeway. Research conducted at Briggs Library, Boyd County Public Library, Carnegie Public Library and other sources. The efforts of the staff at these libraries were greatly appreciated. Another special thank you goes to the staff at the Lillian E. Jones Museum in Jackson, Ohio for their assistance. This story is dedicated to three 1979 team members- Joe Hacker, Kraig Koerper and John Moritz- who left us too soon, and my freshman football teammate and friend, Darrell Harris, who died only a few months before the 1979 season started.

This is the end of the author’s commentary. Please click on the next pdf to read the amazing story about the 1979 Ironton High football team.

Tanks Memorial Stadium (Photo by Jim Ridgeway)

Copyright Jim Ridgeway 2019.

All rights reserved. Republication, reproduction and/or modification expressly prohibited without prior written consent of author.