Athletes and Sports Personalities from the Ohio Valley

Dan Abramowicz - Steubenville, Ohio (Steubenville Catholic Central, Xavier University, New Orleans Saints, Offensive Coordinator Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints) Held the NFL record for most consecutive games with at least one pass reception.

Chin Achebe - Steubenville Catholic Central (Iowa State football and wrestling)

Pete Adrian - Brilliant, Ohio (Brilliant High School, West Virginia football, Chicago Enforcers of the XFL)

Bernie Allen - (Purdue baseball and football, Minnesota Twins, Washington Senators, New York Yankees, and Montreal Expos baseball)

Sondra Antinone - Mingo Jct, Ohio (Steubenville Catholic Central, Ohio State University cheerleader)

Clyde Archer - Parkersburg, WV - (Notre Dame Football)

John Bates - Steubenville, Ohio (Boston/Philadelphia Major League Baseball)

Bud Bonar - Bellaire, Ohio - (Notre Dame Football)

Richard K. Bowers - Steubenville, Ohio (Steubenville High School, Youngstown St football and track, Los Angeles Rams football, 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic Trials track)

David Boyuk - (Columbia University wrestling)

George Brett - born in Wheeling, WV (Kansas City Royals, MLB Hall of Fame)

Chad Brinker - Martins Ferry, Ohio - (Ohio University football)

Fred Bruney - Martins Ferry, Ohio - (Ohio State Football)

Pete Burke - Mingo Junction, Ohio - (Louisville University Football)

Joe Canestraro - Steubenville, Ohio - (Ohio State Football)

Les Carney - (Ohio University track, Silver medal 1960 200m dash)

Troy Carter - Wellsville, Ohio (Youngstown State University football)

Darrell Cheripko - Brooke High School - (Youngstown State University football)

Benji Clause - Steubenville, Ohio (Steubenville Catholic Central, Indiana University baseball)

Dan Corsi - Mingo Jct, Ohio (Georgia State baseball)

Tom Coulter- Toronto, Ohio (St. Louis Cards & NY Mets)

Russ Craft - Weirton, WV (University of Alabama football, Philadelphia Eagles 1956-1953, won NFL Championship, Pittsburgh Steelers 1954)

Michael Crawford - Mingo Jct, Ohio - (Mingo High School football, All State)

Sylvia Crawley - Steubenville, Ohio (Colorado Xplosion, American Basketball League)

Jack Creech - Mingo High School (Indiana University of Pa. football)

Chrissy Crowe - (Indian Creek High School, Wright State University softball)

Jim Dailer - Wheeling, WV - (Notre Dame Football)

"Jeep" Davis - Follansbee, WV - (Olympic runner)

Joe DeFranco - Weirton, WV - (Notre Dame Football)

Melanie Del Gallo - Mingo Jct, Ohio (Georgia State baseball)

Karen (Deluca) Crawford - Steubenville, Ohio (Steubenville Catholic Central, Ohio University cheerleader)

Andrea DeShong - Mingo Jct, Ohio (Women's Boxing)

Rich Donnelly - Steubenville, Ohio (Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies Coaching Staff)

Emil Drzayich, Jr. - Mingo Jct, Ohio - (Mingo High School, Ohio University baseball, Cincinnati Reds)

Brian Duncan - (Washington and Jefferson football)

Bill Earley - Parkersburg, WV - (Notre Dame Football)

Fred Earley - Parkersburg, WV - (Notre Dame Football)

Chuck Ellis - Steubenville, Ohio - (Ohio State Baseball, Basketball) All American

Rollie Fingers - Toronto, Ohio (Oakland A's, MLB Hall of Fame)

Don Fleming - Shadyside, Ohio (Cleveland Browns)

Joe Fortunato - Mingo Jct, Ohio (Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns football)

Clarence "Bevo" Francis - Hammondsville, Ohio (Rio Grande College basketball)

Thomas "Knute" Franckhauser - Steubenville, Ohio (Purdue University, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings).  He was the first person to touch the football for the Dallas Cowboys franchise.  He returned the opening kickoff in 1960. 

Amy Francy - Toronto, Ohio - (University of Pittsburgh track)

Gene Freese - (Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Houston Astros baseball)

Wally Fromhart - Moundsville, WV - (Notre Dame Football)

Joey Galloway - Bellaire, Ohio (Ohio State University football, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys)

Amy Gamble - Glendale, WV (John Marshall High School, University of Tennessee basketball)

Matt Gaudio - Follansbee, WV - (Penn State University basketball)

Frank "Shags" Gilliam - Steubenville, Ohio (University of Iowa football, Minnesota Vikings)

Jason Golec - Mingo Jct, Ohio - (Marietta College Football)

Joe Goodrich - Mingo High School (Mount Union track and field)

Alex Groza - Martins Ferry, Ohio - (Kentucky University basketball, Indianapolis NBA, US Olympic basketball team 1948) All-American center for the NCAA championship teams of the late 1940s. Olympic Gold medal champion basketball player in 1948.

Lou "the Toe" Groza - Martins Ferry, Ohio (Ohio State University,
Cleveland Browns, NFL Hall of Fame) Last second field goal won the 1950 NFL Championship game.

Mike Gulan- Steubenville Catholic Central (Florida Marlins AA baseball)

Pat Hagerty - Steubenville, Ohio - Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Equipment Manager

Robert Hagerty - Mingo Junction, Ohio - (Notre Dame Football)

Joe Hammack - Mingo Junction, Ohio - (California University of Pennsylvania football)

Jim Harris - Bellaire, Ohio - (Notre Dame Football)

John Havlicek - Bridgeport, Ohio (Ohio State, Boston Celtics, NBA Hall of Fame)

Woody Hayes - First football coaching job was at Mingo High School.

Clarke Hinkle - Toronto, Ohio (Green Bay Packers, NFL Hall Of Fame)

Gordon Hinkle(Clarke's brother) - Toronto, Ohio (Boston Red Sox 1934)

Lou Holtz - East Liverpool, Ohio
(Head Coach Arkansas, Notre Dame, South Carolina)

Allen Hornyak - Bellaire, Ohio - (Ohio State University, Cleveland Cavaliers)

Chuck Howley - Warwood, WV High School (West Virginia University, Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowl V MVP)

Bob Jeter - Weirton, WV (University of Iowa, Green Bay Packers, MVP 1959 Rose Bowl)

Perry Jeter - Steubenville, Ohio (Steubenville High School football, San Bernardino Valley College 1951 National Junior College Football Championship team, Cal Poly, Chicago Bears)

Calvin Jones - Steubenville, Ohio (University of Iowa football, CFL, Outland Trophy winner)

Bob Joseph - Martins Ferry, Ohio - (Notre Dame Football)

Ken Karovic - Steubenville Catholic Central (West Liberty football)

Tom Keane - Bellaire, Ohio (Baltimore Colts, Coach Wheeling Ironmen, Pitt. Steelers, Miami Dolphins)

Dean Kearns - Wintersville High School (Penn State baseball)

John Kendrach - Mingo Jct, Ohio - (Mingo High School, Engine Tuner for AJ Foyt's NASCAR Team, Conseco 14 car, Stacy Compton.)

George Kidwell - Weirton, WV (Brooke High School, Penn State University football)

Tom Kinkade - Toronto, Ohio (Ohio State football)

Paul Kokas - Steubenville, Ohio (Steubenville High School, Youngstown State football)

Pete Lamantia - Toronto, Ohio - (Notre Dame Football)

John Lautar - Moundsville, WV - (Notre Dame Football)

John Leon - Wellsburg, WV - (Notre Dame Football)

Sean Maguire - Mingo Jct, Ohio - (Mount Union College Football)

Mark Malesick - Mingo Jct, Ohio - (Mingo High School basketball, Florida State University basketball)

Ken Mannie - Steubenville, Ohio - (Steubenville Catholic Central High School, Michigan State Football Strength Coach)

Bill Mazeroski - (Rush Run) Rayland, Ohio (Pittsburgh Pirates) - HALL of FAME 2001
The best defensive second baseman in the history of MLB. He hit the most dramatic home run in World Series history.  It was the the bottom of the ninth, game seven, series tied, and Maz hit the home run that won the 1960 World Series over the New York Yankees. Gave one of the most memorable speeches in Hall of Fame induction history.

Lance Mehl - Bellaire, Ohio (Penn State University, New York Jets)

Ray Miller - New Athens, Ohio - resident (former pitching coach - Pirates, Baltimore Orioles mgr.)

Greg Minor - (Indian Creek High School, Marshall University football)

Dan Morgan - St. Clairsville, Ohio (Penn State Football)

George Murrin - Parkersburg, WV - (Notre Dame Football)

Jim Musuraca - East Liverpool, Ohio - (Notre Dame Football)

Joe Niekro - Lansing, Ohio (Major League Baseball, Houston Astros)

Phil Niekro - Lansing, Ohio (Atlanta Braves and other teams,
MLB Hall of Fame)

John Niemiec - Bellaire, Ohio - (Notre Dame Football)

Mike Orlando - Steubenville, Ohio (Steubenville Catholic Central football, Ohio University football)

Chris Pashke - Mingo Jct, Ohio - (Bethany College basketball)

Tom Perko - Steubenville, Ohio (University of Pittsburgh, Green Bay Packers)

Eric Piatkowski - Steubenville, Ohio (University of Nebraska basketball, Los Angeles Clippers NBA)

Wally Pesuitt - Wintersville, Ohio - (Miami Dolphins)

Bill Peterson - Toronto, Ohio (Ohio Northern football) He coached at LSU, Florida State, Rice and Houston Oilers(NFL)

Joe Pettini - Windsor Heights, WV - (San Francisco Giants)

John Bull Polisky - Bellaire, Ohio - (Notre Dame Football)

Sean Rauch - Mingo Jct, Ohio - (Bethany College Football)

Jeff Ronnevich - Wintersville High School (Akron University baseball)

Blaine Rose - Stanton High School (Orlando Thunder - World League, Miami Dolphins)

Ted Rose - St. Clairsville, Ohio (Cincinnati Reds organization, Montreal Expos)

Bill Seach - Mingo High School (Ohio State football, Youngstown State)

Bobby Sismondo - Mingo Jct, Ohio - (Ohio University Baseball, Detroit Tigers farm system)

Ron Sismondo - MIngo Jct, Ohio - (Mingo High School, Arizona University Baseball)

Nick Skorich - Bellaire, Ohio (Coach Cleveland Browns)

Tim Spencer - St. Clairsville, Ohio - (Ohio State University, San Diego Chargers, Ohio State RB coach)

Mark Stromp - Mingo High School (Yale/Kent State baseball)

Don Sutherin - Toronto, Ohio (Ohio State University football) Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants(NFL), Canadian Football League - Hamilton Tiger Cats,Ottawa Rough Riders, Toronto Argos- CFL Hall of Fame

Jamie Taylor - Edison South High School (Ohio State baseball, Colorado Rockies AAA)

Ryan Terry - Steubenville, Ohio (Steubenville High School, University of Iowa football and track, Arizona Cardinals football)

Donald Thorn - Steubenville, Ohio (Steubenville Catholic Central football, Muskingum football)

Buster Tilman - Steubenville, Ohio - (Ohio State University football)

Rich Tomaselli - Weirton, WV (Houston Oilers)

Robert Urich - Toronto, Ohio - (Florida State Football)

Ed "Punkin" Vincent - Steubenville, Ohio (University of Iowa football, NFL)

Bob Vogel - Martins Ferry, Ohio (Ohio State University football, Baltimore Colts)

Honus Wagner - Born elsewhere, but began his baseball playing career in Steubenville, Ohio. 1895.

Moses Fleetwood Walker - Steubenville, Ohio (Professional baseball)

John Welday - Toronto, Ohio - (Penn State, Pittsburgh Penguins Strength Coach)

John Weldy - Mingo Junction, Ohio - Prizefighter, He was champ of the Atlantic fleet during
World War I.

Billy West - Smithfield, Ohio (Buckeye Local - University of Pittsburgh football)

Charles Williams - Cadiz, Ohio - Harness Racing

Lewis Williams - Cadiz, Ohio - "Super Lew" Harness Racing Meadowlands Sports Complex NJ

Ron "Fritz" Williams - (West Virginia University basketball, NBA)

Harry Wilson - Steubenville, Ohio (University of Nebraska football, drafted Philadelphia Eagles)

Otis Winston - Toronto, Ohio - (Ohio State University Basketball)

Jeff Woofter - Oak Glen - (Penn State)

Bobby Joe Young - Steubenville, Ohio - Boxing

 

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