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.
KENNETH ROBERT LAUTERER
Basketball, Football, Baseball
Ken was graduated as CFHS’s most prolific record holder in basketball. During his three years of varsity play he established records for most points in a high school career (867), most points in a single season (618), most points in a single game (36 twice), and best scoring average per game (23.0). He was an All Conference, All-County, and All-Ohio selection his senior year. Co-Captain and MVP of the Tigers’ 1955-1956 state semi-finalist team (21-6), Ken’s leadership qualities were further illustrated by his winning the Rotary Club Gold Book Award for scholarship and sportsmanship. He also played baseball and was selected as an All-County end in football. Ken was a two year letterman in basketball at Ohio Wesleyan College.
ELWOOD J. “BUS” NELISSE
Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track
Bus was Chagrin Falls’ most dominant athlete during the 1920’s. He was awarded four letters each in football, basketball, and track, and one in baseball. He is best remembered as the Tigers’ first state champion when he won the mile run in Columbus in 1925, his junior year. He also earned a first in football, playing on CFHS’s 1924 team, the first to win a County championship. The 1925 team also placed first in the county. Bus was captain of the Tigers’ basketball team during his sophomore, junior, and senior years. He played on several semi pro basketball teams after graduation. He was offered a track scholarship to Ohio State University.