Tuscarawas County Sports Hall of Fame seeks nominations for second class

The Times-Reporter
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DOVER ‒ The Tuscarawas County Sports Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for its second class, to be inducted on June 22, 2024.

With the inaugural induction classes of 2022, the Tuscarawas County Sports Hall of Fame enshrined numerous individual athletes, coaches, officials and supporters as well as various championship teams. Included in those classes were notables such as Bob Huggins. Joe Pangrazio, Sr., Eldon Miller, John Studer and Erik Toukenen, as well as state champions from schools such as Strasburg, Indian Valley South and Claymont.

The deadline for nominations for the second class is Aug. 16.

The Hall of Fame’s board is making preparations for the next induction. Because inductions are held every even-numbered year, the vetting process for determining eligible candidates must be presented to the community well in advance. Here is a brief explanation for that process and the minimum eligibility requirements:

  • For athletes: Must be 35 years of age (each sport has additional requirements but include multiple recognition on any of the following: All-League/District/Regional/State honors).

  • For teams: Regional and/or state brackets.

  • For coaches: Must be retired or deceased and have achieved a certain level of victories that varies from sport to sport as well as team success in League/Regional/State competition.

  • For officials: Must be retired or deceased, have a minimum of 25 years of service, and received meritorious awards from county, state and/or national associations.

  • For contributors: Includes those who have financially backed the local sports communities as well as those who have been successful in the high school/college/pro ranks but do not meet the criteria in other categories. This category also includes school and athletic program benefactors and booster organizations.

  • For media: Must have a minimum of 20 years of service and have made positive contributions to the local sports community.

  • Application forms may be accessed by visiting the Tuscarawas County Sports Hall of Fame website doverlibrary.org (Look under the “About” Heading and then scroll down to the Tuscarawas County Sports Hall of Fame).

This summer the County Sports HOF will be sponsoring one event that will be officially unveiled with more details in the near future: High School Football Coaches Preview Night (Aug.1).

To continue boosting the Hall, a category titled “Friends of the Hall of Fame” has been created. Membership levels include the following:

  • Platinum ($250) includes a custom fitting golf shirt displaying the Hall’s logo as well as an opportunity to purchase tickets early for the Football Coaches Preview Night, priority seating at various HOF-sponsored events, and special recognition on social media).

  • Businesses/organizations ($150)

  • Inductee Lifetime Membership ($100)

  • Gold ($75)

  • Silver ($50)

  • Bronze ($25)

The Hall’s board members are: president: Tom Farbizo, retired New Philadelphia athletic director; secretary: Jim Gill, director of the Dover Public Library, curator of the online HOF; treasurer: Bob O’Donnell; legal consultant: Jim Carrothers; accountant: Paul McEwan; at-large representatives: Connie Evans and Hank Keathley; representing the school districts: Randy Addy (Newcomerstown), Amy Burrier (Tuscarawas Valley), Jim Carrothers (Claymont), Jim Contini (Dover), Tom Farbizo (New Philadelphia), Mike Gunther (Indian Valley), Bob O’ Donnell (Tuscarawas Central Catholic), David Shutt (Garaway) and Terry Straub (Strasburg).

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Tuscarawas County Sports Hall of Fame seeks nominations