• Edith Burroughs
  Bowling 1986

Edith Burroughs didn't discover bowling until she was 26 years old. Six years later, in 1972, she was named Beacon Journal Bowler of the Year. She received that honor four other times in the ensuing six years. Her titles include the Ohio State Tournament singles championship in 1974 and the doubles championship in 1978. She won twice on the Ladies Professional Bowlers Association tour, the last time as a 40-year old grandmother in 1979, when she averaged 232 in the four championship matches. She was inducted into the Tri-County Bowling Hall of Fame in 1984.

• Steve Cockerham
  Football 1986

Cockerham made an impact early in his freshman football season at Akron U in 1974. He came off the bench in the second half against Delaware to make 14 solo and four assisted tackles. He was a starter from then on. An Akron native, Cockerham led the team in tackles in 1974, '75 and '77. He still holds the school's single-season records for 107 solo tackles in 1975 and career marks of 373 solo tackles, 342 assisted tackles and 715 total tackles. He led the squad with six interceptions in 1976, when the team finished 10-3 and was runner-up in NCAA Division II. Cockerham was named Akron U's Athlete of the Year in 1977. He was also first team Little All-American in 1976 and '77.

• Dexter Woodford
  Swimming 1986

Dexter Woodford was one of many outstanding swimmers developed by Hall of Famer Larry Ricker at Akron East High. After winning numerous area titles, Woodford went to Ohio State in 1933. As a Buckeye, Woodford became one of the dominant distance swimmers in the nation. In 1934, he captured the National Junior AAU mile and 500-yard titles. Two years later, Woodford also helped Ohio State win Big 10 swimming titles in 1935, '36 and '37, earning All-American honors each year.

• Nick Frascella
  Official, Basketball 1986

Nick Frascella was recognized as the first high scorer in area basketball as he averaged 19 points during three seasons at the College of Wooster (1935-1938). During his senior season he averaged 22 points and scored 38 points in one game, which stood as a school record for many years. Frascella later played three seasons with the Goodyear Wingfoots (1938-40). When his playing days were through, Frascella became a basketball and baseball official. He was inducted into the Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985. He is also a member of the Wooster Hall of Fame.

• Gene Mingo
  Football 1986

Gene Mingo, who never played college football, starred for the Denver Broncos of the American Football League. Mingo led the AFL in scoring in 1960, the league's first year, with 123 points and again in 1962 with 137 points. Mingo was an outstanding kicker, runner, receiver and punt returner. In 1962, he broke Lou Groza's professional record by kicking 27 field goals. He was a standout at South High School in Akron, but did not play college ball, opting for the Navy instead. In two years of playing for Navy football teams he scored 36 touchdowns. He scored 629 points during his pro career.

• Larry Ricks
  Football 1986

Although he was a reserve for his first three seasons at Michigan, Larry Ricks still finished his career as the school's fifth all-time leading rusher. After backing up All-American Butch Woolfolk as a sophomore and a junior, Ricks came into his own during his senior year in 1982. That year, Ricks finished second in the Big Ten and ninth in the country in rushing with 1,388 yards - the fifth best single-season total in Michigan history. For his career, he rushed for 2,751 yards. He was named All-Big Ten in '82 and also was an honorable mention a All-American selection. The Barberton native also played in two Rose Bowls with the Wolverines. After college, Ricks played two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.

• Dr. Allen Killings
  Football 1986

Killings, a dentist, is a well-known civic personality. He has served as president of the Akron-Summit Public Library board of trustees, as vice president of the West Side Neighbors and with the Frontiers Club, the Akron Community Service Center, the Urban League and the NAACP. But he is also remembered for his exploits on the football field. He was captain of the football team at Central High in Akron in 1938. From Central he went on to star at Florida A&M. With the Rattlers, Killings started at both offensive and defense end. He was the captain of the 1942 squad that finished 11-0, receiving All-American honorable mention.

• Fred Borden
  Bowling 1986

Fred Borden became one of the youngest bowlers ever to capture the Akron city doubles crown when he helped win the title at age 19. He won numerous city and state titles and cashed in 7 of 12 tournaments while on the Pro Bowlers Association tour. He was named to the Beacon Journal All-Star team eight times. But it has been Borden's teaching that has won him national acclaim. "I owe half my titles to Fred Borden," Don Johnson, a 26-time winner on the PBA tour, once said. Others who have sought Borden's tutelage, for which he does not charge, include PBA stars Mike Durbin, George Pappas, Larry Laub, Joe Berardi and Steve Cook.

• J. Craig Summers
  Equestrian 1986

J. Craig Summers spent his teenage years horsing around - equestrian style. As a 15-year old in 1976, he competed in his first World Quarter Horse Championship as a member of the Ohio team. Summers and his horse, Sweet Irish, also represented Ohio that year in the National Youth Team Championship - the world's largest horse show. He competed in both events for the next three years. While attending Green High, Summers finished third in the overall standings in the youth reining division of the American Quarter Horse Association. In 1979, Summers captured the Reining Division Championship in the World Youth Activity Team Tournament and scored enough points to give Ohio its first National Team Championship.

• Russell Ochsenhirt
  Basketball 1986

Russell Ochsenhirt was an outstanding scholar-athlete at the University of Pittsburgh. He played basketball for four seasons, serving as captain of the 1933-34 team. He was named to Liberty magazine's All-American first team in 1934 and was twice selected to the All-Eastern Intercollegiate honor squad. After he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering, Ochsenhirt moved to Akron, where he took a management position with Goodyear Tire and Rubber. He also joined the Goodyear Wingfoots basketball team. He was captain of the 1937 squad, which won the championship of the Industrial Basketball League, the forerunner of the National Basketball Association.

• Larry Dessart
  Coach, Administrator 1986

Maybe Larry Dessart never could decide which sport he liked best. So he played them all. He lettered in six sports in high school in New Jersey. At Akron U, between 1947 and 1950, he competed in football, track, wrestling, and gymnastics. That same kind of versatility carried over to his coaching career, where he coached track, cross country, and wrestling at East High, winning Akron city championships in all three sports. In 1965, he became director of health, physical education and athletics for the Akron Public Schools. He served in that capacity until tacking semi-retirement in 1986. In 1981, he was named to the Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame.