Fairfield High School announces 1st Athletic Hall of Fame Class
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Press Release-
Fairfield Athletic Director, Matt Carson and Tom Purtell co-chairmen of the Fairfield Local Athletic Hall of Fame have announced the 2011 inductees to the newly formed Fairfield Local High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony will be held Saturday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. at Fairfield Local School in Leesburg. The inductees will also be introduced and presented with their Hall of Fame plaques prior to the varsity game with the Adena High School Saturday evening.
The Hall of Fame is organized as a way of maintaining the rich heritage and tradition of the successful athletic programs at Fairfield Local High School (including Leesburg High School, Highland High School, and Samantha High School). The inaugural Hall of Fame Class of 2011, have truly made outstanding contributions to the athletic programs at Fairfield.
Here is brief biography of each of the inductees.
Louis A. Pausch, Jr. graduated from Leesburg High School in 1924 and from Wilmington College in 1928. He was a teacher at Leesburg – Fairfield from 1930-1952, Superintendent from 1940-1952. He coached baseball and basketball from 1930-1937, 1938-1939, and 1943-1946. He served as Secretary-Treasure, President, and President of the Board of Directors of the Leesburg Federal Savings & Loan Association. Under his leadership, the Leesburg Federal Savings & Loan Association grew into a major financial entity in Highland County. As a basketball coach, Louis A. Pausch, Jr. won a District Championship in 1932, and led Leesburg High School to a 24-3 record in 1936 and were Class “B” State Runners-Up.
Bill Kildow graduated from Fairfield High School in 1955, and is one of the best all round athletes to graduate from Fairfield. Bill Kildow captained the Fairfield basketball team to a Highland County Tournament Championship and set a career scoring record of 976 points (1955) and a single game scoring record of 38 points. Bill was named First Team All County – 5th man his junior year and First Team All County – 1st man and Honorable Mention All State Class B, his senior year. Bill graduated from William Penn College (University) in 1959 and earned eleven (11) varsity letters in three years in four varsity sports: football (2), basketball (3), baseball (3), and golf (3). Upon graduation from William Penn he held basketball records for: most points in a career (1146 points), most point scored in a game (38 points), most free throws attempted in a game (23) (still the record), and most free throw made in a game (20) (still the record) , most points scored in a season (413 points), highest points per game average in a single season (20.7 pts per game), and was ranked nationally in the NAIA fro free throw percentage for two years. Bill was inducted into the William Penn College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988. Bill was and educator and coach for 38 years in the Antelope Valley High School, Lancaster, California.
Jim D. Cook, graduated from Jeffersonville High School in 1959, and from Davis * Elkins College (West Virginia) where he excelled in basketball and baseball. Jim started his teaching and coaching career at Fairfield in 1963, and for the past 48 years (spanning five decades) has served Fairfield Local Schools in many capacities. Jim served as the High School Principal from 1972-1980 and as the Athletic Director from 1963-1994. Jim was inducted into the OIAAA (Athletic Directors) Hall of Fame in 1988. He served as Varsity Baseball Coach for 10 years, posting a 70-64 record. He coached basketball for 19 years, winning 191 games at the Varsity level. He guided the boys to two Highland County League Championships in 1967 and 1968, a Southern Hills League Championship in 1986 and a Sectional Title in 1988. He was selected SHL "Coach of the Year" in 1986 and 1987.
In 1981, Coach Cook took over the "Lady Lions" softball program and immediately turned it into a powerhouse. During the 13 years he coached the "Lady Lions," they won 8 SHL Championships, were SHL Runner-up 4 times, won 11 Sectional titles, finished District Runner-up 6 times, won 3 District Championships in 1981, 1982, and 1986, finished Regional runner-up in 1986 and in 1982, and made an appearance in the state Final Four where they lost to eventual state champion Archbold, 7-2, in the state semi-finals in 1982. Coach Cook was inducted into the Ohio Fast Pitch Coaches Assn. Hall of Fame in 1991.
Mr. Cook coached golf for 12 years winning 2 SHL titles and guiding the Lions to the Southeast District Championship in 1979, where they qualified for the OHSAA State Golf Tournament. Coach Cook won 709 total games in all sports during his career at Fairfield. Mr. Cook was very well respected as a teacher, coach and administrator at Fairfield, throughout the Southeast District and State of Ohio.
Jim Cook is currently the Mayor of Leesburg and continues to drive a school bus for Fairfield Local Schools (48 years).
Kevin Greer graduated from Fairfield High School in 1973, where he played three years of varsity basketball, four years of varsity baseball, and four years of varsity golf. Kevin scored 965 points in his basketball career. He is one of only seven players to average double figures over three years (11.7 ppg, 14.9 ppg, and 21.8 ppg) and is one of only eight players to average more than 20 points per game for a season. Kevin holds the Fairfield season free throw percentage record of 86.4% (5th in the State in 1973) and the career free throw percentage record of 79.4 %. Kevin was named to the All Southern Hills League Basketball team in 1972 and 1973.
Kevin attended Thomas Moore College (Kentucky) on a four year basketball scholarship. Kevin also played golf for Thomas Moore College for two years. Kevin is a 1977 graduate of Thomas Moore College and a 1980 graduate of the University of Toledo Law School. Kevin was a practicing attorney in Hillsboro from 1980 to 1996. He also served as the Assistant Highland County Prosecutor from 1980 to 1997. Judge Greer has served Highland County as a Common Pleas Judge, Juvenile and Probate Division from 1997 to the present.
Kay Cummings graduated from Fairfield High School in 1982, and from Wilmington College in 1986. Kay is arguably the best all round female athlete to graduate from Fairfield. Kay is the Girls basketball career leading scorer with 1054 points. She may also be the career leader in steals, but no such records are available. Kay led the Lady Lions basketball team in free throw percentage in 1979, 1981, and 1982. Kay was named to the All Southern Hills League Basketball team in 1981 and 1982.
Kay was a lead off hitter and centerfielder for the Fairfield Lady Lions softball team. The 1981 team was Sectional and District Champions. The 1982 team finished undefeated in the Southern Hills League (10-0) and was Sectional, District, and Regional Champions. The 1982 team lost to the eventual State Champion Archbold Bluestreaks 7-2.
Kay continued her basketball and softball career at Wilmington College. She was a point guard on the basketball and still shows up as a leader in steals in a game (8) and steals in a season (58) . She won the team’s free throw percentage award in 1984. In softball, Kay was the centerfielder and leadoff hitter. The 1983 Wilmington College team was the Western Buckeye Collegiate Conference and NAIA District 22 Champions. In 1986, Kay was named to the Western Buckeye Collegiate All Conference team. Kay still lives in Leesburg and is an owner of the Leesburg Hardware.
Nathan Van Winkle graduated from Fairfield High School in 1997. Nathan is the career basketball scoring leader with 1,543 points and ranks second in the Southern Hills League. He scored 195 three point shots also a school record. Nathan also holds school records for: points in a season (592 points), highest points per game (24.66), most points in a game (45), and highest points per game for a career (19.04). During Nathan’s varsity career Fairfield won three Sectional and District Championships. Nathan was named an All Southern Hills player three times and to the All Southeast District team three times. He was named Honorable Mention All State his junior year. As senior, Nathan was the Southeast District Player of the Year and was named first team All Ohio, the only Fairfield player to achieve this honor.
After graduation, Nathan continued his basketball career while attending Southern State Community College in Hillsboro. Nathan also served Fairfield Schools as Freshman, Junior Varsity, and Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach.
2011 marks the 75th anniversary of the most successful athletic team in the history of Leesburg-Fairfield athletics.
The 1936 Leesburg High School Basketball team had a truly outstanding basketball season and finished as the State Class “B” Runner-Up. The 1936 team had an overall record of 24 wins and 3 losses. Their regular season record was 13 wins and 2 losses and included wins over much larger schools including: Blanchester, Waynesville, Greenfield, Columbus Aquinas, Dayton Steele, Hillsboro, Lebanon, and Greenfield. After a 30-27 overtime loss to neighboring Highland High School, the 1936 Leesburg team proceeded to win sixteen (16) straight games to get to the State Final game. In the State semi-final game, Leesburg defeated Millersport 41-22 and set at State Tournament record by leading Millersport 31-0 at halftime.
The Hall of Fame Selection Committee will honor the 1936 Leesburg High School Class “B” State Runner Up basketball team with induction into the Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony is open to the public. The Junior Varsity game vs Adena will start at 6 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
The induction ceremony will be held Saturday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. at Fairfield Local School in Leesburg. The inductees will also be introduced and presented with their Hall of Fame plaques prior to the varsity game with the Adena High School Saturday evening.
The Hall of Fame is organized as a way of maintaining the rich heritage and tradition of the successful athletic programs at Fairfield Local High School (including Leesburg High School, Highland High School, and Samantha High School). The inaugural Hall of Fame Class of 2011, have truly made outstanding contributions to the athletic programs at Fairfield.
Here is brief biography of each of the inductees.
Louis A. Pausch, Jr. graduated from Leesburg High School in 1924 and from Wilmington College in 1928. He was a teacher at Leesburg – Fairfield from 1930-1952, Superintendent from 1940-1952. He coached baseball and basketball from 1930-1937, 1938-1939, and 1943-1946. He served as Secretary-Treasure, President, and President of the Board of Directors of the Leesburg Federal Savings & Loan Association. Under his leadership, the Leesburg Federal Savings & Loan Association grew into a major financial entity in Highland County. As a basketball coach, Louis A. Pausch, Jr. won a District Championship in 1932, and led Leesburg High School to a 24-3 record in 1936 and were Class “B” State Runners-Up.
Bill Kildow graduated from Fairfield High School in 1955, and is one of the best all round athletes to graduate from Fairfield. Bill Kildow captained the Fairfield basketball team to a Highland County Tournament Championship and set a career scoring record of 976 points (1955) and a single game scoring record of 38 points. Bill was named First Team All County – 5th man his junior year and First Team All County – 1st man and Honorable Mention All State Class B, his senior year. Bill graduated from William Penn College (University) in 1959 and earned eleven (11) varsity letters in three years in four varsity sports: football (2), basketball (3), baseball (3), and golf (3). Upon graduation from William Penn he held basketball records for: most points in a career (1146 points), most point scored in a game (38 points), most free throws attempted in a game (23) (still the record), and most free throw made in a game (20) (still the record) , most points scored in a season (413 points), highest points per game average in a single season (20.7 pts per game), and was ranked nationally in the NAIA fro free throw percentage for two years. Bill was inducted into the William Penn College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988. Bill was and educator and coach for 38 years in the Antelope Valley High School, Lancaster, California.
Jim D. Cook, graduated from Jeffersonville High School in 1959, and from Davis * Elkins College (West Virginia) where he excelled in basketball and baseball. Jim started his teaching and coaching career at Fairfield in 1963, and for the past 48 years (spanning five decades) has served Fairfield Local Schools in many capacities. Jim served as the High School Principal from 1972-1980 and as the Athletic Director from 1963-1994. Jim was inducted into the OIAAA (Athletic Directors) Hall of Fame in 1988. He served as Varsity Baseball Coach for 10 years, posting a 70-64 record. He coached basketball for 19 years, winning 191 games at the Varsity level. He guided the boys to two Highland County League Championships in 1967 and 1968, a Southern Hills League Championship in 1986 and a Sectional Title in 1988. He was selected SHL "Coach of the Year" in 1986 and 1987.
In 1981, Coach Cook took over the "Lady Lions" softball program and immediately turned it into a powerhouse. During the 13 years he coached the "Lady Lions," they won 8 SHL Championships, were SHL Runner-up 4 times, won 11 Sectional titles, finished District Runner-up 6 times, won 3 District Championships in 1981, 1982, and 1986, finished Regional runner-up in 1986 and in 1982, and made an appearance in the state Final Four where they lost to eventual state champion Archbold, 7-2, in the state semi-finals in 1982. Coach Cook was inducted into the Ohio Fast Pitch Coaches Assn. Hall of Fame in 1991.
Mr. Cook coached golf for 12 years winning 2 SHL titles and guiding the Lions to the Southeast District Championship in 1979, where they qualified for the OHSAA State Golf Tournament. Coach Cook won 709 total games in all sports during his career at Fairfield. Mr. Cook was very well respected as a teacher, coach and administrator at Fairfield, throughout the Southeast District and State of Ohio.
Jim Cook is currently the Mayor of Leesburg and continues to drive a school bus for Fairfield Local Schools (48 years).
Kevin Greer graduated from Fairfield High School in 1973, where he played three years of varsity basketball, four years of varsity baseball, and four years of varsity golf. Kevin scored 965 points in his basketball career. He is one of only seven players to average double figures over three years (11.7 ppg, 14.9 ppg, and 21.8 ppg) and is one of only eight players to average more than 20 points per game for a season. Kevin holds the Fairfield season free throw percentage record of 86.4% (5th in the State in 1973) and the career free throw percentage record of 79.4 %. Kevin was named to the All Southern Hills League Basketball team in 1972 and 1973.
Kevin attended Thomas Moore College (Kentucky) on a four year basketball scholarship. Kevin also played golf for Thomas Moore College for two years. Kevin is a 1977 graduate of Thomas Moore College and a 1980 graduate of the University of Toledo Law School. Kevin was a practicing attorney in Hillsboro from 1980 to 1996. He also served as the Assistant Highland County Prosecutor from 1980 to 1997. Judge Greer has served Highland County as a Common Pleas Judge, Juvenile and Probate Division from 1997 to the present.
Kay Cummings graduated from Fairfield High School in 1982, and from Wilmington College in 1986. Kay is arguably the best all round female athlete to graduate from Fairfield. Kay is the Girls basketball career leading scorer with 1054 points. She may also be the career leader in steals, but no such records are available. Kay led the Lady Lions basketball team in free throw percentage in 1979, 1981, and 1982. Kay was named to the All Southern Hills League Basketball team in 1981 and 1982.
Kay was a lead off hitter and centerfielder for the Fairfield Lady Lions softball team. The 1981 team was Sectional and District Champions. The 1982 team finished undefeated in the Southern Hills League (10-0) and was Sectional, District, and Regional Champions. The 1982 team lost to the eventual State Champion Archbold Bluestreaks 7-2.
Kay continued her basketball and softball career at Wilmington College. She was a point guard on the basketball and still shows up as a leader in steals in a game (8) and steals in a season (58) . She won the team’s free throw percentage award in 1984. In softball, Kay was the centerfielder and leadoff hitter. The 1983 Wilmington College team was the Western Buckeye Collegiate Conference and NAIA District 22 Champions. In 1986, Kay was named to the Western Buckeye Collegiate All Conference team. Kay still lives in Leesburg and is an owner of the Leesburg Hardware.
Nathan Van Winkle graduated from Fairfield High School in 1997. Nathan is the career basketball scoring leader with 1,543 points and ranks second in the Southern Hills League. He scored 195 three point shots also a school record. Nathan also holds school records for: points in a season (592 points), highest points per game (24.66), most points in a game (45), and highest points per game for a career (19.04). During Nathan’s varsity career Fairfield won three Sectional and District Championships. Nathan was named an All Southern Hills player three times and to the All Southeast District team three times. He was named Honorable Mention All State his junior year. As senior, Nathan was the Southeast District Player of the Year and was named first team All Ohio, the only Fairfield player to achieve this honor.
After graduation, Nathan continued his basketball career while attending Southern State Community College in Hillsboro. Nathan also served Fairfield Schools as Freshman, Junior Varsity, and Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach.
2011 marks the 75th anniversary of the most successful athletic team in the history of Leesburg-Fairfield athletics.
The 1936 Leesburg High School Basketball team had a truly outstanding basketball season and finished as the State Class “B” Runner-Up. The 1936 team had an overall record of 24 wins and 3 losses. Their regular season record was 13 wins and 2 losses and included wins over much larger schools including: Blanchester, Waynesville, Greenfield, Columbus Aquinas, Dayton Steele, Hillsboro, Lebanon, and Greenfield. After a 30-27 overtime loss to neighboring Highland High School, the 1936 Leesburg team proceeded to win sixteen (16) straight games to get to the State Final game. In the State semi-final game, Leesburg defeated Millersport 41-22 and set at State Tournament record by leading Millersport 31-0 at halftime.
The Hall of Fame Selection Committee will honor the 1936 Leesburg High School Class “B” State Runner Up basketball team with induction into the Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony is open to the public. The Junior Varsity game vs Adena will start at 6 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]