Vol. 11 No. 1 Winter 2014 A W H A A - Preserving and maintaining the rich tradition of West High athletics HOWARD WHITSON, ’52, played base- in 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967. He was UPCOMING EVENT ball on West High’s 1951 state cham- on the OVC All-Conference Team, 1965, pionship team, and pitched a perfect 1966, 1967, EKU Most Valuable Player, “HALL OF HONOR” DINNER game against St. X. He played on the 1967, awarded the coveted C Ring, and Bentley Post Team that won 3rd place inducted into the EKU Athletic Hall of Wednesday, March 19, 2014 nationally in 1951, and the national Fame in 2010. He was drafted by the 5:30 PM championship in 1952. He was selected New York Mets in 1964. At Dayton Chris- The Meadows on Cleves Warsaw Pike best right-handed pitcher and to the tian School he was assistant baseball Addyston, Ohio All-National Team. He won 13 legion coach, assistant principal, and soccer GUEST SPEAKER: contests with a .333 batting average. coach. The track and soccer field is In 1951 and 1952 Recreational League named the Ronald G. Pinsenschaum Dave Lapham Basketball, he was on the City cham- Memorial Field, the school soccer camp (More information in article below) pionship team. He signed a Cincinnati is named for Ron, and the Ohio Scholas- Reds Bonus Contract in 1952, pitching tic Soccer Coaches Association Ronald in the minor leagues in 1953 and 1954; G. Pinsenschaum Award is presented to in 1954 he pitched for the Ft. McClellan Boy’s Soccer Coaches. 11th ANNUAL U.S. Army Team. With the Queen City HALL OF HONOR DINNER Umpire Association 25 years, he was KEN BRATER, ’71, received letters in high school, college, semi-pro baseball baseball, wrestling and football at West Wednesday, March 19, 2014 is the date and slow-pitch softball umpire, serving High. He was on the PHSL Sectional and for the 11th Annual “Hall of Honor” Din- as president in 1973. He is in the Price District championship baseball teams, ner to be held at The Meadows at 5:30 Hill Baseball Oldtimers Hall of Fame, and and on the PHSL championship wrestling PM. The guest speaker will be Dave served as security director for the Reds team, placing 4th in the league in 1970, Lapham, former offensive lineman for and Bengals. and 2nd in 1971. He was captain of the the Cincinnati Bengals, and now a sports 1970 and 1971 football team, MVP in broadcaster. Five outstanding West HARRY PANARO, ’57, played football, 1971, 2nd Team All-PHSL linebacker in High alumni athletes will be inducted baseball and basketball at West High. 1971, and Enquirer All-City Honorable into the Hall of Honor at the event - Erv His senior year in football he was on Mention in 1971. He was 1971 “That’s Single, Howard Whitson, Harry Panaro, the City championship team and was My Boy” Award candidate, and 1971 Ron Pinsenschaum, and Ken Brater. All-City. In baseball, he was on the 1956 Maroon “W” President. At Ohio Wesleyan PHSL championship team, MVP in 1957, University he played football 4 years, ERV SINGLE, ’51, played 4 years of and on 1st Team All-City his junior and leading the team in tackles his junior football at West High, receiving 2 varsity senior years. He played on the Eagles and senior years, and received 1 varsity letters. He won First Team PHSL and Savings and Loan Team and the Bentley letter in baseball. He served as assistant All-City honors, and honorable mention Post Team that was 1955 state champs. football coach at Milford, Harrison, Indian All-Ohio. He was starting center in the He attended Ohio University 1 year on Hill, St. Xavier, Western Hills and Oak victorious Ohio North-South All-Star football scholarship, then played for the Hills High Schools, and the College of Game, and was Maroon ”W” President. Cincinnati Reds in Geneva, New York Mt. St. Joseph. On athletic scholarship at UC, he played 1958 and 1959, was Most Popular Player 4 years on varsity and received 3 letters. in 1959, and 1st Team All-Star for the Cost for the Hall of Honor Dinner is $45 He was a volunteer assistant coach at league; he played in Missoula, Montana per person, $360 for a table of eight; West High during pre-season practice and Salem, Oregon in 1960. He coached reservations can be made using the under Bob Kappes in 1953-54, and vol- Our Lady of Lourdes baseball 12 years, Dinner Reservation Form on the back of unteer coach during the 1955 season. was inducted into the Price Hill Baseball this newsletter. For additional information He attended the San Francisco 49ers Oldtimers Hall of Fame in 2003, serving contact AWHAA President Bill Rothan at training camp, and was player-coach on the Board from 2010 to the present. [email protected], or Treasurer Bill Meier as a commissioned Army officer at Fort at [email protected]. Bliss, Texas. He was founder of the RON PINSENSCHAUM, ’62 (De- Arapahoe Youth League (AYL) in Colo- ceased), was on West High’s baseball, Plan to attend this fundraising event to rado, the premiere competitive youth football and gym teams. He played on support the WHHS Athletic Department program providing sports programs for the Gehlert Post Baseball Team that and maintenance of the “Hall of Honor.” approximately 20,000 boys and girls age won 2nd place nationally in 1962. He Help welcome these five alumni athletes six to fourteen. He coached AYL football attended Eastern Kentucky University into the prestigious sports Hall of Honor. 25 years, also serving as president, on full baseball scholarship, helping lead director, and administrator. the baseball team to win the OVC Division BILL SEITZ WINS AWARD FROM THE AWHAA PRESIDENT WEST HIGH HAS By William J. Gerhardt, MD, Class of 1946 BILL ROTHAN A MARCHING BAND AGAIN By William J. Gerhardt, MD, Class of 1946 State Senator William J. Seitz III, Class of There have been some remarkable reno- ’72, a Republican from Green Township, vations taking place at Western Hills High West High’s marching band is made up received the 2013 U.S. Chamber Insti- School. One thing that remains after the of students from Western Hills and from new paint, cleaning, and technology up- tute for Legal Reform State Legislature Dater High Schools. They marched to- grades, is the indelible FOOTPRINTS of Achievement Award October 23, 2013, at each and every student that have shaped gether for the very first time in the Chev- their annual meeting in Washington, DC. the history of West Hi. iot-Westwood Kiwanis Harvest Home Fair Parade on Thursday, September 5, The award honors individuals and orga- I came to WHHS as a young athlete in and won the trophy for the best (of 10) nizations whose outstanding work has 1968 and was not able to witness first band! Under director Kent Stine, they contributed to making America’s civil hand many of the ones who came before marched during the 2013 football season justice system simpler, fairer, and faster me. Through AWHAA I have been privi- and brought a lot of school spirit back for everyone. Bill was a key architect of leged to come face to face with many of to West High. There are 50 students in comprehensive civil justice reform in Ohio, the “stars” whose own FOOTPRINTS the band, and the Western Hills High spearheading groundbreaking asbestos created the foundation of the AWHAA School Alumni Foundation President, Hall of Honor. bankruptcy trust legislation that now Jim Frederick, bought the instruments, serves as a model for other states to follow. Once again, I encourage everyone to music, and uniforms for the reinstated spread the word to the alumni and com- band, and paid the music teacher’s Bill Seitz lived in Covedale when he at- munity to join us this year at the Hall of salary. It took $734,000 to revive the tended West High, graduating in 1972 in Honor Dinner, with guest speaker Dave great spirit of the good ole days. Both a class of 749 seniors – the largest class Lapham, former Cincinnati Bengal Of- Stine and Dater’s Lee Black have been in school history by that year. Bill was fensive Lineman. working with local elementary schools captain of the Mustang Cross Country to start school band programs. In 2012, Team under Coach Robert Adams and Bill And to all those who have left their a pep band did a stand-and play perfor- also played tennis for West High. Cross FOOTPRINTS, I urge you to return and mance on the football field at half time, Country and Tennis were both PHSL support AWHAA and give those who have but this past year the marching band followed in your FOOTPRINTS the honor champions in his senior year, and that brought important school spirit back to of meeting you. was the first time for West High’s PHSL the football field. championship in Cross Country since Looking forward to seeing everyone on 1950 and only the second Tennis PHSL March 19, 2014. THE GLENN SAMPLE championship ever. Bill was All-Around WRESTLING TOURNAMENT Boy in 1972 for his academic/athletic/ Sincerely Yours, By William J. Gerhardt, MD, Class of 1946 extra curricular activities. He was Junior Bill Rothan, AWHAA President Class President, Student Council Presi- The South West Ohio Wrestling Coach- dent, West High’s Boy’s Week delegate, AWHAA OFFICERS AND BOARD es Association (SWOWCA) holds its co-editor of the Annual, and belonged to two-day Glenn Sample Holiday Classic Maroon “W”, Hi-Y, the West High Council President ...............