Citation: James D. Harvey, ed., Pursuit 3, no. 1 (August 1970): 41.
KINGSLEY TAFT, Mar. 28, University Hospital, Columbus, of a brain hemorrhage, age 67. The chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court was a native of Cleveland and the son of the late Judge Frederick L. Taft, a Republican politician. Mr. Taft received a bachelor of arts degree at Amherst College where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He then attended Harvard Law School and edited the Harvard Law Review. Kingsley returned to the Cleveland area and joined the firm of McKeehan, Merrick, Arter and Stewart and specialized as a trial lawyer. He served as president of the Shaker Heights School Board, several years as a trustee of the Welfare Federation of Cleveland and in 1950, he received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Baldwin-Wallace College, where he served as a trustee for more than 25 years. His judicial career began in 1948 and eight years later he became the first judge in the court's history to win re-election without opposition in either the primary or general elections. And in 1962 he again became the first Ohio Supreme Court judge to challenge the chief justice for the court's top seat. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ohio Historical Society. Surviving are his wife of 43 years, four sons, two brothers and a sister.
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He may be one of the most versatile coaches around Although this season he is coaching only cross country, Bill Taraschke, in his 27- year coaching history, has tried his hand at many sports as he traveled from Ohio to Nebraska and back to Ohio.
Coach Taraschke began his coaching career at the high school level, spending nine years as head coach in football and track, while assistant-coaching basketball. His favorite story about coaching there is about the "primitive" track facilities at what is now Milan Edison High School. When he arrived there, Taraschke asked the whereabouts of the high jump and pole vault pits. He was quickly pointed to a couple piles of sawdust! (And, now, twenty-seven years later, he coaches at one of the best facilities in the nation!)
Taraschke also worked at two other high schools during his time at that level. At Canton Glen Oak (now Oakwood), he again coached football and track, and he also assisted wrestling. At Brookside High School, he coached, yes, football and track, and assisted wrestling again. He head-coached wrestling one for a year in an emergency situation. Though he didn't want to do it, the team still did fine.
So, after his several years at high schooIs, Coach Taraschke was given a choice of coaching in cither Chicago or Nebraska. He picked Nebraska, both because he would be located in a small town and because the facilities were better. He began coaching at an NAIA (Division H) school. Though he planned to be there three years, he liked it so much he stayed nine. While he head coached track in the spring, he spent the fall coaching cross country at 6:30 am., and assistant-coaching football in the afternoon. Therefore, he had to schedule meets and games to avoid conflicts—sometimes the co-coach in cross country had to transport the team. Out in Nebraska, he had three ail-American marathoners and four all-American cross country runners.
In 1984, Coach Taraschke again uprooted himself (and his family), and moved back to Ohio to join the Baldwin-Wallace coaching (and teaching) staff. Since his arrival, he has been both a backfield coach for football and head coach of the track team (primarily serving for the throwing events). However, this year has presented a big change, as he is now head coach of both cross country and track. Although the cross country team had an extremely good part-time coach, it was deemed, by the administration, to be much more practical to have a full-time person to coach both teams. Taraschke explained that since Sparky Adams's retirement there has been no full-time coach to keep continuity between the two seasons. He decided to accept the job. Although he had some reservations about leaving football (since he had been coaching it for so many years), he decided he would not be missed as much in football (since there are so many coaches). In addition, he loves the sport of track. "I've always been a track person who did football as opposed to a football person who did track."
Of basketball, wrestling, football, track, and cross country, Taraschke's favorite sport is the track/cross country duo. "I always thought as an individual, so I like coaching as an individual," he explained. He likes working with the individual athlete, coaching techniques and correcting problems at the one-on-one level, as opposed to total team sports, where interruptions in the dynamics of any number of the members could be the problem. So now, after twenty-seven years, he is finally coaching completely and totally for his first love.
Citation: “Coaches Corner,” Exponent (Berea, OH), November 5, 1992, p. 6.
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Dr. William Taraschke began his second season of guiding the Yellow Jacket cross country program this year. Taraschke has built solid programs in the men's and women's track and field as the head coach.
Last year, in his first season as cross country coach, Taraschke's women were second at the Ohio Athletic Conference champions. In addition, Taraschke's last five women's track teams have won Ohio Athletic Conference titles, both indoor and outdoor, while gaining national recognition. The men, second in the OAC last year, also have earned national recognition under Taraschke's leadership.
Taraschke brings outstanding coaching experience to the B-W program. A native of Toledo, Taraschke began coaching at Milan (Ohio) High School in 1966ashead track and football coach. In 1969, he moved to the old Canton (Ohio) Oakwood High School before going to Brookside (Ohio) High School from 1971-1975.Priortocominglo B-W, Taraschke was the head track coach and defensive coordinator for football at Chardon (Nebraska) Stale College.
Taraschke earned his undergraduate degree at Ohio University and is a former two-time Mid- American Conference discus champion. He received his master's degree from Southern Illinois in 1966 and his doctorate degree from"" the University of Toledo.
Taraschke is in his 10 season at B-W and has led his Yellow Jacket Men's and Women's cross country and track teams to 20 OAC titles. This season alone, Taraschke's women won the OAC crown in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track and Taraschke earned OAC Coach of the Year in all three sports. During his outstanding career, Taraschke has been tabbed as OAC Coach of the Year 12 times.
In addition to coaching three sports, Taraschke teaches full time in the Division of HPE.
Citation: Melanie J. Goette, “Head Coach for Cross Country, Indoor & Outdoor Track,” Grindstone (Berea, OH: Baldwin-Wallace College, 1997), p. 125.
Coach Taraschke is in his twelfth year of coaching and teaching at Baldwin-Wallace. Because of his strength in coaching, the BWC men and women's track and field teams have been among the finest in Division III. Taraschke has coached 19 teams to Ohio Athletic Conference titles; one being the 1995 outdoor track crown. He was also named 1995 OAC Outdoor Track Coach of the Year. He completed his undergraduate degree at Ohio University in 1964. From there, he pursued his Master's degree at Southern Illinois and his Ph.D. in exercise physiology at the University of Toledo.
In his thirteenth year coaching at BWC, he has led the women's track team to ten indoor track titles and five outdoor championships. The men's team won a title under his leadership and he had coached numerous cross country championship teams. He was named Coach of the Year twenty times. Taraschke began his career on the high school level after being told, in his Luthern church, that everyone has a calling. He debated on whether to become a minister or a teacher. His goal to help young people and give them a positive influence led him to choose teaching. He has served many positions: head and assistant coach in track, football, cross country, wrestling, and basketball.
Taraschke wanted to coach at the collegiate level and got a chance at Chadron State University in Nebraska. He teached there for nine years before coming to Baldwin-Wallace. One of the things that impressed him most about BW was that the men's and women's teams receive equal support. He began here by coaching football, then took over the track teams, and finally the cross country team. One of the reasons he is so popular as a coach is that he looks at his team as a family. He wants to be perceived as someone who is helpful and caring and the teams he aides agree that he fits this description well.
Bill Taraschke was named NCAA Division III National Women's Coach of the Year in May. He was honored with the prestigious award at a banquet prior to the start of the national meet in Berea. He earned the award by leading the Lady Jackets to the OAC indoor and outdoor titles in 1999. They also won the All-Ohio Division III outdoor title and all seven scored outdoor meets. They finished sixth in the final Division III power ratings. Taraschke also look several other honors including OAC indoor and outdoor Coach of the Year and NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Women's Coach of the Year. His stellar career at B-W has seen him lead 30 Yellow Jacket men's and women's teams lo OAC titles.
Find more information on William Taraschke in the online Alumni Athletics Association Hall of Fame.
Citation: Thomas. A. Stiger, ed., The X Ray (Berea, OH: Baldwin University, 1896), p. 23.
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Watson I. Taylor was born in North Royalton, O., June 24, 1870. He moved to Berea in 1883 for the purpose of attending school. He attended the Berea Union Schools for two years and in 1885 entered Baldwin University, from which college he graduated with the class of 1893. The following year he was appointed instructor of Mathematics and Physics, which position he holds at the present time.
Citation: Louise M. Kuhns, ed., "Thompson named associate dean," Pursuit 14, no. 2 (Winter 1982): 4.
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Dr. Carol Thompson has been appointed B-W's associate academic dean, it was announced by Dr. Mark Collier, vice president for academic affairs. The appointment was effective January 4.
A native of Canton, Thompson will be working with the academic dean in providing leadership and support for the entire academic program of the College. She will continue to teach at least one course each quarter, confirming her philosophy that it is important to maintain contact with students in the classroom as well as in her office.
Thompson was head of the Department of Women's Health and Physical Education and chairperson of the Division of Health and Physical Education before her new appointment. In 1980-81 she was the chairperson of the faculty search and selection committee for a new Baldwin-Wallace president. She joined 8-W in 1964 as a physical education instructor.
Graduating with honors, Thompson earned a B. A. and B. S. in education from Otterbein College. She then received her M. S. in physical education from The University of Illinois and her Ph.D. in physical education from The Ohio State University.
A Berea resident , she is an active member in several professional associations including: the American Alliance for Health , Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; the Ohio Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation; the Midwest Association for Physical Education of College Women and Ohio College Association, Women's Physical Education Section, which she has served as president, treasurer and secretary.
Citation: Frances Mills and Marion Cole, eds., “Treash Is Narrator At UNESCO Meeting,” Baldwin-Wallace Alumnus 27, no. 2 (1949): p. 2.
Leonard Treash, former professor of voice and director of the opera department at the Conservatory of Music, was narrator for the "Symphony of Freedom" at the second UNESCO conference in Cleveland April 1. Treash narrated the nine-part work arranged and conducted by Dr. Howard Hanson and performed by the Cleveland Orchestra and Orpheus Male Choir. The singer now is on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music.
Citation: “Desire For College Work Prompts Tressel To Take Grid Reins Here,” The Exponent (Berea, OH), February 21, 1958, p. 1.
A desire to break into college coaching and teaching was one of the big factors that prompted Lee Tressel to take over the reins as the now Yellow Jacket football coach.
The blond, 32-year-old Tressel, who will move here from Massillon March 1, will replace Paul (Sparky) Adams, who resigned last month.
Tressel told the Exponent this week that he "definitely had the teaching end in mind" when he decided to accept the position and to give up the lucrative post at Massillon High School.
It appears Tressel took a pay cut to accept the job here. Salary and fringe benefits of a Massillon football coach, considered the top high school mentor's post in the state, are estimated at about $8,000 annually.
Tressel, though, will be given every chance to advance to the athletic directorship here when Ray Watts retires in two years.
Assistant Athletic Director
Appointment of Tressel, who graduated from B-W in 1948 after starring as a fullback, as assistant athletic director was announced this week.
The new coach, whose appointment here was approved by the Board of Trustees last Saturday, has a sound academic background.
While at B-W he was a good student. He has his master's degree, earning it at Ohio State in 1948.
Asked whether he felt he could cure the football doldrums the college has been in recently, Tressel replied, "Well, I'm not very happy as a loser.
His record seems to bear the statement out. He has had losing teams, but they did not stay losers.
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Christmas came early for Baldwin-Wallace College's head football coach Lee Tressel, as the B-W Yellow Jackets captured the NCAA Division III football championship Saturday In Phenix City, Ala. The Jackets beat Wittenberg 24-10 to gain the prize trophey in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
According to Tressel, the weekend was "exciting and glorious." "It was a game that comes once in a lifetime, and one that I had personally looked forward to for a long time," said the coach, who is now in his twentieth year of coaching at B-W. Tressel also mentioned that many of the senior players had been doping to play in a championship for several years.
The crowd support at the game was "outstanding," commented Tressel. "Our group got the Alabama people : cheering for us too." Tressol estimated that there were approximately 500 B-W fans present.
"We beat the best," said Tressel, referring to the Wittenberg Tigers, who B-W tied 3 weeks ago 17-17 in a battle for the OAC championship. Tressel continued by saying that he and the team were glad to be rechallenged by such an outstanding team. "It was nice to be able to settle the tie," he added.
The coach felt the turning point of the game came in the fourth quarter when the score was 17-3 in B-W's favor. On the ensuing klckoff, the Tigers were only able to return the ball to B-W's fifteen yard line. Tressel described the Jackets as being "confident the whole time." "We tried to keep our heads and play it cool."
After the game, Tressel returned to his motel room and "sat for two hours." He would have relaxed longer except that he had to call Cleveland TV stations and visit with relatives. "I didn't eat until I returned to Cleveland," said the coach, with a NCAA championship button proudly displayed on his right lapel.
Tressel feels the support the entire college has given the team has been fabulous. The entourage of students waiting for the returning team at the airport was "very meaningful." He added that the support has been very encouraging throughout the entire season, and that "we had to win all our games, not just one."
When asked for predictions about next year's season, Tressel said that the team will have to do a lot of rebuilding, since it will lose eighteen seniors this June. "No points we scored this year will carry into next," concluded the coach wryly.
Citation: "Dr. Tressel named Coach of the Year," The Exponent (Berea, OH), January 12, 1979.
Dr. Lee J. Tressel received an award to top all of his recent awards last night at the American Football Coaches Associations annual meeting. He was presented the national "Coach of the Year" award for the College Division.
Coach Tressel, who led the Yellow Jackets to the NCAA Division III national championship, was selected over eight other nominees in his division by his colleagues from all over the country. The recipient of the University Division "Coach of the Year" was Joe Paterno, of Penn State.
Kodak sponsored the award at a banquet held last night. Actor Jimmy Stewart was the guest speaker at the Hilton Inn in San Francisco.
Citation: "Lee Tressel retires as B-W football coach," Pursuit, vol. 13, no. 2 (Winter 1981): pg. 1-2.
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It was a night that made the spirit soar . . . a night filled with laughter and fond memories. It was Sunday, December 7, and more than 1000 people had come to Ursprung Gymnasium to pay tribute to Lee and Eloise Tressel '48, '72. Only a week before Lee had announced his retirement from a 23-year coaching career at B-W that had made him one of the most successful and respected football mentors in the country. He will continue as the College's athletic director.
Lee stated in a newspaper interview that he had made the decision to leave football because he could no longer devote the energy and concentration to coaching that it deserves. He has been undergoing treatment for cancer for the past two years.
His announcement, following a 10-1 season that included the OAC championship and a third consecutive trip to the national playoffs, brought an onslaught of well wishes from across the nation (see page 3). On the night of the appreciation program Ursprung was jammed with the Coach's former high school and college players, friends, relatives, and others who had come to wish the Tressels well. Samuel Esayian '62, who played for Lee, came all the way from Bellevue, Washington. Sam Rutigliano, head coach of the Cleveland Browns was there. He said he hoped to be the kind of man and coach that Lee Tressel is. Harrison Dillard, '49, B-W and Olympic track great came. Bud Collins '51, NBC-TV sports commentator and Boston Globe columnist, brought rounds of laughter from the crowd with anecdotes about Lee's college days and his prowess on the football field and at the poker table.
A steady parade of dignitaries presented Lee and Eloise with gifts, plaques and citations of appreciation. Representatives came from a gamut of organizations including the NCAA, the OAC, the U.S. and Ohio Houses of Representatives, the local media, the Cleveland mayor's office, American Legion Posts and Berea city government. A special Grindstone Award was presented to Lee by Discover Berea Chamber of Commerce, in recognition of his role as an outstanding citizen. It was announced that Berea City Council would rename Maple Street, between Bagley and Center, Tressel Street.
A film highlighting Lee's college coaching career showed clearly why he has gained so much respect throughout the years. In 33 years as a high school and college coach he compiled a 224-73-6 record (154-53-6 at B-W). He has been named OAC Coach or Co-coach of the Year four times, including this season; and 1978 Division III Coach of the Year by both Eastman Kodak and ABC-TV/Chevrolet when he led the Yellow Jackets to the national Division III championship.
Plans by the Lettermen's Association and the College are underway to refurbish a room in the basement of the Watts Athletic Center to house the memorabilia and awards collected by Tressel in 23 years as the Yellow Jackets' coach. Included in the collection, which will be open to the public, are several items presented to the Tressels on their appreciation night.
Twenty-three years ago, a young enthusiastic football coach from Massillon High School named Lee Tressel accepted the head coaching job at Baldwin—Wallace. He succeeded Paul "Sparky" Adams who coached for four years. At that point of time nobody other than Coach Tressel would have dreamed that he would build a strong successful football program at
Coach Tressel had only one losing season in his 23 years of coaching at B-W. He has compiled a record of 154-53-6. Last year, he surpassed former Muskingum Coach Ed Sherman's 141 wins, posting a career conference record of 144-52-6.
Tressel's run—and—shoot offense has given B-W a reputation as an explosive, high—scoring team. In 1961, he guided the team to a 9-0 record, which is the only undefeated, untied season in school's history. The team was ranked second in UPI and AP polls.
Since 1974, the Yellow jackets have been in five Ohio Athletic Conference Championship games. They won two and tied one of those games under Or. Tressel. Each one of the Championship games was against arch-rival Wittenberg. This past season, B-W defeated Wittenberg 16-0 for the title.
Dr. Tressel has led the Yellow Jackets to three consecutive National Championship trophy.
Dr. Tressel-has led the Yellow Jackets to three consecutive National Playoff series. The 1978 Yellow Jackets, under his guidance, brought home the Division III National Championship trophy. Last season, he again guided the Yellow Jackets to the playoffs, only to lose to Widener University in the Semi-finals, 29-8 This year the Yellow Jackets lost to University of Dayton in the Quarterfinals, 34-0.
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Tressel had been named the Ohio College Coach of the Year, in 1961 and 1967. His most recent award is the 1980 OAC Coach of the Year, the fourth time he has received this honor.
While a student, Tressel played football under Paul Brown at Ohio State before the Navy V-12 program moved him to< Baldwin-Wallace, where he graduated in 1948, "Twister" Tressel was the Nation's leading scorer prior to being called to active duty In the Navy In 1944.
"Twister" not only had a successful coaching career at B-W, he, also had a successful career as a high school coach as well. He spent two years at Ada High School in Ada, Ohio, his hometown. Then he moved on to Mentor, Ohio coaching their High School team for six years, reeling off 34 consecutive victories before moving on to Massillon High, His winning streak ended at 39 games. The Tigers were ranked second in the state during the two years he coached there.
On November 25, Coach Tressel announced that "We will be leaving football," referring to his wife, Eloise and himself.
He will spend a winter Sabbatical in Florida where he plans to write two books with his wife's help. The books will be on offensive strategy and the coaching area of the game. After returning in spring, he plans to resume his duties as athletic director and professor of H.P.E
Robert D. Packard, B-W Alumnus '65, was named Coach Tressel's successor. He has been assistant coach here for the past 13 seasons. Since 1975, he has been the Yellow Jackets offensive corrdinator.
Citation: "Lee Tressel is dead at 56," Pursuit, vo. 13, no. 3 (Spring 1981): pg. 1
After a two-year battle with cancer, Dr. Lee J. Tressel '48 died Thursday. April 16, at Southwest General Hospital, Middleburg Heights, at the age of 56. In his 23 years at B-W, Dr. Tressel gained a reputation as one of the finest college football coaches in the country. That reputation was built not only on his success, which included a 154-52-6 record, a national Division III championship in 1978 and four OAC championships, but also on his integrity and conduct as a coach and the close rapport he had with his players.
Dr. Tressel, who had also served as athletic director since 1960, was eulogized at a memorial service held Easter Sunday evening in the Fannie Nast Gamble Auditorium at Kulas Hall. More than 800 relatives and friends attended. A second service was held Tuesday, April 22, at the request of students who had just returned from Easter vacation.
President A. B. Bonds, Jr., said of the coach, "Lee Tressel exemplified the finest elements in competitive athletics. His life provided a role model not only for those who played for him but for the many coaches who knew him and admired his work."
Surviving Dr. Tressel are his wife Eloise '72; sons Richard '70, David '73 and James '75; four grandsons; his father; a brother and a sister. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Baldwin Wallace Lettermen's Association.
Citation: “Noted Bible scholar, Dr. Trever, to join Baldwin-Wallace faculty,” Baldwin-Wallace College News Letter 26, no. 4 (1959): p. 2.
Dr. John C. Trever, internationally known for his part in the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, will join the Baldwin-Wallace College faculty next fall
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as a full professor of religion, president Alfred B. Bonds, Jr. has announced.
His appointment is effective Sept. 1. The man who identified and dated the Scrolls of Isiah, Dr. Trever comes to B-W after six years at Morris Harvey College, Charleston, West Va., where he has headed the department of religion and philosophy since 1958.
Well versed in the Scriptures from both literary and theological standpoints, Dr. Trever also has a thorough knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, ancient history and some aspects of archaeology.
Spoke at Bible Convocation
A speaker at B-W's first Bible Convocation, he gave his views on the "Use of the Bible" last September, stressing the drama and immediacy of the Testaments.
A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California, Dr. Trever received his bachelor of divinity and doctorate from Yale University.
He has held assistantships at both schools and has also taught at Drake University and Garrett Biblical Institute, Evanston, Ill.
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