After serving in the US Navy, Rodger began his teaching and coaching career at Hawken’s Lyndhurst campus in 1958. At age 27, he was appointed athletic director and three-sport coach at the new Upper School upon its 1961 opening, where he was charged with developing the first varsity athletic program. Always an innovator, he went on from Hawken to help found the first for-profit higher education institution, which later became the University of Phoenix (the country’s first on-line college). He spent 50 years in the residential real estate business in Northern California and helped found the American Basketball League, a women’s professional league that was the forerunner of today’s WNBA.

In addition to playing football and baseball, Kip dedicated virtually all his free time to helping Athletic Director Rodger Rickard develop the emerging varsity sports program. After playing baseball at Bowdoin College and earning an MBA from Stanford University, he owned and operated two minor league baseball teams with Carl Fazio ’68 and later held executive positions with the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners. In Cleveland, he was a founding trustee of the Gateway Development Corporation that built what is now Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage Field House in the 1990s. He served 22 years on Hawken’s Board of Trustees, serving as chairman from 2006–2009.

Nicknamed the “Shoeless Wonder of Hawken School” for removing his right shoe before punting the ball during football games, John Lightbody was among the school’s first legendary multi-sport athletes. He was All-League in both football and basketball, batted .486 one spring in baseball, and went on to play for the Harvard Crimson rugby team. Above all, he was well-known for his display of sportsmanship and Fair Play. He has practiced law in Portland, ME for over 50 years and was inducted into Hawken’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015.

Russ was the standout, two-year captain of Hawken’s first varsity soccer team. Described by his teammates as “fearless,” he was known for his long shots on-goal and his excellent passing. His memorable leadership and standout play enabled the Hawks to tie University School in the first varsity soccer game played between the two schools. A past winner of the prestigious Carl Holmes Alumni Award and the Hawken Medal, and now a Life Trustee, he served 24 years on the Hawken Board of Trustees. He was instrumental in the construction of Lincoln Hall and Stirn Hall’s Lincoln Wing, and he is the father of two current Hawken Trustees.

A true natural athlete, Marty was one of Hawken’s most consistent three-sport performers. He was an important running back on the school’s first three varsity football teams and a reliable basketball player, but baseball was his sport. His home run that gave the Hawks a come-from-behind win in their first-ever interscholastic game vs. University School remains one of the most memorable moments in Hawken sports history. Having missed Coach Relic’s “suicide squeeze” bunt sign, and with the runner from third sprinting toward him, he instead blasted a late-inning homer to put the Hawks ahead for good. Marty went on to play baseball at Brown University. 

When Charley transferred from Collinwood High School for his sophomore year at Gates Mills, he became the first student from the City of Cleveland to attend the Upper School, as well as the school’s first African American student. He scored the only touchdown in the Hawks’ first-ever varsity football win over Richmond Heights in 1962. A sprinter for the Hawken track team, he went on to record three undefeated indoor sprint seasons at Tufts University. A graduate of Columbia Business School, he served as director of finance at the New York Stock Exchange. Charley is a member of Hawken’s Visiting Committee to the Board of Trustees.

Don was a lefty starter on three of Hawken’s first varsity sports teams—a quarterback and senior football captain, point guard, and first baseman. Perhaps most memorably, he led a last-minute touchdown drive in his final senior football game against heavily-favored Lutheran West, which set the tone for the next season’s first undefeated football team. After graduating from Yale, he taught history for four years at Hawken’s Upper School before returning to medical school at CWRU. He practiced medicine for over 40 years in Cleveland, Atlanta, and California.

Bill was a hard-hitting defensive back and halfback who became Hawken’s first Plain Dealer Dream Teamer and Cleveland Press Star. Always trusted by his teammates, he was simply never rattled in tight situations. A cool-headed pitcher, he made his first career appearance during Hawken’s first interscholastic game against University School, and his relay throw beat a US runner to home plate to seal the prized victory. His microscopic .057 ERA as a junior ranked fifth in the city. Ater graduating from Ohio Wesleyan, Bill worked 33 years as an investment officer at Key Bank and currently serves as CFO for the William Ruple Co. 

Ham played football and baseball all four years, and he was on the swimming team until his duties as editor of the Onyx interfered with swim practice. Ham was an outstanding bare-footed punter, hit the very first home run for Hawken varsity baseball, and was a walk-on football player at Syracuse University. After college, his sporting adventures led him into fly fishing and hunting, and he became one of the top doubles squash players in the country. He was an early investor in Cleveland’s Playhouse Square district, opening the Mad Hatter night club, the Last Moving Picture Company restaurant, and the 13th Street Racquet Club. After entering the construction industry, building Hawken’s Ingalls Gym at Lyndhurst was a favorite project. 

Dana was a rare four-sport athlete. In addition to football, basketball, and tennis, he hit over .300 in his one season of baseball. He was the quarterback for the undefeated ‘65 team, a leader and fierce competitor who could both run and throw. In basketball he was a quick, shifty point guard and a consistent scorer. He played #1 singles in tennis. Dana had a long career in Florida’s financial services industry, during which he took a courageous principled stand as a whistleblower, calling out his former employer for wrongdoing.

Topper’s boundless energy and infectious enthusiasm brought an upbeat presence to Hawken’s early athletic program. He parlayed his height, quickness, and jumping ability to become an excellent soccer goalie and basketball center, and as basketball captain, he set four school records in a single game. As an active supporter of all Hawken sports, he was a proud founding member of the eight-man “varsity cheerleaders.” He played soccer at Babson College and co-captained the team his senior year. He founded and grew a golf accessories business in California for over 20 years. 

An incredible four-sport athlete at Hawken, Al set the bar high in the early days of Hawken athletics. Co-captain of the school’s first-ever undefeated football team in 1965, he was a Plain Dealer Dream Teamer and the first Hawken player ever named to the Cleveland Press All-Scholastic Football Team. Whether it was playing linebacker on the football field, taking down opponents on the wrestling mat, or throwing a shot put, Klauss is immortalized as a star athlete of the 60s. He was inducted into Hawken’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.

Fred was one of the finest athletes ever to play for Hawken. He excelled in football as a runner, receiver, punter and senior co-captain. He was a great rebounder in basketball, with a pure shooting stroke; if the 3-point line existed in those days, there is no telling how many points he would have scored. An outstanding pitcher and outfielder, he was named to the All-City East-West All-Star team. A graduate of Colgate University, he has practiced law in Cleveland for the past 50 years. Fred also served as president of the Hawken Alumni Association.

A talented all-around athlete, Carl was a receiver and defensive back, point guard, and baseball captain. He was named first-team All-Independent in both football and baseball. He was the winner of the Strong Award, given to the senior who best represents the ideals, traditions, and spirit of Hawken athletics. At Hobart College, he was baseball captain and sports editor of the school newspaper. Along with Kip Horsburgh ’65, he owned and operated two minor league baseball teams and later served as VP/marketing for the Cleveland Indians. He was also a board member and executive at Fisher Foods, Inc.

This hard throwing left-hander was one of the best pitchers in Hawken history. He posted superb 1.25 & 1.06 ERA’s in his last two seasons, leading the Hawks to highly successful years. He went on to pitch college baseball at Rollins College. Chris has had a long career in education as a teacher, administrator, and development officer. At Hawken, he taught history at the Middle School, served as alumni director, and coached soccer. He currently works in the Development Office at Rollins.

One of Hawken’s fastest athletes, Dud was an outstanding quarterback who used his speed and quickness to make plays and frustrate opposing defenses. He was one of the best hitters in Hawken baseball history, leading all-regional high school teams with a .524 batting average. He was first-team All-Independent and was named to the all-city East-West All-Star team. At Hamilton College, he played both football and baseball. He served as associate director of development at Hawken in the early 1980s and was later president of the Humphrey Companies, maker of the famous popcorn balls.

Kerry was perhaps the fastest Hawken athlete of the pioneer era, with the well-earned nickname of “Jet-Fire.” Soccer coach Jim Young called him “Hawken’s best right wing ever.” In basketball, he was an excellent shooter and consistent scorer, and in baseball, a fine pitcher and outfielder. Kerry won the Strong Award given to the senior who best represents the ideals, traditions, and spirit of Hawken Athletics, and he went on to play soccer and tennis at Tufts University. Kerry is an attorney in Delray Beach, FL.

Jamie was a big man with a rare blend of strength, speed, and quickness. He excelled as a two-way lineman, opening holes for running backs and disrupting opposing offensives. He was a wrestling team leader, named MVP of the WRA and Maumee Valley tournaments, and placed 2nd at the National Prep School Tournament. Jamie went on to play football and wrestle at the College of Wooster. He has had a long career in the accounting and tax services field. 

Dan was a record-setting machine who held numerous football rushing records that lasted for years. In baseball, he was an outstanding pitcher and shortstop who struck out 17 in a seven-inning game and hit over .500 one season. He captained both the football and baseball teams, was named first-team All-Independent in both sports, and was a four-time Plain Dealer Dream Teamer. Dan won the Strong Award for the senior who best represents the ideals, traditions, and spirit of Hawken athletics. He played baseball at the College of Wooster.

Bill excelled at football, wrestling, and baseball. As a senior captain, he was the first Hawken wrestler to record a perfect season record, going undefeated at 17-0. His wrestling career culminated in finishing second at the prestigious Lehigh Prep National tournament. He was also a hard-nosed linebacker and running back and a second baseman. He went on to Yale University. Named in honor of Bill, the Strong Award is given annually to a member of the Hawken senior class who, through his/her attitude, effort and example of Fair Play, best represents the ideals, traditions and spirit of Hawken athletics.