Ashland County Sports Hall of Fame
Ashland County Sports
Hall of Fame
 
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Class of 1986
'Dick Armstrong *
'Vince Barr *
'Ron Bowie *
'Sid Boyd *
'Joe Collins
'George Donges *
'T.W. Miller *
'Warren Strine *
'Cloyce Taylor *
'Marion Zody *
''( Deceased * )
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Nominating Committee
'Bud Plank, Chairman
'Bob Jones
'Jack Kelley
'Bill Mills
'Bill Kyler
'Bob Donelson
'Mike Warbel
'Bill Tegtmeier

 

George Donges

George Donges

An athlete at Meyersdale, Pennsylvania High School, George attended Penn State University briefly transferring Ashland College, where he played halfback and “pulling” guard and handled the punting. A fast runner, he tried out for the Olympics as a dash man. Graduated in 1930, George taught at Adario before getting his Masters degree from Columbia University in 1935. Returning to Ashland College as a teacher and coach, he served as head man in football, basketball, track, and baseball at various times, nearly 400 victories to his credit. He had been head of the Department of Health and Physical Education as well as Athletic Director when Ashland was the smallest college in the Ohio Conference. Later he helped form the Mid-Ohio League and was the first president.

In his early years he coached Gil Dodds in track to a national championship and toured with him to cross-country meets across the nation, competing with large universities.

George is probably best known for his baseball teams, a sport he didn’t play in college, but coached for 35 years. While in the MOL, his Eagles won six championships, reached post-season tournaments three times, and were eliminated by Michigan State in an NCAA University district playoff. Several of his standout players have gone on to careers in the majors and minor leagues, notably Ken Kravec with the White Sox, Randy Fierbaugh with the Montreal organization, Ron Bowie, Pittsburgh, and Lou Markle, present Ashland College Coach.

In 1975, George was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame of the American Association of College Baseball Coaches, in Washington, D.C. The presentation was made by Ohio State Coach, Marty Karow.

A member of many coaching, educational, professional, NCAA Committee organizations, George also had civic interests as a member of Kiwanis and elected as president of the Regional Planning Commission.

Many of George’s students and players have gone on to successful careers in teaching and coaching, as well as in the business and manufacturing field.

Nominator: Bill Wilgus
Presenter: Edward “Bud” Plank




 
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