Friend of Athletics Recipients

In 2013, the members of the Southwest District Athletic Board initiated an award entitled Friend of Athletics Award.  The objective of the award is to honor those individuals who have given much to their local school athletic programs.  Nominations are taken annually during the months of December.  School personnel can nominate, and the board chooses recipients.  Criteria is that the nominee must have given twenty-five (25) or more years of service.  Since 2013 one-hundred and one (101) individuals have been honored.  This year we honor nine  individuals on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at the Schiff Family Conference Center - Cintas Center, at 12:30 p.m., prior to the start of the District Boys Division I Basketball Championships.  Congratulations to our recipients!

Mr. Ron Anslinger - Miamisburg High School In 1970 Ron took over as the official scorekeeper for the boys basketball team and 55 plus years later he’s still keeping the scorebook for the boys team. That’s more than 1,000 varsity games as the man at the scorer’s table. To put that in perspective, Ron has spent roughly 3,000 hours or 125 entire days of his life at the scorer’s table and has kept score for 13 of the 24 coaches and recorded points for 17 of the top 20 scorers in school history. In a 2010 Dayton Daily News Article he noted that one of his greatest memories as scorekeeper was watching Bob Cook set the single game scoring record of 51 in 1973 at Franklin, “I always teased him because I coached him in his first game in seventh grade and he didn’t score”. Beyond the impressive work at the boy’s games, for the last twenty-nine years has also run the scoreboard for the girls basketball team	Mr. Ron Anslinger Nominated by:  Jason Shade Athletic Administrator, Miamisburg H.S.
Katie Ellis - Archbishop Alter High School Katie has done so much for the Alter community over the years! Katie was in the first graduating class at Alter in 1966 and her heart has ALWAYS bled brown and gold! All 5 of her children are Alter alumni. She has served as the JV boys' soccer coach (under her husband Bob "Wiz" Ellis), JV softball coach, head girls' golf coach, assistant girls' golf coach. She has worked the ticket gate for over 25 years at all of our home events, greeting patrons with pleasantries as they enter. She has volunteered in the Athletic Office for the last 15 years, handling banquet preparation, etc. It's people like Katie that make Alter special!	Katie Ellis Nominated by:  Christina Hart Athletic Administrator Alter HIgh School
Mr. Duke Flaherty - Mason High School Duke Flaherty has been a longtime contributor to the Mason City Schools athletic history. Duke is a Mason HS graduate where he was a successful football player and member of the Mason City Schools Athletic Hall of Fame. He has been a volunteer on the Football Line to Gain crew on Friday nights for 39 straight years. His longtime commitment and contributions to the Mason Athletic Department have been invaluable. He is a Mason Comet through and through and “bleeds the Green and White” This past Fall season, Duke and the crew were selected to run the chains at one the OHSAA State Football Championship games held in Canton.	Mr. Duke Flaherty   Nominated by:  Scott Stemple Athletic Administrator Mason City Schools
Mr. Mike Goins - Western Brown High School Mike Goins has done it all for the Broncos since arriving at WBHS as the marketing teacher in 2000-2001.  Mike has been the clock operator and announcer for boys and girls soccer for nine years, the scoreclock and announcer for girls basketball since 2001 and the boys basketball PA announcer since 2001!  For the past seventeen years, Mike has been the manager of middle school and high school concessions. They say it takes a village to run an athletic department and Mike is a huge part of that village.  The WBHS athletic department thanks you for your 25 years of service!	Mr. Mike Goins Nominated by:  Tim Cook Athletic Administrator Western Brown H.S.
Judy Keller - Western Brown High School Judy Keller has been a fixture as the ticket taker for the Broncos since 2001!  She has worked the varsity volleyball, boys and girls basketball, and football games for the past 25 years.  When opposing teams attend Western Brown games they know Judy by name.  Judy is a 1980 graduate of Western Brown High School and is the Head Cook at Mout Orab Middle School.  The Western Brown Athletic Department thanks you for your 25 years of service!	Judy Keller  Nominated by:  Tim Cook Athletic Administrator Western Brown H.S.
Mr. Robert McGlothin - Lakota Schools  McGlothin has been an announcer for Lakota Schools, and after the split, announced at Lakota West and Lakota East.  His coaching experience at Lakota included middle school football coaching, wrestling, cross country, boys and girls track, and girls basketball.  Robert has served as an announcer for girls soccer, football, wrestling, girls basketball, girls volleyball, and softball.  Mr. McGlothin also filled in for OHSAA announcing for mulitple sports.  In addition to sports, Robert also spent 43 years coaching chess at both the elementary and junior high levels.  Thank you to Mr. McGlothin for his dedication to so many students, athletes, and the entire athletic program at Lakota.	Mr. Robert McGlothin Nominated by: Scott Kaufman Athletic Administrator Lakota West H.S.
Genda Pope - Western Brown High School Genda Pope is a 1973 graduate of Western Brown High School and is a longtime employee.  Genda began working as a ticket taker in 2001 and has worked a variety of sporting events for the athletic department.  She is also very talented and well known for her decorating for special events such as the prom, Hall of Fame ceremonies, theater props, just to name a few!  The WBHS Athletic Department thanks her for 25 years of service.	Genda Pope Nominated by:  Tim Cook Athletic Administrator Western Brown HS
Mr. Ron Tiery - Bellbrook High School Ron has been a staple at Bellbrook High School for over a quarter-century.  He has coached baseball at various times but has always taken care of our grass athletic fields.  Ron would do anything for our school and the kids in our community.  He works seven days a week to cut the grass and keep our fields in great condition.  Ron also takes care of our stadiium ? into clean it seven days a week if we have events scheduled.  We are blessed to have Ron here at Bellbrook and I have no idea what we will do without him when he retires in a few years!	Mr. Ron Tiery Nominated by:  Charlie O'Dell  Athletic Administrator Bellbrook High School
Mr. Dan Wilhelm - Talawanda High School Dan “Willie J” Wilhelm is a lifelong supporter of Talawanda Athletics and a true embodiment of the Dale E. Creamer Friends of Athletics Award. A 1967 graduate of Talawanda High School, Dan was a multi-sport athlete in baseball and basketball and was inducted into the Talawanda Hall of Fame in 2015, receiving the Heart and Spirit Award. Dan has dedicated decades of service to athletics in the Talawanda and Oxford communities. He served as a Miami Little League umpire for 20 years, a Miami University basketball shot clock operator for over 30 years, and a volunteer with the Miami University football equipment staff for over 20 years. He has also been actively involved with the Talawanda Recreation Board, Oxford Lions Club, Oxford Rotary Club, Talawanda Athletic Booster Clubs, and the Talawanda Hall of Fame Board. Since 1995, Dan has volunteered as the Talawanda Football equipment manager and has been a constant presence at practices and games for over 30 years. His commitment, reliability, and passion for serving student-athletes make him a most deserving nominee for this award	Mr. Dan Wilhelm Nominated by:  Jake Richardson Athletic Administrator Talawanda H.S.

Since the inception of this award in 2013, the following individuals have been honored as Friends of Athletics Recipients who have given twenty-five years or more of service to their high school:

2025 Recipients
Mr. David Ahner, Trotwood-Madison School District; Mr. Danny Blair, Norwood High School;  Mr. Tim Kellis, Monroe High School; Mr. Thomas McCartney, Cincinnati Christian School; Ms. MaryJo Phillips, West Carrollton HIgh School; Mr. Joe Pyfrin, Talawanda High School;  Mr. Bill Wheeler, Lakota West High School; Mr. John Witt, Talawanda High School; and Mr. Dan Zimmerman, Talawanda High School.

2024 Recipients
Mr. Jim Engle, Cincinnati Public Schools; Nick Falzerano, Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local Schools; Howard Fisher, Felicity-Franklin High School; Lonnie Hathaway, Vandalia-Butler City School District; Mr. Jeff King, Sr., Wyoming High School; Mr. Jim Martin, Indian Hill High School; Mr. Thomas Mitchell, Wayne High School; Mr. Roger Mumpower, Troy High School; Steve Peteres, Franklin High School; Ruby Rias, Northwest High School; Daryl Riffle, Ansonia High School; Greg Smallwood, Waynesville High School; Mike Vetorino, Bellefontaine High School; Earl Willson, Milford High School.

2023 Recipients
Mr. Ed Bazile, Northmont High School; Mr. Jeff Corn, Madeira High School; Mr. Dennis Dupps, Indian Hill High School; Ms. Micky Geier, Ross High School; Mr. Stanley Jones, Anderson High School; Mr. Tim King, Mason High School; Mr. Doug Lyons, Tecumseh High School; Mr. Steve Shuck, Princeton High School, Greater Miami Conference; Ms. Bonnie Turner, Fort Loramie High School.

2022 Recipients

Mr. Bob Ashby, Lakota West High School; Mr. Jamie Brashear, Monroe High School; Mr. Jim King, Newton High School; Mr. Brian Miller, Newton High School; Tim and Peg Summers, Versailles High School.

2020 Recipients
Mr. Gaylen Blosser, Franklin Monroe High School; Mr. Jim Cloran, Madeira High School; Mr. Kenneth Cooper, Bishop Fenwick High School; Ms. Patty Garlough, Bethel High School; Mike Midlam, Western Brown High School; Charles McMillan, East Clinton High School; Mr. Michael Pope, Williamsburg High School; Ms. Carol Schuh, Versailles High School; Mr. Mike Schuh, Versailles High School; Mr. Donny VanHoose, Graham High School; Mr. Jerry Vianelo, Mariemont High School; Mr. Kevin Walriven, New Richmond High School.  

2019 Recipients
Mr. Bob Baechtold, Mr. Ed Bailey, Mr. Joe Cline, Piqua; Mr. Tom Devers, Northeastern High School; Mr. Bob Greenewalt, Mr. Don Hoog, Valley View High School; Mr. Frank Kozarec, Valley View High School; Ms. Sharon Peters, Jackson Center High School; Mr. Paul Sheckels, Mr. Jeff Tarvin, Western Brown High School.
 
2018 Recipients
Mr. Dave Askins, Brookville High School; Mr. Bill Baumann, Colerain High School; Ms. Betty Berkshire, Tecumseh HS; Mr. Jim Miller, Middletown Christian High School; Mr. Dave Krebs, Bishop Fenwick High School; Mr. Gene Morris, Arcanum High School; Mr. Bob Pugh, Bellbrook High School; Mr. Jim Pugh, Bellbrook High School; Ms. Betty Roller, Tecumseh High School; Ms. Jill Roller, Tecumseh High School; Mr. Joe Steele, Goshen High School; Mr. Jerry Valentine, Tecumseh High School.

2017 Recipients
Mr. Guy Bainum, Williamsburg High School; Mr. Robert "Bo" Bemmes, Reading High School; Mr. Rick Bemmes, Reading High School; Mr. Steve Berryhill, Bellbrook High School; Mr. Joe Huff, Ripley-Union Lewis High School; Mr. Jim Leathlety, Tecumseh High School; Mr. Tom Leeds, Monroe High School; Ms. Joan Martin, Reading High School; Mr. Mike Melvin, Urbana High School; Mr. Richard Morgan, Reading High School; Mr. Mark Richardson, Brookville High School; Mr. Wayne Russell, Mechanicsburg High School; Ms. Debbie Simpson, Mason High School; Mr. John Slusher, Reading High School; Mr. John Smith, Mechanicsburg High School; Mr. Chas Veddern, Reading High School; Mr. Tom Weaver, National Trail High School; Mr. Bill Westfall, Mechanicsburg High School; Mr. Jim  Westfall, Mechanicsburg High School; Judge Roger Wilson, Urbana High School.

2016 Recipients
Mr. Al Evans, Kenton Ridge High School; Mr. Rick Little, East Clinton High School; Mr. Marv Mason, Brookville High School; Mr. Jeff McCulla, Graham High School; Ms. Arlene Poppe, Mount Healthy High School; Mr. Ed Strelau, Madeira High School; Mrs. Bev Strelau, Madeira High School Mr. Fred Stemmler, Mason High School; Mr. Virgil Studebaker, Tecumseh High School; Mr. Randy Winkler, Carlisle High School.

2015 Recipients
Mr. John Borchers, Tippecanoe High School; Mr. Randy Conover, Northeastern High School; Mr. Roger Hoover, Brookville High School; Mr. Gary Rinehart, Wilmington High School; Mr. Ralph Singinger, Georgetown High School; Mr. Earl Smith, Eaton High School.

2014 Recipients
Mr. Dave Ashby, Dayton City Schools; Mr. John Birkhimer, Urbana High School; Mr. Bill Booker, Greenville High School; Mr. Larry Fuller, LaSalle High School; Mr. Harold Grice, Mason High School; Mr. Gerald Gunning, Turpin High School; Mr. Paul Harper, Northmont High School; Mr. Dave Hawkins, New Richmond High School; Mr. Frank Long, Fenwick High School; Mr. Lowell Petry, Brookville High School; Mr. Joe Scherrer, Madeira High School.

2013 Recipients
Mr. Hansel Bailey, Felicity Franklin High School; Dr. Mike Barrow, Northmont High School; Mr. Shaun Brewer, Xenia High School; Mr. Jack Flaherty, Mason High School; Mr. Jim Neu, Western Brown High School; Ms. Jane Koykendall, Madeira High School; Mr. Don Skelton, Centerville High School; Mr. Ben Wolfe, Covington High School.