A.C. “Tony” Grant
Tony was raised in Middlebranch, Ohio, a small community outside of Canton having only grade school facilities. His early sports activities started in a barn where baskets and lights were installed for the youngsters to play basketball. Tony invited young teams from surrounding towns to come in for competition. The Diamond Portland Cement Co. then gave land for a playing field and uniforms for a baseball team and young Tony scheduled games and managed the team.
For his high school years, Tony went in to Canton McKinley High School for three years and then transferred to North Canton Hoover. Just completed was a Community Building featuring a large gym and locker facilities, the gift of Mr. Hoover of the sweeper company, and used for many years for county and sectional tournaments. Tony captained the 1923-24 North Canton team, which won the Stark County championship, and were runners-up to Barberton in the sectional tournament.
The years 1924-28 were spent at Ohio University earning a degree in physical education and history. Coming to Loudonville in 1928, he coached football, basketball, and baseball through 1934. He served as Dean of Boys and Assistant Principal from 1936-38, and got his masters degree at Ohio University, Well respected as an official he worked football games for thirty-three years and basketball for twenty-five, both for high school and colleges.
Mr. Grant became principal of Loudonville High in 1938, resigned in 1943 to join the Flxible Co. as Personnel Director. After 28 years he retired in 1971. During these years he served on the local school board in various capacities, including five terms as president was influential in the construction of Redbird Stadium and the R. F. McMullen Elementary School.
Tony then handled personnel work for two firms, the Hydromatic Pump Co. in Hayesville and Ashland, and the Church of Christ Nursing Homes, Inc., an Ohio-wide operation.
In 1972 he was given the Jaycee’s Distinguished Service Award for his many years of community involvement with such groups as Community Fund, Chamber of Commerce, recreation board, as a Presbyterian elder, the Masons, and others.
Asked by the hospital board to become Resident Manager of Kettering Hospital in 1974, he served in the capacity until 1978, upgrading equipment, furnishings and facilities, and retiring again for the third time.
Mr. Grant is survived by his wife and classmate Josephine, and their daughter Mary Jo Shriver and two grandchildren.
Tony’s life was epitomized by a plaque that hung for many years in his office: “Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.”
Nominator: Mrs. Josephine Grant
Presenter: Bob Donelson
