Joe Cole (1936-2017): Hillsboro loses another community icon
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Has anybody here seen my old friend Abraham, can you tell me where he's gone?
There are a number of men whom I’ve always held in high regard who were born in 1936. One is my dad. Another is my father-in-law, Jim Graham. A third is the man who hired me at Rotary Forms Press, Inc. in October 1980, Ernie Blankenship.
A fourth comes to mind in former local Little League baseball coach Jon “Joe” Cole.
Today, there is personal sadness that three of these four men are no longer with us. My dad left us in May 1989. Ernie left us in October 2013. Joe Cole left us this past week.
When I think of Joe, I also think of Ernie and his brother, Richard Blankenship, who passed away in March this year.
Joe was born May 16, 1936, the son of the late Charles F. and Georgeanna (West) Cole. Joe graduated with the Hillsboro High School class of 1955.
His lifelong friend and Hall of Fame broadcaster, Ernie Blankenship, told me on more than one occasion that Joe Cole was the greatest all-around athlete in Hillsboro High School History.
I remember one time asking Ernie if Joe’s son, Jon, who is the same age as I am, might have been a better athlete than his dad. Ernie replied in typical Ernie fashion that Jon couldn’t carry a certain piece of his dad’s athletic equipment. That’s saying something, to be sure. Trust me, Joe’s son, Jon Cole, was as good as any student-athlete in HHS history. He was outstanding in four different sports – baseball, basketball, football and track and field.
When I think back to those formative years playing sports, all memories of the Cole family are good memories. Years later, when I was covering local sports, I'd written a column about some of the NFL's greatest running backs and somehow managed to forget to mention the great Jim Brown. Joe let me have it at the next Indians' game.
In Joe Cole’s obituary, we read that “He was a talented athlete playing varsity sports as a freshman. Though he excelled at basketball, baseball and track and field, football was his favorite and he earned the respect (and sometimes fear) of other athletes as he dominated the action on the field.”
Remembering Coach Joe Cole in the early 1970s, I can only nod in agreement with that last parenthetical statement about him bringing fear to opposing players on the gridiron. I sure would not want to try to tackle him – or be tackled by him.
While attending Hillsboro High School, Joe met Arlene Rockhold, who would remain the love of his life through seven years of dating and 56 years of marriage. Joe also served honorably in the U.S. Navy.
For so many years, Joe and Arlene Cole gave of their time and cooking expertise to the popular Hillsboro High School football preseason fish fry scrimmage.
Arlene told me in 2011 that she wasn't exactly sure when she and Joe began cooking at the preseason event held every August at Richards Memorial Field.
"We're getting a little older now, and Joe and I have had some health issues," Arlene said. "I wouldn't mind helping with the mixture and recipe in the future, but we thought it's time to let some younger folks take over.
"We've enjoyed it," Arlene said, of volunteering at the annual fish fry. "This was just our way of supporting our players and the program over the years. It's been a lot of fun."
Former Hillsboro City Schools Superintendent Rick Earley told The Highland County Press that "Joe and Arlene are two great people who will do anything to help our students.
"They do a lot behind the scenes without a lot of publicity. They're just great people," Rick told me.
Six years ago, Joe and Arlene celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Their contributions to the community are considerable and more than most people will ever know.
Last week, Highland County Commissioner Terry Britton and his wife, Bonnie, said to Joe’s family: “We were saddened to hear of Joe's passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Joe was a great man and father, and we will miss him greatly. May God be with the family in this time of celebrating Joe's life. I'm sure Joe and Ernie are having a great conversation now catching up on everything. May God bless.”
After reading Terry and Bonnie’s words of condolences, I smiled.
Joe, Ernie and Richard are, indeed, having a great conversation now.
Has anybody here seen my old friends, Ernie, Richard and Joe? I can tell you where they’ve gone. Heavenly debates on sports – and other fun stuff – just got a little more lively.
Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.
Editor's note: Memorial contributions may be made in Joe’s name to the Wayman’s Chapel AME Church, 144 W. Pleasant Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133.
For more information, go to:
http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/Obituaries/Obituaries/Article/Jon-Joe-D-Cole/17/66/39045 and
http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/In-The-News/Headlines/Article/-It-s-been-our-way-of-supporting-our-players-/2/73/9345
There are a number of men whom I’ve always held in high regard who were born in 1936. One is my dad. Another is my father-in-law, Jim Graham. A third is the man who hired me at Rotary Forms Press, Inc. in October 1980, Ernie Blankenship.
A fourth comes to mind in former local Little League baseball coach Jon “Joe” Cole.
Today, there is personal sadness that three of these four men are no longer with us. My dad left us in May 1989. Ernie left us in October 2013. Joe Cole left us this past week.
When I think of Joe, I also think of Ernie and his brother, Richard Blankenship, who passed away in March this year.
Joe was born May 16, 1936, the son of the late Charles F. and Georgeanna (West) Cole. Joe graduated with the Hillsboro High School class of 1955.
His lifelong friend and Hall of Fame broadcaster, Ernie Blankenship, told me on more than one occasion that Joe Cole was the greatest all-around athlete in Hillsboro High School History.
I remember one time asking Ernie if Joe’s son, Jon, who is the same age as I am, might have been a better athlete than his dad. Ernie replied in typical Ernie fashion that Jon couldn’t carry a certain piece of his dad’s athletic equipment. That’s saying something, to be sure. Trust me, Joe’s son, Jon Cole, was as good as any student-athlete in HHS history. He was outstanding in four different sports – baseball, basketball, football and track and field.
When I think back to those formative years playing sports, all memories of the Cole family are good memories. Years later, when I was covering local sports, I'd written a column about some of the NFL's greatest running backs and somehow managed to forget to mention the great Jim Brown. Joe let me have it at the next Indians' game.
In Joe Cole’s obituary, we read that “He was a talented athlete playing varsity sports as a freshman. Though he excelled at basketball, baseball and track and field, football was his favorite and he earned the respect (and sometimes fear) of other athletes as he dominated the action on the field.”
Remembering Coach Joe Cole in the early 1970s, I can only nod in agreement with that last parenthetical statement about him bringing fear to opposing players on the gridiron. I sure would not want to try to tackle him – or be tackled by him.
While attending Hillsboro High School, Joe met Arlene Rockhold, who would remain the love of his life through seven years of dating and 56 years of marriage. Joe also served honorably in the U.S. Navy.
For so many years, Joe and Arlene Cole gave of their time and cooking expertise to the popular Hillsboro High School football preseason fish fry scrimmage.
Arlene told me in 2011 that she wasn't exactly sure when she and Joe began cooking at the preseason event held every August at Richards Memorial Field.
"We're getting a little older now, and Joe and I have had some health issues," Arlene said. "I wouldn't mind helping with the mixture and recipe in the future, but we thought it's time to let some younger folks take over.
"We've enjoyed it," Arlene said, of volunteering at the annual fish fry. "This was just our way of supporting our players and the program over the years. It's been a lot of fun."
Former Hillsboro City Schools Superintendent Rick Earley told The Highland County Press that "Joe and Arlene are two great people who will do anything to help our students.
"They do a lot behind the scenes without a lot of publicity. They're just great people," Rick told me.
Six years ago, Joe and Arlene celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Their contributions to the community are considerable and more than most people will ever know.
Last week, Highland County Commissioner Terry Britton and his wife, Bonnie, said to Joe’s family: “We were saddened to hear of Joe's passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Joe was a great man and father, and we will miss him greatly. May God be with the family in this time of celebrating Joe's life. I'm sure Joe and Ernie are having a great conversation now catching up on everything. May God bless.”
After reading Terry and Bonnie’s words of condolences, I smiled.
Joe, Ernie and Richard are, indeed, having a great conversation now.
Has anybody here seen my old friends, Ernie, Richard and Joe? I can tell you where they’ve gone. Heavenly debates on sports – and other fun stuff – just got a little more lively.
Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.
Editor's note: Memorial contributions may be made in Joe’s name to the Wayman’s Chapel AME Church, 144 W. Pleasant Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133.
For more information, go to:
http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/Obituaries/Obituaries/Article/Jon-Joe-D-Cole/17/66/39045 and
http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/In-The-News/Headlines/Article/-It-s-been-our-way-of-supporting-our-players-/2/73/9345