CLEVELAND— The Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame is proud to announce a diverse 2023 class that represents the best of Cleveland-area sports, from the high school coaching level to the apex of athlete representation. This year’s inductees broke racial barriers, managed careers, inspired countless young men and
women, and showed innumerable skills on the football field.
Josh Cribbs, Bob Kain, Renee Powell and Lou Slapnik will be inducted on Tuesday, October 17, at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center, presented by Cleveland Clinic and supported by Discount Drug Mart.
The GCSHOF also will announce the two recipients of the Jack Herrick Youth Sports Fund grants. The Fund provides opportunities for local youth of all backgrounds to participate safely in sports.
The Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame tells the story of discipline, commitment, perseverance, and excellence in achievement. The Hall encourages and inspires those who believe in the importance of sport and its direct impact on the well-being of our community.
The GCSHOF celebrates star athletes and notable sports figures born and/or raised in Greater Cleveland, or who have made their home in our region. Nominations are accepted from a nine-county region including Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Ashtabula, Lorain, Medina, Portage. Summit and Stark.
JOSH CRIBBS
Cribbs had a sterling career with the Cleveland Browns as a returner, receiver, and occasional quarterback, and at Kent State, where he set several school records as a four-year starter at quarterback. Cribbs’ 11 total punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns are fifth in NFL history, and his eight kickoff returns rank second. His success with the
Browns came after he went undrafted. He made the team and became an all-purpose standout who could score from anywhere on any play. Cribbs had never returned kicks until he tried it with the Browns. Browns fans especially enjoyed Cribbs’ success against the Pittsburgh Steelers; his kickoff return for a touchdown in ’07 is one of the most
memorable in team history and came after he had 90-yard return earlier in the game. Cribbs, who played one season with the Raiders and Colts before retiring, now calls the Cleveland area home. He and his wife Maria host “Cribbs in the CLE,” providing reports about various aspects of life in Cleveland on WOIO Channel 19.
BOB KAIN
Kain is the former President and CEO of International Management Group (IMG). His achievements in his 31 years are a testament to the impact of IMG in the sports world. Kain, who lives in Gates Mills, graduated in 1971 from the University of Virginia, where he was a four-year letterman in tennis. He sought to be involved in tennis in some way
for his life’s work, and in 1976 he was hired by Cleveland-based IMG to represent professional players and to build IMG’s tennis business. His clients over the years included Rod Laver, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the men’s side, and Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, and Venus and Serena
Williams on the women’s. In 1984, Kain created and built IMG’s figure skating business. Clients included Dorothy Hamill, Peggy Fleming and Scott Hamilton. Kain was in charge of the building of IMG Fashion and became CEO of IMG in 2003 after the death of founder Mark McCormack. He retired in 2006. Kain worked for the Cleveland Browns in 2007 and 2008 and has been a senior advisor to the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and as chairman helped build the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission into one of the most respected in the country. He also is an accomplished amateur golfer; he played in four U.S. Senior Amateur Championships and three British Senior Amateurs.
RENEE POWELL
Powell was the second African American to compete on the LPGA Tour and the first African American woman to become a member of the PGA. In 2022, Powell was honored by the World Golf Hall of Fame as the first recipient of the Charlie Sifford Award. Powell played in more than 250 tournaments from 1967-1980. In 2003, she was honored with the First Lady of Golf Award from the LPGA. Born in East Canton, Powell attended Central Catholic High School. Renee’s father Bill encountered racial discrimination on the golf course after he had served in World War II. That prompted him to design and build acourse where all are welcome. Clearview Golf Club in East Canton, the first course in the country designed, built, and owned by an African American, opened its first nine holes in 1948, the second nine in 1978. Renee would eventually work as Clearview’s Head Professional. “Renee Powell and her family’s remarkable life-long commitment to changing the face of golf cannot be overstated,” LPGA Commissioner, Mollie Marcoux Samaan said in an LPGA press release. “Renee is a global ambassador and trailblazer within the game and has provided a model for how to use golf as a means of inclusion.”
LOU SLAPNIK
Slapnik won nine state championships in his 17 years as Collinwood’s girls track coach. He also won the Jesse Owens Cleveland City championship every year he coached. His nine state titles rank third in Ohio history and is the most by any coach in Cleveland history. Slapnik – called “coach Slap” by his students — was inducted into the Ohio Association of Track and Cross-Country Coaches Hall of Fame in 2012. In his career, his athletes won 41 individual events in state championship meets. Prior to coaching Collinwood, Slapnik spent nine years coaching at Patrick Henry Middle School, where his teams won eight MS Cleveland City Championships. Slapnik grew up in Cleveland
and went to St. Joseph High School and Ashland University, where he pitched on the baseball team. He spent 32 years teaching physical education in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Athletes coached by Slapnik have talked about his emphasis on classwork and team. Collinwood’s Athletic Complex is named after him.
GREATER CLEVELAND SPORTS HALL OF FAME ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR JACK HERRICK YOUTH SPORTS GRANT FUNDING
The accomplishments of the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame inductees provide inspiration for young athletes. The GCSHOF fosters those dreams by providing grant funding to qualified youth sports organizations in the Greater Cleveland area. Interested youth sports organization seeking grant funding should go the GCSHOF website www.clevelandsportshall.com to apply. Deadline for application is Friday, September 9, 2023.
The Jack Herrick Youth Sports Fund honors the legacy of Jack Herrick, a world-class squash champion and GCSHOF Class of 1986 inductee, and a former GCSHOF president. Herrick passed away in October of 2022.
Donations to assist the GCSHOF’s commitment to local sports can be made to the Jack Herrick Youth Sports Fund online at https://www.clevelandsportshall.com/donate/ or via the mail at the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, 2021 Crocker Road, Suite, 510, Westlake, Ohio 44145. Donors may specify their gift is for the Jack Herrick Youth Sports Fund.
RESERVE YOUR TABLE FOR THE CLASS OF 2023 INDUCTION CEREMONY
AND JACK HERRICK YOUTH SPORTS FUND RECIPIENTS PRESENTATION
PRESENTED BY CLEVELAND CLINIC
EVENT DATE: Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower
• 5:30pm – Reception
• 7pm – Dinner
• 8pm – Program
TABLE COST: $2,225 for a Table of 10; includes a half-page ad in the Class of 2023
Induction Dinner Program. INDIVIDUAL TICKETS cost $225.
RESERVE YOUR TABLE NOW:
• Call the GCSHOF Office at 216-241-1919
• Email: admin@clevelandsportshall.com
• Website: www.clevelandsportshall.com and complete reservation form
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