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Chagrin Falls Alumni Association

Keeping Tiger Pride Alive

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MARGARET H. CROWEL

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1943

Maggie earned from her classmates the nickname “swish” in a time when girls basketball was still more than 30 years from being an official sport in high school. Her athletic skills are well remembered. She was voted “Best girl athlete” from the Class of 1943. In 1945, she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, for which she starred in athletics. Maggie was a member of the Woman Marine basketball team which in 1960 won the East Coast Championship and was runner-up for the All Marine League Championship. She was also a member of the Quanitco and Paris Island basketball team and a player on the All Marine Tournament basketball team. Her teams in softball and bowling also won the All Marine Tournament championships. Maggie was presented the Highest 3-game Series Award by the Women’s Bowling Association of North Carolina.

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JANE PHEND

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1983

While she was an outstanding athlete in volleyball and track, it’s the basketball wizardry of Jane Phend that few will forget. She dominates the CFHS record books as she once did her opponents. Among her career records are total points, assists, and steals. She scored 43 points in a single game and 39 points in a state tournament game, also school records. During the 1983 season, when the Lady Tigers were State Runners-up, Jane averaged 24.9 points a game and 27.0 in tournament play. As a senior, she was UPI First Team All-State and Player of the Year AA. She was also AP First Team All-State. Jane played in the McDonald’s All Star Classic and was invited to try out the for Pan American Games in 1983. She went on to star in basketball at the University of Cincinnati, where she was a 4-year letter winner. In 1987, she won the Helen Norman Smith Award for her college’s Most Outstanding Senior Female Athlete. Also during her senior year, she was First Team All Metro Conference.

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THOMAS CHAMPLIN

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1975

Tom was the optimal blend of intelligence and athleticism. His capacity to set the course of a ballgame was brilliantly illustrated in the 1975 District Basketball Championship. Stealing the ball at mid-court on several straight possessions in the opening minutes, he set the tone for the game, propelling the Tigers to a District title in convincing fashion. Tom was All-Conference in basketball, baseball, and football. In baseball, he lettered four years as an infielder and catcher. In basketball, he was named a Plain Dealer All-Scholastic. He earned All-State honors in football. At the University of Virginia, Tom lettered three years as a flanker on the football team.

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BOB BISTRITZ

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1978

Bob’s tenacious play and athletic accomplishments earned him numerous awards in three sports at CFHS. During his senior year, he was Captain of the football, baseball, and basketball teams. He was the league’s Most Valuable Player in both football and baseball. Bob was named to All-State teams in both football and baseball. During his senior year, the Tigers were League Champs in football and basketball. He was the Cleveland Touchdown Club’s Player of the Year in the Chagrin Valley Conference. The Cleveland Press and Plain Dealer named him All-Scholastic in football. Bob earned two varsity letters in football at Bowling Green State University.

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DAN MILLER

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1972

One of the finest distance runners in CFHS history, Dan was instrumental in his team’s capturing the Cross Country State Championship in 1971. It was the first team from Chagrin to be hailed as State Champions. Dan placed third individually. He held his school’s 2-mile record for more than a decade. For two years in Chagrin Valley Conference competition, he was undefeated in the 2-mile run. Dan also established several meet and course records in Northeastern Ohio. As a senior, he won the Vern Lockemer Award in track and was named All-Ohio in cross country and track during his junior and senior years. At Purdue University, he lettered two years in both cross country and track.

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WILLIAM EDWARDS

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1941

Anyone who saw Bill perform athletically, remembers the great determination of this former Tiger standout. Known as a “fighter,” he starred in three sports at CFHS. By the time he was a senior, he was regarded as one of the finest football players to ever wear a Tiger uniform. He was a fullback and linebacker who was selected for the Western Reserve All-League team three times. Bill was also a Press Star and Plain Dealer All Star in football. In basketball, he was All-League two years and a Press Star. In track, he was a State qualifier in the mile run.

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GLENN WYVILLE

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Basketball and Baseball Coach

Esteemed by his peers for his masterful game preparation, Glenn guided Tiger teams to 352 victories during his long reign (1960-1988) as Head Basketball Coach. His victory total ranks as one of the highest in the history of boys’ basketball in Ohio. Glenn’s teams won three district titles, eight sectional crowns, and seven conference titles. Three of his teams were in regional competition. He was selected Conference Coach of the Year seven times, and in 1987 he received the Greater Cleveland Coach of the Year Award. As head baseball Coach, his teams won two conference championships. He served as Athletic Director at CFHS from 1983 through 1991. Glenn was the Director of the Chagrin Valley Recreation Center from 1964 through 1988.

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DALE W. BRADLEY

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1965

Anytime Dale touched a football, he was a threat to score. The line of scrimmage didn’t matter much. With sprint speed and moves that dazzled, this elusive tailback was an integral part of the Tigers’ 29-game undefeated streak in 1961-1964. During his junior year, he was the Northeastern Ohio District scoring leader in football with 148 points. He remains Chagrin’s all-time rushing and scoring leader. In football, he won All-Conference and Press Star honors. In track, he set a school record in the 220 yard dash with a 22.2 mark. He tied the school record in the 100 yard dash with a 9.9 clocking. Dale also lettered in basketball at CFHS. He was awarded a football scholarship to Kent State University, where he was a 2-year starter and letterman.

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JOHN PIAI

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Football Coach

If a coach’s record speaks for itself, then another word need not be spoken for John Piai. John’s Tiger football teams were the toasts of this town for so many seasons that the electricity they generated still burns brightly in our collective memory. The number “29” flashes before us. John was Head Football Coach at CFHS for 29 seasons (1962-1990). He was an assistant coach for the first season and Head Coach for the next three of a 29-game undefeated streak from 1961 through the first game of the 1964 season. Then, there was the 29-game win streak from 1970 through 1973. All told his teams won 175 games. Included were eight conference championships and four undefeated seasons. He was Conference Coach of the Year eight times, and in 1972 he was selected the Greater Cleveland Coach of the Year. In 1987, his team reached the Division IV State Playoffs, and John received the Lee Tressel Award from the Cleveland Touchdown Club. An all-around athlete at Thiel College, he was elected to that college’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.

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DONALD R. SCHREGARDUS

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1968

It is only natural that playing along the Chagrin River and mixing chemicals in Neal Wheatcraft’s chemistry class are among Don’s fondest memories of his old hometown. In 1991, this former Eagle Scout was named director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency by Governor George V. Voinovich. As the top ranking EPA officer in the state, Don administers all laws and regulations dealing with environmental protection. He manages an agency of 1100 employees and a $70 million per year budget. Don has earned several prestigious awards for his work including the U.S. EPA Bronze Medal in 1989 and the EPA Superior Performance Award in 1976, 1982, 1983 and 1988.

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ROBERT J. HARMON

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1964

Bob credits his former teachers in Chagrin Falls for giving him the foundation from which to launch a successful career in medicine. In addition to his current appointment as Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Dr. Harmon heads the Division of Child Psychiatry there and is Director of the Infant Psychiatry Program. He has been the recipient of a Research Scientist Development Award and serves on the editorial board of several journals including the Infant Mental Health Journal, of which he is Associate Editor. Dr. Harmon is a lecturer on infants and family and has authored or co-authored more than 80 publications. He was recently elected to the Governing Council of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,

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PETER VAN NORT

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1955

An outstanding student and all-around athlete at Chagrin Falls High School and in college, Peter is currently the president and chief operating officer of H. B. Zachry Company, an $800 million a year construction and maintenance company in San Antonio, Texas. He was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1959. As a junior there, he completed the year as the top academic performer in a class of 850. As a senior, he was selected to be Brigade Commander, the highest ranking student military position. Peter was the first person in the history of Navy to be commissioned into the Engineering Duty Corp directly from the Naval Academy. Early in his career, he worked with Admiral H. G. Rickover, managing the application of nuclear power in ships.

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JOEL M. JONES

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1955

Joel’s splendid academic performance at Chagrin Falls High School was but an early chapter in a life replete with scholastic achievement. Since 1988, he has been president of Fort Lewis College, the public liberal arts college for Colorado. For the previous 19 years, he was a professor of American Studies at the University of New Mexico, where he received his Ph.D. in 1966. He earned his B.A. from Yale University in 1960 and his M.A. from Miami of Ohio in 1962. Dr. Jones has published more than 50 scholarly articles, chapters of books, and reviews covering such topics as American social/ intellectual history, environmental studies and cultural diversity. In 1972, he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Educational Press Association of America.

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RICHARD W. EVANS

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1951

Owner of Evans Printing Company for 26 years, Dick’s talents and altruistic endeavors have been duly recognized by the communities in which he lived and worked. In 1968, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Chagrin Valley Jaycees. Sun Newspapers selected him as “Citizen of the Year” for Solon in 1992, the same year he was named to the Solon Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame. Numerous paper companies have presented him awards of excellence in printed communication. Dick was president of the Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce in 1967 and in 1994. He is a life member of several local organizations including the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, Valley Art Center and the Chagrin Falls Historical Society.

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Mark Gebler

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1975

Community Service Award
Like many fathers in Chagrin Falls, Mark Gebler became involved in the youth programs of his sons (Scott ‘00, Brett ‘02, and Zak ‘05) from Indian Guides to football and wrestling. However, Mark not only took lead roles in these ventures, he continued on with them when his sons went on to high school and college. His volunteerism began with the Chagrin Valley Jaycees where he was Co-Chairman of Blossom Booths and Games from 1983-86. He was also Chairman of Blossom Time Run water stops for 14 years. His efforts were recognized in 1995 with the Chagrin Valley Jaycees Distinguished Service Award as the Outstanding Jaycee. From 1989-93 he was Nation Chief for the Geauga County YMCA Indian Guides. His duties included promoting, organizing events, including field trips for approximately 225 youth members and their fathers. His efforts were also felt in the Chagrin Athletic Association. During the 1990s, Mark was the Head Wrestling Coach and Commissioner of Wrestling building the program from 16 wrestlers to 61. Additionally, he was a Head Football Coach in CAA at this time. He would later volunteer as a football coach on the CFMS staff for 12 seasons. Further, he has continued to volunteer as the Head Statistician for the CFHS Varsity Football Team, a role he began in 1997. Mark had a 36 year career in the postal service with 10 years as the Postmaster of Chagrin Falls. A highlight from his career was overseeing the naming of the Chagrin Falls Post Office to the Sgt. Michael M. Kashkoush Post Office Building. Michael Kashkoush ‘01 died while in combat in Iraq, while serving in the U.S. Marines. Mark continues to volunteer in a number of roles in Chagrin today with his wife Debi Shukys Gebler ‘75.

Email Us:

If you have an updated address, phone number, or email, then please include that in the message area below.

    Contact Info:

    alumni@chagrinschools.org

    440.247.4387

     


    CFAA Alumni Director:

    Brian McKenna '88

    Office Manager:

    Jana Young ‘82

    Find Us:

    Chagrin Falls Alumni Association

    400 East Washington Street
    Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

    We invite you to join the growing numbers of volunteers who are helping to ensure a bright future for the CFAA and Chagrin Falls Schools. Whether it is through your time or resources, all of us appreciate your generous gifts. To become more involved, contact the Alumni Association. We look forward to your comments, questions, and suggestions. Don’t forget that we appreciate your help in making the CFAA run successfully with the donation of your annual dues of $20 or more.